In the High Peaks
















Saturday, August 11, 2012

Caroline's Antonio Tabucchi Week and the New Literature and War Readalong

As you know, I was captivated by Caroline's Literature and War Readalong last month and am participating this month. Luckily I was able to find the title scheduled to be discussed on August 31st, The Story of a Life by Aharon Appelfeld, who has lived in Israel since after World War II. Yes, he's a Holocaust survivor. He burrows deep into sensory memory for his description of his youngest years in this memoir, reminding me a bit of Marcel Proust. I'm enjoying it, mostly because it is so different from other Holocaust memoirs, of which I've read a large number.

And, the week of September 17-23, Caroline is hosting an Antonio Tabucchi Week, which will gather reflections from readers who have read any number of  Tabucchi's oeuvre. I have never read or heard of this author and have read so very few novels by Italian writers, that I've ordered Pereira Declares, a novel set in Portugal during the Fascist 1930s. Why Portugal? Tabucchi adores Portugal, and is a professor of Portuguese literature. I know zilch about Portugal, other than a movie about the children of Fatima, and the fact that it has a long border on the ocean.

Caroline is having so much fun with these events that I think I might consider hosting one, if I'm able to get my readership back into fighting order.

6 comments:

  1. Thanks a lot for mentioning my events.
    It should be a very interesting month reading wise.
    Both writers, Tabucchi and Applefeld are sytlists and well worth discovering.
    I'm very curious to see what event you will organize.
    Whatever it is, i hope yu will find participants.
    Of course we blog for ourselves but it still so much nicer when interested people join the discussion.
    Thanks for joining me.

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  2. Caroline,
    I'm a bit slow to respond! I'm in complete agreement with you; it's wonderful to share a book with like-minded fellow readers.

    I'm so in tune with Appelfeld. He is a wonderful writer and it is a fascinating book.

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  3. I m looking forward to this going pick one up later this month a few on the internet I ve not read ,all the best stu

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    1. In addition to the Tabucchi, the Appelfeld title, as well as all the novels he has published, have been translated from Hebrew.

      I'm astounded by Appelfeld's The Story of My Life. A *unique* Holocaust memoir--very different. I can't wait to turn to a few of his novels.

      Judith

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    2. Stu, I'm so glad you're interested in joining along for the Tabucchi week. I'd be so glad to know the novels of his you've already read.

      Judith

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