Last week, Booknik survived author’s “death” and “resurrection,” restore the historical justice, thought about what was better, to rest for a day or to work for six, went to movies several times, became a crime victim, went on a hunger strike, and tamed a dragon. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. received the Christmas gift of five books instead of five toy cars, and wanted to tear Father Christmas’s beard but later decided to show some tolerance.
La Carte et le Territoire, by Michel Houellebecq
In this book, the author Michel Houellebecq committed both a murder and a suicide. One of his characters is Michel Houellebecq, the author whose unhappy life ends with the death this is even less happy. The author carries the notion of “author’s death” to absurdity, as Booknik’s literary critic Masha Tuuborg believes. He introduces author’s biography and ideas into the novel methodically, and kills himself off in the finale. Thus, he amply demonstrates that Michel Houellebecq the author has nothing to do with Michel Houellebecq the character whatsoever, no matter how similar their biographical details might be. He shows us that art is that things that have nothing to do with art.
We Were Taught to Swim
Commander of the Exodus, by Yoram Kaniuk
Readers might not remember the names of heroic ships that carried liberated prisoners who had suffered in Nazi concentration camps to Palestine to become citizens of the new Jewish state, Booknik’s reviewer Yevgenia Ritz laments. However, they are still the symbols of heroism, bravery, and hope for Israel. This book is not only about the Holocaust but it tells about the indifference of the victorious alliance governments to the victims of the Nazi anti-Semitic policies.
…and many other triumphant trials in the Books & Reviews section.
The Consecration of Time. Features of the Jewish Traditional Chronotype Description
One of the aspects of the “Zionist revolution,” according to the poet Avraham Shlonsky, was “the new take on the time, the consecration of the six days of labor.” This new feature was in conflict with the tradition. The attempt to synthesize these temporal paradigms, the old and the new, was made by the new trend in orthodoxy that emerged in the 20th century in Israel, the national religious one. Booknik contributor Yelena Rimon’s article analyzes the data gathered in the newest research conducted in Samaria, in a small community that adheres to this trend.
…and many other remarkable researches in the Articles & Interviews section.
Everyone’s Our Own
Barney's Version, directed by Richard J. Lewis
In Russia, this film was quietly premiered only in three cinemas, and it is a shame. The reason is that it is not only an adequate movie but it is probably the only premiere last year that did not strive to be metaphorical, messianic, or global. It is a well-told story of a good man. As it turns out, it is a merit in itself. Of course, on the background of universal vampirization, and various apocalyptica, the death of Alzheimer is too quiet and mundane. Nevertheless, that was the reason why it was so tragic.
This installment of the memoir tells about the war childhood, an epistolary novel, and tragedies large and small.
’Lom! Do You Speak Urite?
Booknik’s far-flung contributor Elisha Zinde continues his saga of the kibbutz kindergarten. “When I took my daughter home she sobbed. I had to listen to a heart-rending story. The kindergarten inmatesstudents went on their traditional excursion to the zoo. There, my daughter became a victim of heinous crime. A thief stole he father’s eraser from the back pocket of her jeans. The thief was an ape baby. He peddled the loot to his mom immediately, and she ate the small piece of rubber.”
Not to Run, Not to Turn Back
“We have an army!” “And we have Hulk.” The year has ended by now, and some of the grand premieres of 2011 turned out to be rubbish. Some of them lead us to such deep thinking that we cannot quite shake it off. In general, it was a good year. We are not interested in results though, Booknik’s astute film critic and inquisitive moviegoer Dina Suvorova claims. She suggests that we see what to expect of 2012.
…and many other suggestive subjects in the Columns & Columns section.
Give Us More Dragons, Good and Various
If we should believe the Chinese, 2012 will be the Year of the Dragon. This is why the theme of our New Year quiz is a no-brainer. Are you ready? Then off we go.
…and many other drastic dragons in the Contests & Quizzes section.
There Is the City of Gold 8: Romantics
Jerusalem is not Paris. No one will even think about comparing easygoing and frivolous capital of France, the city of lovers, with ancient, severe, and sacred capital of Israel. This is the city of three religions, divided into sections for ultra orthodoxes and decidedly secular. The city does not seem fit for romantic dates, it looks more becoming for prayers. However, this is not so. In Jerusalem, there are lots and lots of places to take your girlfriend or boyfriend to, even to read her or him several lines from the Song of Solomon.
Plagiarism in Soviet Songs 9: Musical Kleptomania
The reasons for plagiarism, or stealing someone else’s creative work, may be different. Sometimes, unknown musicians just want to add an extra spin of their careers with the help of a popular melody. Sometimes, such a thief might hope that if he steals a melody from an author or performer from a different time or a far-away place, he might not be caught. Nevertheless, there are cases when a talented composer appropriates someone else’s work for no apparent reason at all, and not the best work at that. They might do it unconsciously. Booknik musicologist Mark Freydkin discusses the phenomenon.
Don’t Grudge the Brew Lite 100: Churros
Chanukah has come, and six candles are already lit. This means that our table would not be complete without dishes fried in oil. This time, we shall make exclusion in our diet, and cook something not light at all. Churros are the sweet fried-dough pastry-based snacks, not unlike donuts. In their cross-section, they are star-shaped, and if you use the right implement, the star would be six-pointed, and thus politically correct. It will do finely for a Marrano treat on Chanukah, no?
In addition, we have a special announcement to make. This one hundredth episode of our culinary program Don’t Grudge the Brew, alas, completes the series. Booknik’s intrepid and inimitable chef Roman Gershuni thanks all our viewers and food-tasters for their kind attention, and he hopes that he had been able to make their lives a little bit more tolerable and tasty. Happy New Year to all of you, and stay tuned to Booknik channels in the coming year.
…and many other treatable treasures in the Video Blog section.
“Toulouse is a small city,” Rav Yosef Matusov, the Gan Rashi principal says. “We have children of all backgrounds coming to us, from families of different traditions. This is why our motto here is tolerance. Our students are educated according to the state-approved program. Also, we have Hebrew studies in our schedule, as well as Jewish traditions and history.”
Five Books for Presents
Quite recently, Booknik Jr. attended the non/fiction book fair, and he bought almost everything he liked there. Those books were not highlighted in any top lists. Every one of them is beautiful in itself though. It is never late to buy one of them (or some of them; or all of them) as presents for a kid aged two to five. Enjoy your presents!
…and many other prescient presents at Booknik Jr., also known as Family Booknik, our own web site for kids and their parents.
And now, the news for the hard of hearing. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Booknik and Family Booknik are supported by the AVI CHAI Foundation.
