Last week, Booknik read about twisted families, the void, and Wolf Messing, talked about klezmer, listened to the presentations on pseudo-judaics, and to lots of music, discussed Leonard Cohen, tried to comprehend the female soul, read the new translation of the Song of Songs, studied Japanese culture, learned some more T-words, and cooked a butterfly pâté. Booknik Jr. finalized the carnival costume contest, studied diligently, took good care of baby elephants, and then he planned to publish a cook book, and to travel to Amsterdam.
No Gnomes Will Appear, by Sara Shilo
Her husband used to be the village king of falafel. She used to be his queen. But he died six years ago, and ever since that time she has not known what to do, die or go crazy. No, going crazy is not an option. So she asks for a rocket to fall on her head. She lives in the north of Israel where it is more than possible. Mikhail Maykov reviews the novel by Sara Shilo about a twisted family in the Lechaim magazine.
An Epithet and the Void
A Light Head, by Olga Slavnikova
The plot of every new book by Olga Slavnikova concerns the author’s relations with words and metaphors. Her latest story is about the void, and ways of filling it. This means the author’s style, and the book tells about it more than any critical essay. Booknik reviewer Ivan Pervertov reads it, and finds voids in the text.
The Artist’s Paradox
Wolf Messing, by Boris Sokolov
He was reported to pass through walls. Even if he did not, he must have known what was happening behind them. He was reported to enter Joseph Stalin’s office without knocking. Well, maybe not exactly Stalin’s, but Lavrenty Beria’s for sure. The eminent military historian and Mikhail Bulgakov scholar Boris Sokolov remains true to his principles. He conducts another séance of black magic, and then he reveals all secrets. Andrey Martynov of the Lechaim magazine analyzes the biography of Wolf Messing.
…and many other relevant revelations in the Books & Reviews section.
The Klezmerata Fiorentina ensemble is a unique phenomenon in the world of the contemporary klezmer music. It does not fit into any category or trend, it never performs at Yiddish festivals, and it has only one album under its belt. It can hardly compare with the popularity of John Zorn’s musicians, The Klezmatics, or any European klezmer band. However, the popularity does not seem to be anything that the bandleader Igor Polesitsky really needs. Now, in our exclusive interview he talks to Booknik reporter Maxim Eidis about why Klezmerata Fiorentina plays music at all.
Leonid Utyosov, Soviet and Odessan
Our contributor Nikita Braginsky tells the life story of the legendary soviet jazz singer and actor Leonid Utyosov, and analyzes his songs in search of Jewish roots.
…and many more amusing musics in the Articles & Interviews section.
“There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in,” Leonard Cohen sings. By interpreting cracks between words and their meanings, we actualize other people’s experiences. In this liberating of light, there is the art of commenting. Another event of the Eshkolot project supported by the AVI CHAI Foundation was the comment party where Leonard Cohen fans shared their experiences of reading between the lines. Booknik reporter Natasha Galkina tells of what she saw and heard there.
Purim Outrage of Jewish Intellectuals
The pseudo-science conference on the as-if-judaics organized by the Sefer Center and Eshkolot Project supported by the AVI CHAI Foundation covered topics as diverse as the Garden of Eden’s biogeocenosis, mystic hangovers, authentically academic Jewish geography, The Golden Calf as the Agadic midrash, the poetics of humdrum, the authorship of Megilat Esther, the Eastern European whining, Ivan Susanin as a Jew, and the roots of one particular orthodox party. Our ubiquitous Moscow reporter Natasha Galkina went there, too.
Knizhniki.ru Flies to London to Bring Jewish Literature in Russian and Booknik.ru to London’s International Book Fair in April
The London Book Fair which takes place from Monday, April 11th to Wednesday, April 13th at London’s Earl Court will see the distribution of The Booknik Reader and a large collection of Jewish literature published in Russian by Knizhniki.
…and many other even events in the Events & Reports section.
Shinboru, directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto
An empty white room, and there is a man dressed in yellow pajamas waking up in it. He tries to find the door, and step outside. At the same time, in some Mexican boonies, a wrestler prepares for a fight with a stronger opponent. The man in yellow pajamas weeps, and sees angels. In faraway Russia, an illusionist prepares to perform a vanishing trick. The man in yellow pajamas laughs, and sees an Australian aborigine. A punk rock band thrills its audience with their unholy din on stage. The man in yellow pajamas suffers without soy sauce. The moviegoers watch what happens on screen in confusion. The rest would be spoilers. Our own specialist in intercultural communication Masha Tuuborg watches Shinboru.
On Modesty, Music, Elvis Presley, and Other Female Interpretations
One thing distracted the public from songs, tiny pink slips pasted all over the room, on the armchairs, in the aisles, and even on the walls. There were phrases written out there in longhand. The organizers of this mysterious flash mob decided that they wanted to share their female thoughts and their thoughts about women. Booknik’s Israeli reporter Ariel Bulstein tries to comprehend the female soul at the Female Festival in Holon.
…and many other mysterious misters (and missises) in the Columns & Columns section.
The Song of Songs, the Basic of Basics
The Song of Solomon is one of the most interesting and enigmatic books in Bible. For many centuries, the commenters and literary scholars have been trying to understand who its characters were, what happened in the storyline, and where its author was. Booknik suggests that you make another attempt to crack the mystery. We are launching the publication of the new Song of Songs translation, complete with the commentary based on the detailed analysis of the text. Let us also remember what we know about the text itself, and the way of interpreting it. Our gentle readers, come out to play! For the learning is much sweeter than wine.
…and many other sweet dreams in the Stories & Essays section.
The Japanese Quiz
Booknik was very much saddened by the news of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and we hope that there will be no more devastation and victims. Therefore, we decided to offer you this quiz so that you might learn a little more about the country and its culture.
…and much more Nippon knowledge in the Contests & Quizzes section.
This is the rarest dish, and wonderfully kosher, too. There are two kinds of butterflies that the Jews are allowed to eat, and one of them is Solánum melongéna. Those butterflies are hunted for in Erets Israel at the end of the Tu Bishvat when those animals are fattened enough to fly slower. After that, they are tinned, canned, and sent by special orders to about a dozen restaurants all over the world. Our inimitable chef Roman Gershuni is a happy owner of a couple of Solánum melongéna tins one of which is actually a can, so now he is happy to share the recipe of this very special pâté with all you Booknik readers and viewers.
Yiddish Fest 2011: Frank London and the Yiddish Fest Cappella
As promised, Booknik starts publishing the selections from the closing concert of the Yiddish Fest 2011, to help you remember the juiciest parts of this magnificent extravaganza.
Hebrarium, the Lexicon of Jewish Whatnots: Т2
What does the acronym of Tanakh stand for? What is the architectural style of Tel Aviv? When one cannot wear the Tefillin? Watch our T-Hebrarium continued, and Kirill Chichayev will set everything right.
…and many other tricky T-words in the Video Blog section.
Booknik Jr. has finalized the carnival costume contest, and now all of you will know the winners
Eliezer the Great, Peasant to Rabbi
Marina Karpova and Yevgeny Levin tell the story of how one of the greatest sages of the Jews got his wisdom.
The Star in the Palm of Your Hand. The Wonder Childhood with Mikhail Yasnov
Yelena Akselrod is the poet and literary translator. These days, she lives in Israel, and her voice is heard from over there, filled with the echoes of childhood that was wonderful, and very touching.
Leatzil et Shimba, by Nomi Levitsky
Do you remember the animation film about the baby mammoth that looked for its mother? These stories sometimes happen in real life. Yelizaveta Guller reads the book about the same destiny of that baby mammoth’s distant relative.
To Cook Is Faster than to Eat It
There will be the time when Booknik Jr. publishes his own cookbook. He will call it The Simplest Recipes for there will be only those dishes that he could cook faster than eat them. Like a three ring circus layer cake. It is truly fast to cook. To eat it takes even less time, though. Whoosh— and there’s no more cake. Yelizaveta Guller teaches our not-specifically-grown-up readers to be masters of time.
By the Flattest Sea
The spring school break is over, and the spring has finally come to Moscow. In Europe, though, the spring is in the full swing. It is high time to go to the Netherlands. The best possible time there is April and May. If you have not planned anything for your May vacation yet, Nellie Shulman recommends visiting Amsterdam, the Jewish city of old. It is always beautiful, however.
…and many other typically good tips at Booknik Jr., also known as Family Booknik, our own web site for kids and their parents.
Look who’s talking. Booknik and Family Booknik are supported by the AVI CHAI Foundation.
