Between Friends/ Amos Oz

Amos Oz is one of the most distinguished and talented Israeli authors (perhaps you've read "A Tale of Love and Darkness').

His newest book takes a deep look into Kibbutz life. The story focuses on individuals in the Kibbutz of "Yekhat". These people experience very human emotion such as loneliness, love, longing and sadness.

Above all, the Stories focus on loneliness, in the one place where you weren't supposed to be lonely--The Kibbutz.

Photo Credit: Wikicommons

Imagine living in a settlement that is based on ideals of equality and socialism. Gossip spreads faster than in high school, scandals are constant and the children don't live with their parents but in a special children's house.

This is the reality of the kibbutz of "Yekhat" in the 1950's. In 8 short yet interwoven stories we meet the characters of the Kibbutz. These men and women of all ages feel loneliness and longing.

These crazy but beautifully written stories will make you laugh and cry.

I was fortunate to attend a lecture by Amos Oz on his new book. Oz explained that he felt a need to go back to "his roots" (he lived on a kibbutz) and explore the positive and negative of the settlement. He explained that the stories focus on ordinary good people who feel human emotion such as loneliness, love, hurt, pain, and betrayal. Each of the 8 stories focuses on different men and women on the Kibbutz who "almost make a connection with each other".

Amos Oz read one of the stories during the lecture "Two women". It was lovely to see him enjoying reading his words and the enchantment of the audience by his beautiful descriptions. He is an extremely gifted writer.

Stories that focus on loneliness, in the one place where you weren't supposed to be lonely--The Kibbutz.

Have you read a book by Amos Oz? This near Nobel prize winning author has quite a collection of world famous books.