And yet, in his new book, a slight but evocative novella called "Rhyming Life and Death," beautifully translated by Nicholas de Lange, Oz thrusts his protagonist into the midst of just such a self-conscious scene.
"The poems in 'Rhyming Life and Death,' as the Author recalls, were not satirical or mordant, but generally addressed the problems of the day with good-natured if somewhat condescending amusement".
How would I react?' " Mr. Oz, whose humor is as dry as the climate, is one of Israel's most esteemed authors — along with A. B. Yehoshua, Aharon Appelfeld and David Grossman — and his new novella, "Rhyming Life and Death," is a somewhat brutal look at the life and sensibility of a literary celebrity.
Her early rhyming life featured a lot of "Chicken Soup with Rice," but the summer looks likely to be a carousel of the Christopher Myers illustrated version of Lewis Carroll's "The Jabberwocky," the Edward Gorey illustrated version of "The Jumblies," and the Sophie Hannah translations of the Tove Jansson books "Who Will Comfort Toffle?" and "The Book About Moomin, Mymble and Little My".
"Once in a while it is worth turning on the light to clarify what is going on... .. (From the closing paragraph of Rhyming Life and Death, translated by Nicholas de Lange, published by Chatto & Windus) If I had to describe in the simplest of words the purpose of my writing, these will be the words.
The foolish M.C. introduces his guest by citing clichéd lines by an old-fashioned poet, Tsefania Beit-Halachmi, from a volume called "Rhyming Life and Death" ("You'll always find them side by side: / never a groom without a bride"), prompting the Author to further mental sidetracks.
"Beats, Rhymes & Life" is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian).
$7$$) "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest," directed by Michael Rapaport.
Steven Spielberg's "Adventures of Tintin" won best animated film, and "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest" earned the documentary feature prize.
Michael Rapaport's recent documentary, "Beats, Rhymes & Life," about the hip-hop ensemble A Tribe Called Quest, offers far more intergroup drama.
