We last left off by taking a trip to the literary hotbed (or should that be hot geyser?) that was Iceland – now Liverpool Hope University Reader-in-Residence Charlotte Weber acts as our tour guide for the literary wonders of Israel.

‘The man decides to write a story about the situation. Not the political situation and not the social situation either. He decides to write a story about the human situation, the human condition. The human condition the way he’s experiencing it right now.’ –

from the opening of ‘Suddenly, a Knock on the Door’, by Etgar Keret.

As a nation occupied by ‘The People of the Book’, there is no way that Israel could fail to have a rich and provocative culture of reading. From the Bible and the legends of the Talmud, to modern-day Israeli and American authors, story-telling has always been an important part of Jewish life.

As far as literary culture goes, Israel is a nation that has had its fair share of complications and difficulties. To start with, there is the simple issue of language. As a mother tongue, Hebrew is spoken by just 8 million people worldwide (compare this to the 300 million people who speak Arabic, the language of those living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories within Israel), and the vast majority of this number are confined to those living within Israel itself. It is also a language that came dangerously close to extinction as a spoken form during the Middle Ages, until its revival as a spoken language during the 19th century.

Despite its complicated linguistic heritage and the tumultuous political relations with Palestine that continue to cause conflicts in the country, Israel has developed its own distinct literary legacy and boasts number of internationally recognised and celebrated authors. The best-known of these in recent times are undoubtedly the novelists Amos Oz and David Grossman.

Oz was born Amos Klausner in the country’s capital, Jerusalem, in 1939. The son of Russian immigrants, he later changed his last name to the Hebrew word for ‘strength’. After the suicide of his mother following years of depression, Oz left home at age 15 and joined a kibbutz in central Israel, where he remained for 31 years. It was during this time that he began to write and his debut novel, Where the Jackals Howl, was published in 1965.

Like most Israeli’s, Oz served in the Israeli Defence Forces as a young adult. He fought in the 1967 ‘Six-Day War’, then in the Yom Kippur war in 1973, both of which gave him a “gut hatred of war and fighting”. It was following these experiences that Oz became one of the first Israeli intellectuals to speak in favour of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Oz’s 2003 memoir, A Tale of Love and Darkness, in which he reflects upon, among other things, the early death of his mother, is the biggest-selling title in Israeli history.

Books filled our home. My father could read in sixteen or seventeen languages. My mother spoke four or five languages and read seven or eight … But the only language they ever taught me was Hebrew. Maybe they feared that a knowledge of languages would expose me too to the blandishments of Europe, that wonderful, murderous continent … Words like ‘meadow’, ‘cottage’, or ‘goose-girl’ excited and seduced me all through my childhood. They had a sensual aroma of a genuine, cosy world, far from the dusty tin roofs, the urban wasteland of scrap iron and thistles, the parched hillsides of our Jerusalem, suffocating under the weight of white-hot summer.

David Grossman is a prolific writer, having published novels for both adults and young readers, short stories, a play and collections of essays. Politically left-wing, Grossman is also an outspoken peace activist who has demonstrated against the expansion of the Jewish settlements on Palestinian territory. In particular, Grossman’s 2009 novel To the End of the Land, which was published 3 years after the death of his son Uri in the Israel-Lebanon war, received world-wide critical acclaim.

One of the biggest household names in Israeli literature at the moment, however, is the quirky and subversive Etgar Keret. The son of holocaust survivors, Keret’s unusual and often violent short stories have been printed in the New Yorker and The Guardian since his appearance on the literary scene in the 1990’s. He is credited with heralding a new kind of Israeli writing for a modern age – one that deals less with the political and social questions that have preoccupies Oz and Grossman, and more with the daily quirks and psychological dilemmas of the individual. His most recent collection of stories, Suddenly, a Knock on the Door was released by Chatto & Windus this February, and is reviewed in The Observer here.

Israel also has plenty in the way of literary offerings beyond its home-grown writers. The world-famous Jewish Book Week, celebrated its 60th anniversary in February this year, taking place in both Jerusalem and the vibrant Tel Aviv. The programme boasted contributors such as Simon Schama, Boyd Tonkin, Umberto Eco, Howard Jacobson and Etgar Keret. Tmol-Shilshom (Bookstore-Café) is a cultural gem tucked-away from the busy main streets of Jerusalem. Opened in 1994, this cosy café is a favourite among the Jerusalem literary and foodie scenes, with plenty on the menu to feed both the body and the brain (the cheesecake here is the best I have ever tasted!) It attracts plenty of literary figures as well as the general public – with Amos Oz and David Grossman both known to occupy tables here on a regular basis.

Charlotte smashes her chocolatey prize

Don’t forget to let us know if you read anything worth recommending over the holiday – we always love to hear from you. Happy Easter!

The Ghost of Christmas Present from the Muppets Christmas Carol - he likes a Christmas dinner

Lee: “You ready to do the shopping list now?”

Katie: “Yep, okay, so, let’s work it out per person….”

Katie: “Not everyone likes sprouts do they so….let’s get 135 sprouts”

Lee:  “So 80 parsnips and 160 carrots (but that might vary according to size)”

Katie: “ We need chestnut puree and dried apricots too”

 Zoe: “Let’s put this on the blog”

This is a very scientific approach to making Christmas lunch.

And on it went….very amusing, and mmmm my mouth is watering already. 

After overhearing this conversation I replied “Don’t be scientific about the lunch, Scrooge was scientific about these things too and look how that turned out” 

SCROOGE: Well, what else can I be when I live in such a world of fools? What’s Christmas to you but a time for paying bills without money? Merry Christmas! A time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer. If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips’d be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!

Moral of the story: Don’t be so scientific about a Christmas dinner, the leftovers can be eaten at a later date.

Some may point out that it’s merely conjoined, Niall suspects genetic modification whilst others seem to think it is a mutant. Mutants inspire memories of X-Men cartoons and films, and this hasn’t started wearing dodgy clobber, blowing things up with lasers or controlling the minds of staff just yet. Using this deeply flawed logic we can deduce that it has not mutated, it is in fact a paragon within the world of strawberries.

The sheep on the right makes Princess Beatrice look sensible.

Like all things that we cannot explain, we had to study this. Not a particularly rigourous test – Mark plonked it on a piece of paper and measured it with a ruler, but give us a break, we read fiction, not endless amounts of science journals. 6.5cm wide for those interested. Cue an online village fete.

If anyone knows of any poems or short stories about gigantic/possibly mutated/conjoined strawberries then let us know. The closest we’ve got is a title based on Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach.

Roald Dahl’s description of the peach:

“The walls were wet and sticky, and peach juice was dripping from the ceiling. James opened his mouth and caught some of it on his tongue. It tasted delicious.”

Me on the strawberry:

It was massive and it tasted all right.

‘I’m not saying that you’re actually dead if you haven’t read Marilynne Robinson, but I honestly couldn’t say you’re fully alive.’ Brian Appleyard, The Times

Marilynne Robinson, credit Kelly Ruth Winter

This will be a fantastic opportunity to hear Marilynne, who is one of our special guests at the Reading for Wellbeing Conference on 17th May, speak informally about her life and work in a relaxed atmosphere, ask her any questions you may have and enjoy a delicious dinner.

The evening costs only £25, which includes a two course meal and wine.

There are only a very limited number of places available. Please contact Claire Speer if you would like to book a place: clairespeer@thereader.org.uk  / 0151 794 2830

We’ve joined forces with Liverpool’s favourite eatery, The Quarter (on Faulkner Street, Liverpool), to celebrate the launch of The Quarter Library – a new space dedicated to kicking back with a book, and sharing books and food with friends.

To launch its brand new Library area in fitting fashion, we’re hosting a ‘Food for Thought’ event, running shared reading groups with extracts from A Little, Aloud over some light bites and coffee courtesy of The Quarter. And what’s more, it’s free!

We’d like to invite readeronline readers along to this small, relaxing and delicious event but places are limited and there are only a few places left. Please send us an email or give us a call (0151 794 2830) and get your place reserved before someone else beats you to the antipasto…

Lunch Macabre...

“Let there be a spice of terror,” wrote John Dickson Carr, “of dark skies and evil things.”

Well, at today’s Friday Lunch we certainly tried our best – or should that be worst? The jack-o’-lantern grinned its fiery grin; spiders crawled o’er the table; witch’s blood (grapefruit smoothie) was greedily lapped up; the skeleton in our closet was hung up for all to see; we told ghost stories and read creepy poems (including ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ by Robert Browning)…

Good Chris, Bad Chris...

Then there came a hollow knock at the door (which creaked open in a very sinister manner) and a mysterious visitor entered. Dracula? Dr Frankenstein? The Prince of Darkness Himself? Nope – it was Colin Gray from Hereford, with his wife Kathy and son Tom. Colin, far from being an axe-wielding maniac or slavering member of the un-dead, is one of our trained facilitators who has recently started a reading group at the Kindle Centre in Hereford. Well done, Colin – we wish you great success with it.

Thanks to Vicky Clarke and Niall Gibney for the food and decorations!

Having experienced my first ever Friday Lunch at the Reader one week ago today, featuring a veritable cornucopia of edible delights (especially in the muffin department), I must have had food on the brain, as reports of a cake-based tribute to Agatha Christie jumped out at me.

To celebrate the author’s 120^th birthday, Jane Asher has used a passage in Christie’s A Murder is Announced to create her own version of the Delicious Death cake described. An incredible, indeed deadly, concoction of “chocolate and much butter, and sugar and raisins”, its fictional cook declares that “these English people with their cakes that tastes of sand, never, never will they have tasted such a cake”.  Brave readers can judge this for themselves by attempting the recipe: http://www.agathachristie.com/agatha-christie-120-years/delicious-death/

Food plays a big role in literature, with evocative descriptions making a particular impression on childhood minds. Enid Blyton’s picnics of ginger beer, potted meats and milk drunk straight from the cow always sounded slightly strange to my thoroughly modern sensibilities, but, much like the characters themselves, undeniably wholesome and just plain ‘good’. Roald Dahl also provides numerous unforgettable food-related incidents, such as Bruce Bogtrotter’s cake victory over Miss Trunchbull, or the disgusting eating habits of the Twits. Need I even mention Willy Wonka’s factory?

The uses and abuses of food by characters convey much deeper moral messages; the hero Charlie Bucket’s grandparents have to scrimp and save to buy him a single chocolate bar, which he reverently savours. This is in comparison to the other four ticket winners who gorge themselves and come to the inevitable sticky end.

It is no different in adult literature; the confectionery choices made by the customers of Vianne Rocher’s chocolaterie in Joanne Harris’ Chocolat reveal far more about the state of their private lives and true feelings than their words ever do. Similarly, Hilary Mantel’s deployment of culinary detail in Wolf Hall is crucial to her utterly believable recreation of the sixteenth century world.  The characters use food as a tool to be manipulated in the cut-throat environment of courtly politics, as well as a source of pleasure and comfort, while the author uses it to aid the setting and atmosphere.

What are your most memorable food moments in literature? Have you ever attempted to recreate a favourite meal? We’d love to hear from you – maybe your suggestions will inspire a future Friday Lunch here at the Reader!

This exciting event is a rare opportunity to visit the historic gardens of Clarence House, Lancaster House and Marlborough House to help celebrate and promote sustainable living. The twelve day garden party, in the heart of London, will be a vibrant blend of exhibitions, interactive displays, fun activities and live performances from comedians, musicians and speakers.

You’ll have the chance to get involved in debates chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Clive Anderson, or learn how to jazz up your old threads with fashion workshops curated by Dame Vivienne Westwood. If that’s not enough for you, Alan Tichmarsh has been hard at work pulling together a selection of gardening workshops and displays, whilst Kate Humble concentrates on the food! Jools Holland is in charge of music, while Hugh Dennis and Marcus Brigstocke take care of the comedy.

Make sure to visit the Practical Action stand to discover how you can ‘Start’ their energy campaign.

Start will take place around the gardens of Clarence House, London

The garden party runs from 8th – 19th September 2010, 10am – 6pm daily (excluding the last Sunday where opening hours are 12 noon – 6pm)

For further details and to buy tickets to the event visit the Start Garden Party website.

Ella Jolly, Fundraising Research Officer for Practical Action and friend of The Reader Organisation, will be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in aid of Practical Action on 10/10/10! Please sponor her here: http://www.justgiving.com/george-ella