Keret translated into Farsi, Plath reads her own poems, Gloria Steinem in Montreal, Heather O'Neill and Montreal writers: Book Digest, October 30, 2015

Translation in Farsi coming soon

• Israeli writer Etgar Keret's latest book will be translated into Farsi, a move, he hopes, will allow Afghanis (and unofficially Iranians who have no access to works translated from Hebrew) to connect with the humanity (and humour!) in his writing. Keret was last at our Festival in 2014 when he filled two auditoriums to maximum capacity and charmed everyone present with his humour and wit. 
• Sylvia Plath reads Fifty of her own poems. I remember having a recording of one of her poems when I was younger and listening to it (on cassette tape) so many times that I memorized it. (It was her poem "Daddy.") She had such a distinct reading style, so grave and with a clipped Northeastern accent that no longer really exists.
• Gloria Steinem in Montreal. The writer and activist releases a new book about her life of traveling and appears in Montreal, Tuesday, December 1 at the Rialto Theatre. Tickets at $10 or free if you buy her latest book in the shop on 211 Bernard.
• Montreal writer Heather O'Neill writes for The Guardian about some great books set in Montreal for and by Montreal writers. I am so glad, too, that she presents both Francophone and Anglophone books, part of our city's heritage and what makes us one of the most unique places in North America.

Montreal: city of staircases

Etgar Keret at Blue Met 2013

We're getting closer! Our first 2013 Festival events start on Sunday, April 21 (when I see that this is three days, my heart starts racing: so much to do still!) with two events for Israeli writer, Etgar Keret.

Mr. Keret is one of the most widely praised short story writers working today and one of the most unique facets of his work is his tone and sense of humour. It's almost impossible to explain here but his stories are uniquely funny and very entertaining.

He will be here on Sunday at 3pm at Chapters/Indigo (the one on the corner of McGill College and Ste-Catherine): an interview, reading and book signing. Come on down, it's free!

Then later that evening, he will appear at the Jewish Public Library (5151 Chemin Cote-Ste-Catherine) in an author talk: a lecture, a longer reading followed by a book signing. This event is selling really well so I would highly suggest getting your tickets asap and/or arriving very early to get tickets at the door. Books will be available on site as well. TIckets are $15 and available here.

His events are sure to be a great kick-off to our 2013 Festival and are in partnership with the Israeli Consulate of Montreal, the Jewish Public Library and Chapters/Indigo downtown.

Incidentally, check out Ernest Hoffman's really fascinating piece about Etgar Keret in this month's Almemar.

Etgar Keret at Berlin

I have long been a fan of the work of Etgar Keret. His short story collections are funny and charming and I tend to carry them around with me for months, pulling them out and reading one or two stories whenever I have some down time. His latest collection, Suddenly a Knock on the Door, is typical of him: his stories so often contain very little set-up or exposition. We are immediately pulled into the action by a phone call, knock on the door, question from a child, or some other reminder of daily life.

What struck me about Etgar Keret this time is his perfect blend of self-deprecation, humour, and vulnerability. He says that he'd "rather have [his readers] hate him than feel neutral" about him, though he isn't one for blustery comments such as this usually. He talked about Israel, about growing up with two parents (Holocaust survivors) who each spoke five or six languages but worked hard to only speak Hebrew to the young Etgar. A natural story teller, in the space of an hour, Keret managed to work in at least three stories in his attempt to explain the hows and whys of his approach to storytelling.

If you are a fan of Keret or haven't read him at all, I highly recommend doing so: he is as modern and wry as David Sedaris, and funny as Woody Allen, and as focused as Lydia Davis.

He's been to Blue Met before but we may just have to send him another invitation if he keeps cranking out these lovely story collections.