A story about everything that fills our world, and everything it lacks. Plus, a special New Year’s bonus: an audio version of the story, read by the inimitable Ira Glass. (Thanks, Ira!) | Fiction
It's fine. If you have bad things to say about Jewish faith it's better to share them with a Jew than with a Catholic. Personally, I see all monotheistic religions as some Rorschach test. It doesn't matter if you are a Muslim a Christian or a Jew , you believe that you were made in the image of God and you also believe that this God is many things So, in a way, everything you'll do will be Godlike , now it's our turn to decide if our legacy is to be merciful and kind or vengencful. In a sense , religion is just an echo chamber : Tell me which kind of God appeals to you and I'll tell you who you are and what you are yearning for.
I'm not a believer. I'd say I'm agonistic, but a Jewish agnositic by heritage. I do believe in peace or at least yearn for it. In short, I'm a very confused and ambigous guy who think that the world had taken a wrong turn .
Oh wow I completely glossed over the afterword! it's a great line, Etgar. As someone from a religiously mixed background I'm not sure I have a God to not believe in!
Very unexpected. I wasn't sure what was going to happen para by para, which is a hallmark of a great story. Roger Rosenblatt told us (in class) that once the reader figures out what's next, it's done.
Etgar, (apologies for the long comment), but I'm wondering if you would be willing to share more details about the experience of writing this story?
I started to type "process" instead of "experience" but "process" doesn't feel like the right way to describe the creation of your stories.I ask this as someone who is trying to get better at writing short stories, and upon first reading this story in McSweeney's, I had the kind of reaction I typically have when finishing one of your stories, which is muttering something like: "Son of a bitch" and/or "How'd he do that?" and/or "I give up?" and “I’m grateful that story just wormed its way into my brain” and “Wow, in this moment, the world feels more vibrant, nutty, sad, open, and wonderful.”
You: *"I always wanted my work to have some moral implication, but I couldn’t tell the difference between being moral and being moralistic. Then I discovered Kafka and Kurt Vonnegut, two writers who break the force of nature, so to speak—or the force of habit, which, for me, is the most dominant force in life. I think that we do many of the horrible things we do simply because we’re not sharing the minute. We’re going through the motions. A good story—a good Kafka story, say—can disorient you, and wake you up to your life. A good story is like a slap. It makes you think, “Where am I? What’s happening?” I don’t want to write stories that will tell people, “Be good,” or, “Don’t be bad.” I want to write a story that will make people say, “Huh?” And then maybe look around and see things a little differently."*
When I first read that quote, I thought “yes!” It felt like the perfect description for what I aspire to do when writing fiction, but it also gut-checked me pretty hard into recognizing many of my own failures with trying to write stories that often feel like they veer off into moralistic nonsense (or sometimes just plain nonsense.)
So, I’d love (be forever grateful) to learn more about your experience in writing this story. From start to finish. Did you sit down to write this with an initial seed of something? An anecdote? A character? And did you get down a first draft of it in one sitting? You mentioned being surprised, did that surprise come in that first sitting? Or did you noodle on a draft of this story for a while and the surprise come after different versions/drafts, etc.?
I think what I wonder about most with your stories is what is your first draft “experience” like? Do you always get out a first draft (with an ending) in one sitting? And then revise? Or do you work on multiple drafts? The tight, compactness of your stories seems to work like magic. (I know you referenced this aspect of your writing in your Asthma post.)
And I recognize you’ve shared some of this before, but I think stepping through this story in more detail, in particular would open up a world of . . . I don’t know, something good? Helpful? (At least to me, so maybe I’m just being selfish, and if so, I apologize. And I’m aware that if you do share more about this experience, I’ll probably spend countless hours trying to imitate, or recapture it on my own, which I’ll do with the full knowledge that it will be futile (in trying to achieve writing a story like you write), but will still hope that maybe it will help me get closer to figuring out how to improve on writing the kind of story that I can write.)
So, thanks in advance, for considering.
PS: I’ve never really spent time on social media, commenting publicly, etc., so this feels super frightening, weird. I say that not to pressure you to respond, but only to just put it out there, and ask for forgiveness.
PPS: If you happen to have supernatural recollection power and want to really get into detail about your experience, like: when did you start this story (month, year, day of the week)?, where were you (Tel Aviv, NYC, at a desk, kitchen table)?, what were you wearing (just joking, I’m not a creeper, I swear)? Did you snack while writing it? Listen to music? Drink coffee?
All and/or none of the above may be disregarded. But seriously, thank you for what you do.
Thank you Dave, It is sometimes difficult for me to convince myself that the stuff that I make up matters to people and reading your comment and questions, even though I’m not sure I have a super good answers for them, makes me feel more sensible and coherent than I usually do.
I am bad with times but I do know that it took me a while to sit down and write this one. The main thought in my mind writing it was that our world may lack something really essential and crucial that we can’t even imagine and may never will . And that’s when I thought of the game show and the world without Selfie Sticks. The God thing always takes me by surprise (I removed this ending taking over out of the blue thing in another story about belief called “Pick a color”) . I don’t eat or drink when I write , just talk out loud and walk around a lot. I’m not sure it is the best way. Wish I could drink mor coffee and talk a little less when I write , it would be more dignified. Good luck with everything!
I try again as I see now that my inquiry is visible. : it is a wonderful story . I love stories that are about old fashioned concepts like God, or soul (or love). I don't know if there is a theological conceot that describes my own beliefs. I only "believe" in God when I want to blame someone for bad things happening. If good things happen I either credit myself , or the person directly responsible contributing to the good . Anyway loved reading this . Thank you
I totally identify with your description. It is as if we need to have a word for what we miss. I feel that when I speak about the protagonist's world, it isn't as if I'm trying to make a theological claim as much as to say that there may be something missing in his life (and ours) that could have made us all feel complete , but that since we do not know of this thing we can't even lament the fact that it is missing....man, that was an extra long and zigzagging sentence... I hope it still makes some sense
I have read quite a few short stories. Easily one of the best I have ever read. And it also makes me wander what or who is that we miss so much and we can't find or even imagine. Bravo!
Running into you today, on Berlin's grey streets made again the city glow in a blink of an eye, as being in a parallel world! And made me discover this site! Toda!
!Indeed! I remember the piece you wrote about how you used to dedicate books, and l will actually love to get one of your books signed as you used to;) I see the grey*cold Berlin in doing what it does best...pushing us to the limits where we must decide what we need the most! Enjoy the sunny Tel Aviv and the unfolded yet new adventures!
It's fine. If you have bad things to say about Jewish faith it's better to share them with a Jew than with a Catholic. Personally, I see all monotheistic religions as some Rorschach test. It doesn't matter if you are a Muslim a Christian or a Jew , you believe that you were made in the image of God and you also believe that this God is many things So, in a way, everything you'll do will be Godlike , now it's our turn to decide if our legacy is to be merciful and kind or vengencful. In a sense , religion is just an echo chamber : Tell me which kind of God appeals to you and I'll tell you who you are and what you are yearning for.
I'm not a believer. I'd say I'm agonistic, but a Jewish agnositic by heritage. I do believe in peace or at least yearn for it. In short, I'm a very confused and ambigous guy who think that the world had taken a wrong turn .
"Because at the moment of truth, when you have to face God and tell Him he doesn’t exist, it’s a lot easier to do it in front of someone else’s God."
Is that a quote? It's not familiar to me. I like it.
Yes, it’s from the last paragraph, the afterword :) just in the end
Oh wow I completely glossed over the afterword! it's a great line, Etgar. As someone from a religiously mixed background I'm not sure I have a God to not believe in!
Haha, same here :)
Maybe there is a god and her name is Non-Debbie in this story. Thank you for this great plot and story!
Erm, 'Etgar, phone home'! :)
Very unexpected. I wasn't sure what was going to happen para by para, which is a hallmark of a great story. Roger Rosenblatt told us (in class) that once the reader figures out what's next, it's done.
This was so fun and immersive!!! Great reading by Ira! This one is close to being a new fav!!
Etgar, (apologies for the long comment), but I'm wondering if you would be willing to share more details about the experience of writing this story?
I started to type "process" instead of "experience" but "process" doesn't feel like the right way to describe the creation of your stories.I ask this as someone who is trying to get better at writing short stories, and upon first reading this story in McSweeney's, I had the kind of reaction I typically have when finishing one of your stories, which is muttering something like: "Son of a bitch" and/or "How'd he do that?" and/or "I give up?" and “I’m grateful that story just wormed its way into my brain” and “Wow, in this moment, the world feels more vibrant, nutty, sad, open, and wonderful.”
I often think of something you said (according to the internet) in a conversation with George Saunders (link here: https://pen.org/etgar-keret-george-saunders/ ):
You: *"I always wanted my work to have some moral implication, but I couldn’t tell the difference between being moral and being moralistic. Then I discovered Kafka and Kurt Vonnegut, two writers who break the force of nature, so to speak—or the force of habit, which, for me, is the most dominant force in life. I think that we do many of the horrible things we do simply because we’re not sharing the minute. We’re going through the motions. A good story—a good Kafka story, say—can disorient you, and wake you up to your life. A good story is like a slap. It makes you think, “Where am I? What’s happening?” I don’t want to write stories that will tell people, “Be good,” or, “Don’t be bad.” I want to write a story that will make people say, “Huh?” And then maybe look around and see things a little differently."*
When I first read that quote, I thought “yes!” It felt like the perfect description for what I aspire to do when writing fiction, but it also gut-checked me pretty hard into recognizing many of my own failures with trying to write stories that often feel like they veer off into moralistic nonsense (or sometimes just plain nonsense.)
So, I’d love (be forever grateful) to learn more about your experience in writing this story. From start to finish. Did you sit down to write this with an initial seed of something? An anecdote? A character? And did you get down a first draft of it in one sitting? You mentioned being surprised, did that surprise come in that first sitting? Or did you noodle on a draft of this story for a while and the surprise come after different versions/drafts, etc.?
I think what I wonder about most with your stories is what is your first draft “experience” like? Do you always get out a first draft (with an ending) in one sitting? And then revise? Or do you work on multiple drafts? The tight, compactness of your stories seems to work like magic. (I know you referenced this aspect of your writing in your Asthma post.)
And I recognize you’ve shared some of this before, but I think stepping through this story in more detail, in particular would open up a world of . . . I don’t know, something good? Helpful? (At least to me, so maybe I’m just being selfish, and if so, I apologize. And I’m aware that if you do share more about this experience, I’ll probably spend countless hours trying to imitate, or recapture it on my own, which I’ll do with the full knowledge that it will be futile (in trying to achieve writing a story like you write), but will still hope that maybe it will help me get closer to figuring out how to improve on writing the kind of story that I can write.)
So, thanks in advance, for considering.
PS: I’ve never really spent time on social media, commenting publicly, etc., so this feels super frightening, weird. I say that not to pressure you to respond, but only to just put it out there, and ask for forgiveness.
PPS: If you happen to have supernatural recollection power and want to really get into detail about your experience, like: when did you start this story (month, year, day of the week)?, where were you (Tel Aviv, NYC, at a desk, kitchen table)?, what were you wearing (just joking, I’m not a creeper, I swear)? Did you snack while writing it? Listen to music? Drink coffee?
All and/or none of the above may be disregarded. But seriously, thank you for what you do.
Thank you Dave, It is sometimes difficult for me to convince myself that the stuff that I make up matters to people and reading your comment and questions, even though I’m not sure I have a super good answers for them, makes me feel more sensible and coherent than I usually do.
I am bad with times but I do know that it took me a while to sit down and write this one. The main thought in my mind writing it was that our world may lack something really essential and crucial that we can’t even imagine and may never will . And that’s when I thought of the game show and the world without Selfie Sticks. The God thing always takes me by surprise (I removed this ending taking over out of the blue thing in another story about belief called “Pick a color”) . I don’t eat or drink when I write , just talk out loud and walk around a lot. I’m not sure it is the best way. Wish I could drink mor coffee and talk a little less when I write , it would be more dignified. Good luck with everything!
Strange I just wrote a comment here but I can't see it ?
I try again as I see now that my inquiry is visible. : it is a wonderful story . I love stories that are about old fashioned concepts like God, or soul (or love). I don't know if there is a theological conceot that describes my own beliefs. I only "believe" in God when I want to blame someone for bad things happening. If good things happen I either credit myself , or the person directly responsible contributing to the good . Anyway loved reading this . Thank you
I totally identify with your description. It is as if we need to have a word for what we miss. I feel that when I speak about the protagonist's world, it isn't as if I'm trying to make a theological claim as much as to say that there may be something missing in his life (and ours) that could have made us all feel complete , but that since we do not know of this thing we can't even lament the fact that it is missing....man, that was an extra long and zigzagging sentence... I hope it still makes some sense
This is actually a beautiful response. We need a word fir what we are missing . Thank you .
very nice! אהבתי):
I have read quite a few short stories. Easily one of the best I have ever read. And it also makes me wander what or who is that we miss so much and we can't find or even imagine. Bravo!
I enjoyed the story very much. Kudos to the translator!
This was so good, I thing the best short story I've read in years (or ever).
Thank you so much.
Running into you today, on Berlin's grey streets made again the city glow in a blink of an eye, as being in a parallel world! And made me discover this site! Toda!
איזה כיף! תודה 🕺
!Indeed! I remember the piece you wrote about how you used to dedicate books, and l will actually love to get one of your books signed as you used to;) I see the grey*cold Berlin in doing what it does best...pushing us to the limits where we must decide what we need the most! Enjoy the sunny Tel Aviv and the unfolded yet new adventures!
What a terrific story!!!
Thanks!
What a great short story! Makes you think :)