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Fiction with an Israeli setting
Most of the fictional works that take place in Israel seem to be written by either Israelis or Americans.
I think after (almost) 60 years, we can look back at what's been written and compare / contrast the ways that Israel & Israelis have been depicted in fiction --- for better or worse.
My (over)generalization is this :
When Americans write fiction that takes place in Israel, they tend to write stories that deal with religion, politics &/or terrorism.
When Israelis write fiction that takes place in their home country, their characters tend to deal with anything but religion, politics, or terrorism ; they tend to write about ordinary, everyday events happening to ordinary citizens with religion, politics or terrorism mentioned in the background, if at all.
My generalization is probably wrong --- and I certainly haven't read 60 years' worth of Israel-based fiction, but I'm interested in what thoughts others have about this.
I think after (almost) 60 years, we can look back at what's been written and compare / contrast the ways that Israel & Israelis have been depicted in fiction --- for better or worse.
My (over)generalization is this :
When Americans write fiction that takes place in Israel, they tend to write stories that deal with religion, politics &/or terrorism.
When Israelis write fiction that takes place in their home country, their characters tend to deal with anything but religion, politics, or terrorism ; they tend to write about ordinary, everyday events happening to ordinary citizens with religion, politics or terrorism mentioned in the background, if at all.
My generalization is probably wrong --- and I certainly haven't read 60 years' worth of Israel-based fiction, but I'm interested in what thoughts others have about this.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Karen Tintori on
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My best friend of 26 years, Jill Gregory, and I write Jewish mystical thrillers. Sections of our first thriller,The Book of Names, take place in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Safed (and New York, Los Angeles, Sicily and other locales).
Our second, The Illumination prominently features Jerusalem, since the Temple Mount figures heavily into the plot. We are now "plotzing" our third Jewish mystical thriller, as yet untitled, which will again have scenes set in Israel.
I think as long as we are wrting thrillers based on mystical Jewish themes we will have not only Israeli characters in the stories, but Israeli settings.
My husband recently came up with using the term "plotzing" to describe the angst-making, thrilling, brain-wracking, frustraing and exhilarating process of puzzling together all the elements of a good Jewish thriller. Jill and I think he's a genius. Especially since we are "plotzing" a lot these days.
Karen Tintori
www.karentintori.com
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Permalink Reply by Susan on -
I think you are accurate in your description. We Jews that live in the U. S. are looking and presume that in Israel every thing is in a wrapped around Judaism. Your ideas are what I would think too. The Rabbi in our temple gave me a different view of Israel. I think I was very idealistic before he told me that. I assumed that Jews are religious in Israel. He told me Jews that live in Israel are mostly secular. They come to the synagogue during the high holidays only. They want to escape it and talk and write about other things like daily life. Just like in Brooklyn, NY. If you live in a religious area you are surrounded by it. You want to escape it. Most of us that don't live in a area where there are many Jews. We think religion. This is only my perspective. I would like to see what others think.
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