An ingenious, witty, behind-the-scenes novel about eight hours in the life of an author.A literary celebrity is in Tel Aviv on a stifling hot night...
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reviews
May 27, 2009
Stephen
rated it: 
My reading of novelists frequently mentioned as potential Nobel Prize winners continues with the Israeli writer Amos Oz. I first became familiar with Oz when I read a dazzling section of his "A Tale of Love and Darkness," which I must return to one day. His most recent novel, "Rhyming Life and Death," is a small, wonderful homage to the blessing (or is it a curse?) of imagination, which becomes the bedrock of the "author," the novel's central character. The entir
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Feb 04, 2010
Jim
rated it:
My gut feeling is that this will be a bit of a love-it-or-loathe-it kind of a book. Personally I loved it. I could have written it. I wish I had. Now I can't. Damn. But the lack of a real plot will drive some people mad. Some of the Author's musings actually pan out into short stories but most are just character sketches that simply merge into one another. And then it just stops. Well, it doesn't really but it reaches a point where the author is stopped in his tracks; someone is dead – what more
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Aug 16, 2009
Jeff
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I have been fascinated with the writing process as of late and the idea behinds this book fascinated me.Eight hours in the life of the Author with all his inner thoughts and character creations laid out before your eyes. All the events may be part of the Authors reality, his characters, or a fantasy, you'll have to guess. It's like being part of theAuthor's innermost thoughts even fleeting ones. I found it fascinatng.
Quotes
Sometimes he included a short epitaph for someone wh More...
Quotes
Sometimes he included a short epitaph for someone wh More...
Mar 01, 2011
Bibliophile
rated it:
OK, recunosc, nu ma asteptam sa-mi placa intr-atat de mult Rime despre viata si moarte. Da, am gasit-o bazata pe o idee interesanta, dar am crezut ca, timp de 170 de pagini, voi citi si aberatii. Mai sunt unele momente de ratacire, pe ici, pe colo, dar asa are fiecare autor, cred eu. In orice caz... cuvintele nu sunt de ajuns pentru a descrie cat de mult am apreciat-o.
De data asta, descrierea de pe toate site-urile e satisfacatoare, anume ca un scriitor invitat la o conferinta de presa More...
De data asta, descrierea de pe toate site-urile e satisfacatoare, anume ca un scriitor invitat la o conferinta de presa More...
Jun 04, 2009
Gina
rated it: 
I guess I just have very little patience for endlessly introspective grown ups who can't seem to form any functional relationships, and just bump around acting selfish and feeling lonely. I mean, when you're 14 ok. When you're 60, just get some counseling, or grow up and start acting a little kind and generous so you'll feel some happiness. I think in real life I'm more charitable towards someone like the main character in this book, but I felt a little annoyed that the whole book just hung arou
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Jun 27, 2011
Bookmaniac70
rated it:
Денонощието на един застаряващ писател- трябва да си Амос Оз, за да напишеш великолепна книга върху този сюжет:-)). Харесвам го, защото ми прави близки възможно най-тривиалните битовизми със своя леко самоироничен,леко тъжен, леко критичен поглед. 150 страници, изпълнени с характеристични герои от литературния живот на Израел и една почти не-носталгична нишка на "римите на живота и смъртта"- отглас от популярна битова поезия, който сякаш символизира преходността на временната известнос
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Jun 03, 2010
Lauren
rated it:
I liked this though I'm not quite sure why. The author/character turns every one he sees and interacts with into a character in a story. For example, he gives people in the audience at a reading names, spouses, has them laid off from their jobs, etc. By the end of this short book, it becomes unclear if any of the story is "real" or if all the incidences he narrates are just part of a story he is writing in his head as he lives.
Sep 02, 2010
Kate
rated it:
I picked this up out of idle curiosity at the library, and it was interesting. Eight hours in the life of an author, during which he makes up stories about the people he encounters. It wasn't comfortable - they weren't always nice stories, and there was a lot of awkwardness and dysfunctional family stuff - but definitely interesting, and short enough that I didn't get too bored.
Dec 05, 2009
Vasil
rated it: 
Кратка книга, но пък се чете на един дъх. Интересно е да влезеш в главата на някой и да видиш как възприема целия свят около себеи си, какво мисли и как го изменя.
Apr 09, 2009
Christan
rated it:
Amos Oz is Israel's best novelist and a true master of the craft of writing. His strength as a novelist lies in his masterful observations. Reading Oz is like biting into an apple that is slightly turned - although tart, the taste is superior to the simply sweet.
Oct 01, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
A really intricate and intriguing book. The author is the main character and the book takes place over the course of an evening. The author creates stories for all of the people he encounters, some romantic and some tragic. Really well written.
Apr 05, 2010
Letianne
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i don't like it as much as Love and darkness, Black Box, The Hill of Evil Councel and so on but i should confess that the process of a talented author's imagination did give me some inspiration.
Jun 03, 2010
Nigohosian
rated it:
Първата книга на Оз, която прочетох. Нещо не ми влезе под кожата. Ще пробвам и "История за любов и мрак".
Mar 22, 2010
Jean
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Disappointed in what seems to be digressions by the Author (as main character is called) as he sees people and invents stories about them interspersed with some actual interactions.
Mar 16, 2009
Judy
rated it:
I reviewed for the Boston Globe. The book takes place over the course of a night. It's a powerful novella about relationships and a clever satire on the literary business.
Jan 09, 2011
Jonfaith
rated it:
This was nice detour after the navigation of Ulysses. It was bitter cold outdoors and eight hours of an Author's life in Tel Aviv was a fitting escape.
May 03, 2009
Janelle
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It's kind of magic how Amos Oz weaves fiction and fiction here so you don't know what's part of the story and what's not. A fast read and more than worth it.
Oct 14, 2009
Marie
rated it:
My first encounter with an author I have come to love for his casual handling of profound insight and personal observations of the human condition.
Aug 24, 2011
Aviva
rated it:
citaat: er zijn gewiekste antwoorden en ontwijkende antwoorden. eenvoudige en eerlijke antwoorden zijn er niet
Jul 13, 2009
This book is written "The Author drinks his coffee and finds that it tastes like onions and margarine...the author imagines the woman's name is Millie..."
I'm much too impatient in my reading lately to enjoy (or trudge through) this.
I'm much too impatient in my reading lately to enjoy (or trudge through) this.
Apr 08, 2010
Nikolay
rated it:
Не се подвеждайте от наивното заглавие, това не е стихосбирка. Това е роман, в който не се случва почти нищо, но е написан супер увлекателно и забавно.
Apr 28, 2008
Delphine
rated it:
Un grand écrivain ne parvient pas à rester concentré pendant le débat qui est consacré à son oeuvre. Il imagine alors le nom et la vie des personnages qui l'entourent, les englobe dans sa fiction, les dévore.
Mais, peu à peu, certains reprennent leur indépendance et menacent son récit. Réalité? Réalité dans la fiction de l'auteur réel? Fiction? Les frontières s'abolissent et le lecteur perd pied… tout comme le grand écrivain.
Un court roman, dense et très intéressant.
Mais, peu à peu, certains reprennent leur indépendance et menacent son récit. Réalité? Réalité dans la fiction de l'auteur réel? Fiction? Les frontières s'abolissent et le lecteur perd pied… tout comme le grand écrivain.
Un court roman, dense et très intéressant.
Dec 22, 2011
Steve
rated it:
OK, maybe I didn't get it, and maybe it was just too cute, by half. I started this (very short) book a couple of times, and I just couldn't get motivated to get back to it. Even though it was (again, very) slim, I struggled to get through it, and looked forward to the non-chapter breaks as an excuse to put the book down.... The good news is that, now, this one is behind me. Ultimately, I've enjoyed Oz's works, when I've read them, but this one did not ring my bell....
Jun 30, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
Novel about a famous author making up characters for a novel, kind of pretentious but good clear writing.
Feb 09, 2012
