Mordechai Schamz

by Marc Cholodenko, Dominic Di Bernardi

In a series of comic vignettes and letters, Mordechai Schamz sets out to investigate himself, his world, and the language which makes them both intelligible. Dumbfounded at every turn and undiscouraged by -- perhaps even unaware of -- his failures, he confidently gets lost in the labyrinth of his investigations. Reminiscent of Flaubert's Bouvard and Pecuchet, Calvino's Palomar, and Beckett's Watt, Mordechai Schamz ponders the mysteries of life through cliches and solipsisms, making himself the master of the illogical and the clown of the absurd.

121 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Andrew]

Only the French write things like this, the dreamy thoughts of a man about town. In this way, it fits in well with the oeuvre of Georges Perec. Of course there’s nothing resembling a plot, there doesn’t need to be – there are only dreamy observations that (I guess) are meant to be humorous, but just like in Jacques Rivette’s Celine and Julie, I think you have to be French to actually laugh. But while I didn’t laugh, I enjoyed this, one goof at a time.

[Jan Moens]

6/10