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Talking to the Enemy: Stories
Winner of the 2006 American Library Association Sophie Brody Award
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2005
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has shaped the consciousness of a generation, but never before has it been brought to life in such vivid and telling prose. Part Tim O’Brien and part Bernard Malamud, Avner Mandelman’s Talking to the Enemy ranges from boisterously entertaining tales of domestic squabbles to dark narratives from disillusioned soldiers. Awarded the Jewish Book Award when it was published in Canada and supplemented with recent stories, Talking to the Enemy is the powerful American debut of an international favorite.
"Pity" draws the reader through the descending layers of horror of an Israeli soldier who is party to an assassination attempt gone terribly wrong. In "Terror" a man recalls a traumatic childhood incident that taught him family comes first—before justice, before fear. On a lighter note, "Mish-Mash" is a comical tornado set off when a winning lottery ticket is discovered in a less-than-conventional family, best described as "Sholem Aleichem writes Peyton Place on speed" (Montreal Gazette). Underneath their often brash exteriors Mandelman’s characters search for reconciliation and fulfillment in a land where conflict is a part of everyday life. Mandelman ensnares readers in intense plot-driven narratives that are pierced through with unexpected and ingenious twists. Beneath the surface of the often sparse prose lies evocative, unanswered questions about humanity. Every story delivers a thoroughly engrossing read with an unforgettable ending.
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2005
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has shaped the consciousness of a generation, but never before has it been brought to life in such vivid and telling prose. Part Tim O’Brien and part Bernard Malamud, Avner Mandelman’s Talking to the Enemy ranges from boisterously entertaining tales of domestic squabbles to dark narratives from disillusioned soldiers. Awarded the Jewish Book Award when it was published in Canada and supplemented with recent stories, Talking to the Enemy is the powerful American debut of an international favorite.
"Pity" draws the reader through the descending layers of horror of an Israeli soldier who is party to an assassination attempt gone terribly wrong. In "Terror" a man recalls a traumatic childhood incident that taught him family comes first—before justice, before fear. On a lighter note, "Mish-Mash" is a comical tornado set off when a winning lottery ticket is discovered in a less-than-conventional family, best described as "Sholem Aleichem writes Peyton Place on speed" (Montreal Gazette). Underneath their often brash exteriors Mandelman’s characters search for reconciliation and fulfillment in a land where conflict is a part of everyday life. Mandelman ensnares readers in intense plot-driven narratives that are pierced through with unexpected and ingenious twists. Beneath the surface of the often sparse prose lies evocative, unanswered questions about humanity. Every story delivers a thoroughly engrossing read with an unforgettable ending.
144 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2005
About the author
Avner Mandelman
8 books2 followersAvner Mandelman was born in Israel and served in the Israeli Air Force during the Six-Day War. His story collection Talking to the Enemy was chosen by Kirkus as one of the twenty-five best books of 2005, and by the ALA as the first recipient of the Sophie Brody Medal for outstanding achievement in Jewish literature.
Several of Avner's stories were anthologized, including the Pushcart Prize, the Best American Short Stories, and the Journey prize.
Avner's literary thriller The Debba, the first in the Undertaker trilogy, won the Arthur Ellis Award for best mystery novel, and was listed for the Scotia Giller prize.
His latest book, The Undertaker's Daughter, is second in the Trilogy, and a third book is planned.
Avner also writes investment books, based on his original approach to sleuthing for physical information-- an approach that also serves him well in writing vivid & emotionally gripping fiction.
Avner has a B.Sc. from the Israeli Technion, an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and an MA in English / Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.
He lives in Toronto, Canada.
Several of Avner's stories were anthologized, including the Pushcart Prize, the Best American Short Stories, and the Journey prize.
Avner's literary thriller The Debba, the first in the Undertaker trilogy, won the Arthur Ellis Award for best mystery novel, and was listed for the Scotia Giller prize.
His latest book, The Undertaker's Daughter, is second in the Trilogy, and a third book is planned.
Avner also writes investment books, based on his original approach to sleuthing for physical information-- an approach that also serves him well in writing vivid & emotionally gripping fiction.
Avner has a B.Sc. from the Israeli Technion, an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and an MA in English / Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.
He lives in Toronto, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 29, 2012
Avner Mandelman lives in the west, including Canada (where this book was printed), but his roots are in Israel, and here are some of his short stories about Israel's realities. They include gritty and raw tales from the universe of hit-men of Israel's secret service, professionals in the art of killing for what they view as a fair cause. If you have seen the film "Walk on Water" (highly recommended!) you may have already visited that universe: the view you get here is less comfortable and more stark. The characters, their language and relationships are rough yet believable.
Much of what is told here seem concerned with the fine line between what is moral and what is not. All is fair in love and war, goes the saying--yet in Mandelman's stories, "fair" is a hazy concept. The last story "Og" (weakest of the lot, probably) is an allegoric fable about a mythical giant king from the Bible, and it bluntly asks: when your own survival is at stake, is the killing of innocent bystanders acceptable? Good question.
It's a slim book, but take your time--the writing is dense, and the stories may get you thinking. Even the funny ones have a sting, like "Mish Mash" which pokes fun at the Jewish religious establishment, treading waters too deep for its own spiritual good: a farce, of course, but a clever one. "Black" addresses ethnic prejudice, and "Life in Parts" may be about marital fidelity--yet neither story is easy to classify. Nor is the title story, "Talking to the Enemy" which serves up a mix of revenge, love, lust, duty and a lot more. You'll just have to read it and make up your own mind.
And while the stories revolve around moral issues, they also reveal something about the soul of modern Israel, both its petty issues and its major concerns. You won't get a complete picture, by no means. But you will taste the flavor.
Much of what is told here seem concerned with the fine line between what is moral and what is not. All is fair in love and war, goes the saying--yet in Mandelman's stories, "fair" is a hazy concept. The last story "Og" (weakest of the lot, probably) is an allegoric fable about a mythical giant king from the Bible, and it bluntly asks: when your own survival is at stake, is the killing of innocent bystanders acceptable? Good question.
It's a slim book, but take your time--the writing is dense, and the stories may get you thinking. Even the funny ones have a sting, like "Mish Mash" which pokes fun at the Jewish religious establishment, treading waters too deep for its own spiritual good: a farce, of course, but a clever one. "Black" addresses ethnic prejudice, and "Life in Parts" may be about marital fidelity--yet neither story is easy to classify. Nor is the title story, "Talking to the Enemy" which serves up a mix of revenge, love, lust, duty and a lot more. You'll just have to read it and make up your own mind.
And while the stories revolve around moral issues, they also reveal something about the soul of modern Israel, both its petty issues and its major concerns. You won't get a complete picture, by no means. But you will taste the flavor.
March 24, 2007
A slim little book with stories about modern-day Israel and Mossad. Thought-provoking and well-written, but way too brief. Avner Mandelman was actually in Mossad and not a professional writer, so unfortunately this is his only book of fiction.
July 21, 2008
I didn't read all of these stories (i read half) but loved what I read. A sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing look at Israeli society.
February 21, 2012
Sholem Aleichem on speed.
January 28, 2012
This is a difficult yet hugely introspective set of short stories. The first few deal with the more graphic and popularly villanised side of the Mossad, but which incrementally start to introduce nuance and debatable cultural priorities. These followed by a series of seemingly satirical social pieces, which again gradually increase in complexity and moral difficulty. The final story is an amazing work of allegory that successfully summarises the whole. Extremely well put together and intellectually interesting, if not entirely enjoyable.
January 9, 2011
Again, I love his writing and
the glimpses of the complex Jewish
Arab issues.
the glimpses of the complex Jewish
Arab issues.
March 30, 2016
This was the Sophie Brody Award Recipient for . For the complete list, go to http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/aw...
September 15, 2011
I'm enjoying the book, even though it is not what I had expected. Also, it makes everyone in early Israel sound like Nazi hunters. Which maybe they were, what do I know.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews