2021/7 Discussion for S.Y. Agnon's To This Day--MOD'S CHOICE

[Jan]

Several members have commented on books by A.B. Yehoshua they have read and loved. On looking him up, I found a "By the Book" interview with the New York Times in which he was grateful for the world-wide readership of Israeli literature, but he thought we would all benefit from reading the earlier Hebrew literature that came before modern Israeli writing. He said Agnon was a major influence for him. So...here's a novel by S.Y. Agnon. Shall we give it a try? I hear it's short but not necessarily easy...

[Sharon]

Many of Agnon's novels and novellas are challenging, especially in English translation. One novel by Agnon that is very accessible is A Simple Story. It is not terribly long and beautifully translated by Hillel Halkin. It would be a great one to start with!

[Jan]

Sharon wrote: "Many of Agnon's novels and novellas are challenging, especially in English translation. One novel by Agnon that is very accessible is A Simple Story. It is not terribly long and beautifully transla..."

Sharon, I appreciate your input!
And I see I erroneously phrased my opening comment as a question, Shall we give it a try?, which I shouldn't have done. To This Day went on the group bookshelf a week or so ago (of which you don't received notifications), and I committed to it as this month's mod's choice.
That said, can you give us any tips that will be helpful background, even though this one isn't as accessible? and even any comments on this or others of his books (without spoilers, of course.) Please! Comments from other Agnon readers would also be most welcome!
I have great trust in this translator -- the same one -- so that will help, to the degree possible. Have been working through Hillel Halkin's book on early Hebrew lit for some time now -- it really is a book requiring study and not an easy read. And Agnon is the last chapter in it. I'm sure I'll have more insight when I finally get there.
If we'd happened to talk earlier, I certainly would have been open to your suggestion.
But in the meantime I hope we can get somewhere with To This Day.

[Jan]

This book has an introduction by the very good translator that both Sharon & I have mentioned. At the end of the first page he gave an option to skip the rest and start the book itself, and I did that. If I get bogged down, I'll go straight back to the intro.

The translator says on this one Agnon fooled the critics and that the book is entertaining and good, no matter what they say.

In chapter 1, he sets quite an atmosphere...
In Berlin during WW1 (the Great War)
A protagonist who has lived in Palestine (it's pre-1948) as well as Germany
What was it like for Jews in Germany during the Great War?

[Jan]

I've finished this book, all except going back to pick up the translator's introduction I skipped.

And I read the chapter on S. Y. Agnon in Halkin's The Lady of Hebrew and Her Lovers of Zion. It's the very last chapter, and I had been slogging through that one for a while (part of the time with the help of a study group). Now my thinking cap goes on for a while.

Started to say 'Kafkaesque' but much more direct than Kafka.

[Jan]

I read this because A.B. Yehoshua said reading the earlier Hebrew lit would help w/reading modern Israeli writing. I'm sure he's right. But helps to have a teacher, too, so I'm glad for the translator's intro (although I chose to read the book 1st; the instruction is easier to take in when you've read what he's talking about!).

My review; don't think it's full of spoilers but does say what to expect. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

As I put in the review, if you're a Hebrew speaker, would particularly like to hear your experience of this book!