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chicokc's review against another edition
4.0
Cuentos que parecen en parte autobiografía, hay de amistad, hermandad, paternidad, muerte, locura, ambición, abandono, nostalgia, espionaje, ...
levitatingnumeral's review against another edition
4.0
Imagine a book that can combine twisted, morbid stories with a very light writing style. That's Missing Kissinger. It's a collection of short stories that are incredibly easy and fast to read, but whose plot revolves around death, abuse or something disgusting .
Overall, it's a pleasant read, yet I couldn't help but notice one thing: it's a book written by a man for men. I don't know if it's intentional or not, but it does dwell on a masculine (micro?)cosm, it's made for men to empathise with, and that sometimes caused me to feel distant from the stories being told.
Spoiler
(like giant cockroaches)Overall, it's a pleasant read, yet I couldn't help but notice one thing: it's a book written by a man for men. I don't know if it's intentional or not, but it does dwell on a masculine (micro?)cosm, it's made for men to empathise with, and that sometimes caused me to feel distant from the stories being told.
cel_red's review against another edition
3.0
Los cuentos de Keret no son algo sencillo de clasificar, cada uno es completamente distinto del anterior en cuanto al género que manejan. De pronto puede haber humor, después algo sobrenatural, luego algo realista seguido de una simple anécdota. Creo que eso es lo que más me gustó del libro, porque aunque algunos cuentos me dejaron diciendo "eso qué", otros estaban muy bien logrados. Mis favoritos fueron Gaza Blues y Aceras, en especial Aceras, porque son muy simples, pero tienen un trasfondo pesado.
El cuento que le da título a esto es raro, como muchos otros que componen este volumen, y uno se pregunta el por qué del título. Cuando leí el cuento pensé que Kissinger era una persona que si hubiese existido en el cuento, hubiera podido hacer de mediador en la situación en la que el protagonista se encontraba. Y es justo así, Kissinger era un político que para Keret era la imagen de un negociador, sin embargo, él comenta que cuando se publicó el libro en Estados Unidos, Kissinger era visto más como un político corrupto que otra cosa, así que el significado del título cambió totalmente para algunas personas.
Para leer más: https://bitviajera.blogspot.com/2014/09/libro-extranando-kissinger.html
El cuento que le da título a esto es raro, como muchos otros que componen este volumen, y uno se pregunta el por qué del título. Cuando leí el cuento pensé que Kissinger era una persona que si hubiese existido en el cuento, hubiera podido hacer de mediador en la situación en la que el protagonista se encontraba. Y es justo así, Kissinger era un político que para Keret era la imagen de un negociador, sin embargo, él comenta que cuando se publicó el libro en Estados Unidos, Kissinger era visto más como un político corrupto que otra cosa, así que el significado del título cambió totalmente para algunas personas.
Para leer más: https://bitviajera.blogspot.com/2014/09/libro-extranando-kissinger.html
vonnegutian's review
4.0
Etgar Keret - what a name! I’m not even sure how you pronounce it but you should remember it because this here is a very talented man. I’m not really a short story person but I do tend to read a few collections a year.
This wasn’t the first of Keret’s books I bought (that was Kneller’s Happy Campers) but it is the first I’ve read and I’m 99% sure he’s my favourite short story writer. Think George Saunders’ The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil/ Persuasion Nation meets Shaun Tan meets Kurt Vonnegut... maybe. I’m not sure, it’s been a while since I finished it and the memories aren’t as fresh but the one thing I do know is that this guy can write. His short stories do everything I could ask a short story to do: quickly involving me in characters’ plights, make me think ‘that’s a cool situation to write a story about’ and surprise me with a twist. There are of course other things but these particularly strike me as being hugely important in stories that have so little time to root. The other problem with short stories are the duds, but this was another thing that struck me reading Missing Kissinger: there are very few, if any, duds. I predict he will be little known but I urge you to give him a try as his short, leftfield, witty offerings are nothing short of brilliant.
This wasn’t the first of Keret’s books I bought (that was Kneller’s Happy Campers) but it is the first I’ve read and I’m 99% sure he’s my favourite short story writer. Think George Saunders’ The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil/ Persuasion Nation meets Shaun Tan meets Kurt Vonnegut... maybe. I’m not sure, it’s been a while since I finished it and the memories aren’t as fresh but the one thing I do know is that this guy can write. His short stories do everything I could ask a short story to do: quickly involving me in characters’ plights, make me think ‘that’s a cool situation to write a story about’ and surprise me with a twist. There are of course other things but these particularly strike me as being hugely important in stories that have so little time to root. The other problem with short stories are the duds, but this was another thing that struck me reading Missing Kissinger: there are very few, if any, duds. I predict he will be little known but I urge you to give him a try as his short, leftfield, witty offerings are nothing short of brilliant.
avitalgadcykman's review
4.0
Etgar Keret is sharp and surprising. He concentrates a lot in very short stories that can make twists inside your head. I should read more by him, however, because this book, in spite of being brilliant, made me think about good copy writers and what are their work requirements. I'll be looking for Keret's soul.
tosferina's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
estherounette's review against another edition
2.0
Un recueil correct, mais qui ne respecte pas les promesses de la 4e de couverture. Ce ne sont pas des nouvelles "d'une brièveté redoutable". J'en ai lu de plus efficaces et de plus courtes. Elles ne sont pas non plus "provocantes" "écrites en état d'urgence, le souffle coupé". Peut-être que la différence vient de la traduction française très "de France" (au Québec, des meufs, des gonzesses et des pompes, on n'en a pas). C'est aussi ma première immersion dans la littérature israélienne, mais je n'ai pas senti de dépaysement complet, comme c'est le cas lorsque je lis des oeuvres orientales comme du Murakami. Le recueil n'est pas "culturellement" insolite.
Je comprends que l'éditeur français ait choisi le titre de la dernière nouvelle pour le recueil (évitons à tout prix de choisir un titre anglais, voyons!). Pourtant, "Missing Kissinger", nouvelle centrale du recueil, me semble plus à même de symboliser le reste de l'oeuvre.
Ça m'apprendra à choisir un livre au hasard dans une librairie.
Je comprends que l'éditeur français ait choisi le titre de la dernière nouvelle pour le recueil (évitons à tout prix de choisir un titre anglais, voyons!). Pourtant, "Missing Kissinger", nouvelle centrale du recueil, me semble plus à même de symboliser le reste de l'oeuvre.
Ça m'apprendra à choisir un livre au hasard dans une librairie.