Last week may turn out to have been the best yet, in terms of publicity, for Israel vs. Utopia. Closing out with a midweek plug in The Nation, by Eric Alterman, the week began with a reprint of Keith Kahn-Harris’ review for The Forward in Sunday’s edition of Ha’aretz.
Local curio shop trafficking in kitsch covering everything from Italian colonialism to boys toys and illegal immigration. Milan, 12/09.
In the US, Jews are known to go out for Chinese food on Christmas day. In Milan, I’m not so sure. The only Jews we know are Israelis, who are more likely to go out for Italian food, irrespective of the actual occasion. This evening we decided to get doner kebab piadinas, with several pieces of baklava, and a free side of fries thrown in for good measure.
The most in-depth review of Israel vs. Utopia to date was published in The Forward yesterday. Combined with reviews of brand new books by Yitzhak Laor and James Horrox (the title I edited for AK Press), its an honor to keep such company.
Enclosed at the end of the article is an audio interview with yours truly, about IvU, conducted by arts and culture editor Dan Friedman. We recorded it in New York at the end of November, just before I got on my return flight to Milan.
Searching for an Edward Hopper exhibit on Sunday, we happened upon a stage being prepared for Silvio Berlusconi. Several hours later, the Prime Minister was assaulted within two or three meters of this location.
Watching the news over dinner, the proximity of the event felt especially unnerving. Relatively private, without many local acquaintances, it was a visceral reminder of where we are, and how deeply we’ve become tied to it.
Imagine being able to think about history the way we want it to be imagined. That is, interpreted, reacted to, summed up in ways that make it all better. Compiling lists of favorite books, music and literature at the end of every year is one way to do this. Hence my eleventh annual editor’s top ten.
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