@Arnon

A souvenir shop hahaha. And what kind of souvenirs did you have in mind? Good luck with getting to Bhagdad.

Imagine how quiet it will be over there. No fans around because you are not allowed to tell where you are.

To David Martino, and others

I fail to understand your characterisation of my tone. It do however strikes me, that in real life, I have been attended to it, that I speak more formal than is common. Perhaps my ‘style’ of writing, is a result of this. I would argue that patronising is beyond my ambition.
I do would like to stress that suggestion is no synonym for accusation.
When I noticed that commentators took it on their behalf to utter maternal worries, I did not suggest that all maternal emotions are benign.

I must say I was most charmed by your penultimate sentence. I hope to have taken responsibility, and been of service of your taste for the bitter.

To David Martino
I fail to understand your characterisation of my tone. It do however strikes me, that in real life, I have been attended to it, that I speak more formal than is common. Perhaps my ‘style’ of writing, is a result of this. I would argue that patronising is beyond my ambition.
I do would like to stress that suggestion is no synonym for accusation.
When I noticed that commentators took it on their behalf to utter maternal worries, I did not suggest that all maternal emotions are benign.

I must say I was most charmed by your penultimate sentence. I hope to have taken responsibility, and been of service of your taste for the bitter.

To Pablo Del Pueblo

I fail to understand the (what is poignant, I gather from your message) foundation of your most clear critique; namely ‘cocky elucidation’.
As stated above, I do not see know why you see maternal expressions by definition as provocative.
It isn’t arbitrary to have clear definitions of what hostility is, and what it isn’t but if David Martino’s statement is true, and we are all over-sensitive, it might be very much so that your assumption is pointless as well. As being over-sensitive deprives us from correct assessments.

To Margot Manon

It was Pablo Del Pueblo that made clear to me what you meant. I thought my two short messages led you allusions to paedophilia, and an unpublished novel. You were trying to say, that I ‘explore the edges of ridicule’.
I have taken note of this.

This brings me to one of the recurring themes in Arnon Grunberg’s work: the effort, and prices of seeking contentment.
I shall grant each one of you my silence, in order not to bring down the quality of debate. Which you hopefully recognise as contribution to the wellbeing of this website, and it’s visitors.

Arnon

At least you haven't lost your sense of humour. Good luck in Iraq.

So far for the lucky Charms ey?

Pjötr

Please don't go away.
We shake hands and we are friends, allright?

Shouting

Indeed upon entering the army, me too I was told to shout when addressing to a higher rank. So I did, but I shouted so loudly that the sergeant got startled and looked at me as I was a nutcase.
But I prefer a souvenir shop over the ‘neuro’ department.
Got you, you are in Ziggurat Base!

@ Pjötr

It's not about silencing you on this blog , there really is no need for that. Let's just drop this case and get on.

@ Arnon

It looks like a marketplace. The thing I remember from marketplaces is that the shopowners shout a lot. Try: 'Carpets! Beautiful carpets!'

Jan Thys/Pablo

Because of the slow internet Arnon asked me to find a picture of a souvenir shop to accompany the text.
I found this one at Flickr and I did think it was appropriate, because the souvenir shop on the picture is indeed on a base in Iraq.
To avoid misunderstandings, the picture does not represent where Arnon is or was.

Kafka in Irak

Or Buster Keaton

Pjötr

"If equal affection cannot be/ let the more loving one be me"