A very true comment don't you think? ;-)

It adds to mine now as well now, thanks!

If i were you i would steal this warning.

@David

David, David, David... you are not trying to make Arnon commit a crime are you? ;-)

Natasza

My dear Natasza,

Maybe Arnon has a collection of towels, soaps and even more in his house.

Would you take it?

;)

Natasza, Arnon

My grandmother stole a lot of things in here life, but she had a very big collection of restaurant and hotel ashtrays.
We found the collection when she died. There was a little letter too: 'My ashtrays are for my favorite grandson' We still don't know who this is.
So for the pride of my family i try to steal as much possible in hotels and restaurants.

India, what a nice country, where only the naughty monkeys steal…

@David

Would she or would she not... Maybe I will once tell you David ;)

I think I would steal if I saw an open window, if I were an employee. It adds to the story the inhabitants (probably) want to tell afterwards. Maybe I'd even have a jar filled with monkeyhair and spread it all over the room after stealing.

@Arnon

I read the first part of your piece on 'A Foreign Affair' and Ukranian brides (NRC Handelsblad). In light of our arguments on (a.o.) issues relating to free will and women I feel obliged to tell you that I was pleasantly surprised. I am not entirely sure yet whic direction the piece is heading and what point you are planning to make (maybe none, just exposing) but what struck me was your tone. I'm sensing a shift in tone, this particualr piece is less cynical than I would have expected it to be, it even holds in it the promise of sentimentality. I find this shift you're making refreshing. Perhaps I am now almost ready to read Onze Oom, or maybe your next novel will capitalize on this promise. In any event, I hope part two on the Ukranian brides will and look forward to reading it.
Happy New Year.
ps - did you meet Elizabeth?

To Arnon

Although I haven't read your latest piece in NRC Handelsblad I am curious to know what you think of the abundance of people reading cynicism in your work.

That characterization always strikes me, as a sign of - I try to stay away from calling it poor reading -, inattentive reading. Making your reviewers your first fiends, as they continuously fail to understand you but nonetheless are responsible for spreading those misunderstandings as thorough analysis.

@Pjotr

It seems you're basing your comment on mine, so I'd like to respond. Just in case you were wondering: I am not a reviewer, I am a writer and as such have always been a close reader of Arnon's work. I agree that saying his work is cynical is a way too narrow statement, but we hardly have space for anything other than narrow statements.
I once mentioned here: naivity in due time turns into cynicism, so cynicism in my view is not necessarily a bad tool to bring across the same message of human vulnerability. In fact. it's highly effective especially when combined with humor. The only thing I noticed was a shift in the tone of this journalistic piece, one that I personally find interesting. Even though cynicism stems from the same basic emotion as naivity, when a writer uses cynicism it is protective as it exposes the nature of a writer's subject, but not that of the writer him/herself. Whereas sentimentality serves to expose not only the object a writer is describing, but shows us a little more about the writer him/herself. Of course, this is all my personal opinion and maybe you think I'm entirely off. I'd be interested to hear your opinion about the piece. Perhaps part two will change mine. Ultimately, it all depends on the ultimate point his article is going to make.

And Pjotr

And by the way - what are your thoughts on Arnon and AFTh writing the 'boekenweek geschenk' together? Wouldn't you say that's about as far as you can push cynicism (or irony?). As Sheakespeare would say:
"Tomorrow and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, grief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury
Signifying nothing."

Pjötr

The accusation of cynicism says a lot about the accuser.
There are readers who are looking in a text for the confirmation of their world view. If this world view is not confirmed shouting "cynicism" is one possible way to defend the world view that has come under attack.

@Arnon

Why in your opinion should cynicism be seen as an accusation?

Sorry, my phrasing was off, I meant: why are you of the opinion that cynicism is an accusation?