Arnon Grunberg

Honor

Shame

In the fall of 2004 I went for the first time to Lima to do some research for my novella “Monkey Grabbing Hold of Happiness.” The research consisted mainly of walking around in certain neighborhoods. Some people socialize easily, I believe I can be charming on certain occasions but to be good at socializing you need to get rid of all your shame. At the end I guess I like my shame better than I like socializing.
In the late summer of 2006 I went to back to Peru to visit Lori Berenson for a series of articles for a Dutch newspaper. I traveled together with Lori’s dad.
I have fond memories of that trip, but I could not help thinking of myself at certain moments as a peeping Tom.
I try to bring honor to the profession of peeping.