In a 1996 interview in the Paris Review, Amoz Oz ended with this: “If death arrived tonight, it would find me angry and unwilling, but not unprepared.” I probably admired Israeli writer Amoz Oz for lesser reasons than many. As a non-jew, I surely missed much of the richness in his work. But I read him eagerly over the years nonetheless–admired him, as one of the few writers that moved me deeply with story, without ever revealing exactly how.
His memoir, A Tale of Love and Darkness remains with me still. As does the stories of Scenes from Village Life. Oz was an artist in the fullest sense. I will continue to read him and learn from him.
Jonathan Bennett 