Idan, a new army recruit,
can’t take his commander’s abuse any longer, and breaks down. He goes AWOL from
his unit and seeks refuge in the home of his non-conformist grandfather,
because he is sure that he will understand and protect him. In the second
story, Miki, a successful physicist, is attracted to Zen Buddhism and decides
to leave the city with his family in order to find peace in the
countryside. But as he searches for his dream home, he discovers the phoniness
of the ‘idyllic’ pastoral life and is exposed to a vacuous spirituality that disgusts
him. In the title story, Ofer is a would-be high-tech entrepreneur whose start-up
has collapsed, forcing him to sell his home. This seriously damages his
relationship with his wife and he starts to doubt his masculinity. In another,
a lawyer meets a bully who beat him up as a child, and is overwhelmed by
the traumatic memory. In the final story, Motti takes his son on a trip to
Amsterdam. This is Motti’s first trip abroad, but whether it will restore his male
ego and enable his son to see him as a reliable father, is not clear.
All the
stories in this impressive collection deal with the Israeli male ego. In
matters of livelihood, professional ambition, self-fulfillment and the desperate
need for recognition, Weisman’s heroes find themselves at a crossroads. They
must face up to issues of responsibility, love and loyalty, as well as the gap
between their dreams and reality. With a critical eye on social norms and deep love
for human beings, Weisman serves up slices of Israeli life full of humor and
compassion.
PARTIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE (for publishers only).
REVIEWS
Israeli Breakfast
is an outstanding collection that demonstrates full mastery of the art of the
short story; an education in good writing … Weisman’s stories
activate an emotional intensity that it is difficult to explain analytically…
If you want to write, read Israeli
Breakfast, and if you only want to read, give yourselves as
little present each time: one story from the collection at bedtime.
Omri Herzog, Haaretz
This is Hebrew prose that is arousing but measured,
multi-layered but economical. Prose that relies upon the intelligence of its
readers. The reading enjoyment also springs from the sense that behind the
specific themes and forms there is a guiding hand.
Arik Glasner, Yedioth Ahronoth
Nizan Weisman restores not only the rather lost honor of
the short story but also the basic human and ethical dimension that has largely
gone missing from Israeli culture, including literature. A warmly recommended
book for those who would like to remember that there is such a thing as a desire
for justice, and that there is still such things as human solidarity and family
and mainly that in addition to the “I” there is also “the other"
Author Reuven Miran
A wonderful writer … His writing is human, pure,
captivating. A moving book … That very rare thing that a book can
do to us happened to me … I found myself opening up to the story and swallowing
it as if were a healing drug … Nizan has managed to bring to life not only a
very particular period and characters who are unforgettable for me, but also
that elusive thing which it is difficult to put one’s finger on, and to say,
“That’s it!”
Author Yossi Waxman
Nizan Weisman’s new book will give exquisite and powerful
drama.
Yotam Shwimmer, Ynet
I
gulped the five stories down in one weekend, and the memory of the lost heroes
is still echoing inside me. Weisman’s writing style, which is not afflicted by
the symptoms of too-thin prose, enabled me to feel as though Yehoshua Kenaz was behind the words … Do not miss it.
Author Tamara Avner
The political dimension
gives the book its power. That, and Weisman’s ability for precise nuance.
Author Ron Dahan
The story titled “Rural Temple” is one of the best ever written in Hebrew, certainly in recent years. “Ruffians,” the shortest story in the book, is also surprisingly powerful.
Tal Goldstein, Megafon
Loaded short stories …
Polished writing about local conflicts.
Dafna Levy, LaIsha
The five stories that make up Nizan
Weisman’s book are like a great recipe … Weisman observes -- and tells
about the experience of that observation – in a way that is different to what
we have known. He does so slowly, with a certain hesitation, but nevertheless,
the picture that emerges is sharp and clear, sometimes upsetting but mainly
realistic and very direct … Each story manages to hit our soft underbelly … Food
for thought.
Tammy Windsberg, Club50
In the well-woven cloth sewn here by
Nizan Weisman he leaves hidden tears, through which naked flesh protrudes. The
characters he writes about elicit compassion but under closer examination, they
are also alarming. In an almost surprising way, Weisman’s concealed gem has all
but become a cult book since it came out.
Shai Ilan, Kol Bo
Weisman constructs each story and each
character wisely and interestingly, so that at the end of each story the reader
retains an insight … The writing is honest, acute and of high quality.
Merav Gat, Saloona
Nizan Weisman is revealed … in all of his genius. With an artist’s hand he creates memorable characters with thoughts, desires and yearnings, and then, at the least expected moment, he turns their lives upside down in incredible ways. Hats off! … Five short stories. Five insights. Recommended!
Shuly Malka, Literary blog