I used to feel that if I say something's wrong, I have to say how it could be made right. But what I learned from Kurt Vonnegut was that I could write stories that say I may not have a solution, but this is wrong - that's good enough. Etgar Keret feelgoodkurt share on social
Most of the Jewish writer friends I have are American, and I feel closer to them because they're always obsessed with one issue - identity: what does it mean to be an American Jew? Etgar Keret americanclosefeel Change image and share on social
In Israel, the role of the writer is dictated by the language in which you write. Writers see themselves as cultural prophets. Etgar Keret culturaldictateisrael Change image and share on social
Being published in Arabic is a strong and consistent wish I have. I live in the Middle East and want to be in some sort of an unpragmatic dialogue with my neighbors. Etgar Keret arabicconsistentdialogue Change image and share on social
I tried once in my life to write a novel. I had written something like 80 pages of it when my laptop got stolen. When I told people this, they acted as if something tragic had happened, but I kind of felt relieved, grateful to the thief who saved me from another year of something that felt more like homework than fun. Etgar Keret actfeltfun share on social
I rarely return to characters. My characters, at least most of them, are much more a part of that superorganism that is the story than separate and independent creatures. Etgar Keret charactercreatureindependent Change image and share on social
I always have a story in my head that needs to be written, or at least I think I do. But I usually can't find the time to write it. Etgar Keret findheadstory Change image and share on social
Before I started to make films, I didn't give much thought to the way the characters were physically positioned in the story world. Etgar Keret characterfilmgive Change image and share on social
I write in a slangy colloquial speech that has not been common in the Israeli tradition of writing, and that is one of the things that gets lost a little in translation. Etgar Keret colloquialcommonisraeli Change image and share on social
My stories are very compact. I want them to say the most complex things in the simplest way. Etgar Keret compactcomplexsimple Change image and share on social