Zeruya Shalev

Zeruya Shalev, one of the most widely read Israeli authors, will appear at BorderKitchen on 6 April. Volkskrant editor and critic Arjan Peters will interview her on this evening (in English).

Zeruya Shalev (1959) was born on Kibbutz Kinneret and currently lives in Jerusalem. She gained acclaim both inside and outside Israel with the novels Liefdesleven (Love Life, 1997), Man en vrouw (Man and Woman, 2003), De tweede familie (The Remains of Love, 2008) and Het hart van de familie (The Day the Sun Died, 2012). Her books have been translated into more than 20 languages and have become bestsellers in several countries. In April, her newest novel will be published: Pijn (Pain).

About Pijn
Ten years ago, Iris was seriously injured in a terrorist attack on a bus. That meant: ten years of pain. In the meantime, she has rebuilt her life and works as a school principal. Her husband adores her and her children have left home, but the pain has remained.

When Iris meets Eitan at a party—her great youthful love who left her abruptly like a bolt from the blue—she loses her bearings completely. The wound he caused her back then proves to be no less deep and painful than the one inflicted by the suicide bomber who blew himself up in a bus just three metres away from her. To her irritation and surprise, she still feels—more accurately, feels again—drawn to him. She catches herself thinking she wants to escape her marriage, invent small lies, and do everything she can to see him again. But can love heal old wounds? Is it possible to start over once more? And what makes Iris so certain that only Eitan, the betrayer of their former love, can free her from her pain?

Zeruya Shalev once again succeeds in telling a story about the power of rekindled passion, eroticism and self-deception. Shalev herself survived an attack similar to the one described in this novel. Pijn is without doubt her most personal book and an emotional journey to the extreme, gripping and enchanting until the very last page.

“An exquisite novel, in every detail.” – Amos Oz

“After reading Pijn, you experience the same effect as with Shalev’s other books: you see the world a little more clearly.” – Die Welt

“Shalev’s novels revolve around female emotions and the mysterious way they are intertwined with the political tragedy of a fractured country and city.” – Die Zeit

Pijn will be published in early April by Cossee. The book is translated by Sander Hoving.

After the interview there will be an opportunity to purchase the book at the book table of our regular bookseller Van Stockum. Zeruya Shalev will also be signing copies there.

Date: Wednesday 6 April
Start time: 20.00
Location: BorderKitchen, Kerkstraat 11, The Hague
Tickets: €7.50 – available via the BorderKitchen website