We took ourselves down to London this weekend, me and WotN, and went to hear Linda Grant talking about her new book for Jewish Book Week. The event was packed - several, though I couldn't say exactly how many, hundred people. Linda was introduced by Jonathan Freedland who put questions to her about the book, and she spoke of her impressions of Israel today based on the months she'd spent there and writing it. That was followed by questions from the floor.
Afterwards, there was a launch party, at which a small gathering (a web?) of bloggers assisted. The Geek was there, and Pashmina, and Jonathan Derbyshire. I also had the opportunity, at last, to meet George Szirtes and his wife, Clarissa Upchurch - though we have been in touch electronically for some while now. (George also has an account of the occasion - see his top entry for 26 February.) Did the bloggers talk about blogging at all? I leave this detail shrouded in darkness.
A passage from The People on the Street that went down well with Linda's audience yesterday:
I always asked people, 'Where did your family come from?' And they always told me. The answer never came without a story and they would tell it you at the drop of a hat. No one ever said, 'Mind your own business!' In fact I asked an Israeli to tell me the Hebrew for this expression, and he told me the language did not even contain the phrase. 'An Israeli minding his own business is an oxymoron,' he said.It was a splendid occasion, both parts of it.