SUDDENLY IN THE DEPTHS OF A FOREST , A FABLE BY AMOS OZ (BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION)

September 05, 2023

Hello! In this post, I will review Suddenly in the Depths of a Forest, a fairy-tale fable by Amos Oz. Intended for children, this lovely book can be enjoyed by adults as well. I reviewed this book on my goodreads profile back in 2016. I'm assuming that's the year I read it as well. Despite the fact that it's been years since I read this book, I still remember it fondly. So fondly that I simply must recommend it to my blog reads. In my last post, I recommended and reviewed A Tale of Love and Darkness, my favourite novel by Amos Oz. Well, this little fable is my second favourite!

When we visited Goranci village a few days ago, we enjoyed a short walk there. We strolled the park and took some photographs. I realized how these photos would be a nice follow up to his book review. In case you would like to know more about the location, you can visit my old blog posts. As for my outfit, I shopped my closet again. I wore a vintage pink floral dress, an old pair of sneakers and a second hand black bag with gold details.

MORE POSTS FROM GORANCI (2022):

ALL BLACK WINTER CHIC

FASHION ILLUSTRATION RED PUFFER

FASHION ILLUSTRATION LIGHT BEIGE PUFFER COAT

VISIT GORANCI WITH ME- MY POST FROM SUMMER 2021

PLUS MY PREVIOUS VISITS TO GORANCI VILLAGE (NEAR MOSTAR) HERE

and HERE.....Interested in learning more about Goranci? Why, you're welcomed to check out these posts. 1. Nature Park Goranci 2. Sights to see, places to visit (Goranci ) 3. Goranci (photography post) 4. A day in the country (Goranci) 5. Cropped chic outfit in Goranci

Now, scroll to read my review for Suddenly in the Depths of a Forest!

SUDDENLY IN THE DEPTHS OF A FOREST, A FABLE FOR ALL AGES BY AMOS OZ 5/5

I have to say this is one of the most beautiful fairy tales/fables that I have ever read! I have read quite a few, mind you. However, this fable for all ages (its alternative title) is really something special. One of those rare achievements, a profound work of literature that is accessible to both children and adults. The plot is well written and believable. The story simply draws the reader in. The writing flows naturally to the very end. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that this book has a happy ending. It's a book for kids, after all. Moreover, the ending is written in such a heart-warming way. I really cannot recommend it enough!

THE PROTAGONISTS ARE A BOY AND A GIRL

Like in some classic fairy tale, its protagonists are two brave children, a boy and a girl. They live in a village from which all the animals disappeared long ago. Adults refuse to talk about this event, but they can’t help to recall it at times. Only two adults, an old man and a spinster school teacher still talk about animals.

A VILLAGE WITHOUT ANIMALS

If other adults won’t admit that there were animals among them, if they don’t approve children learning or inquiring about them, they cannot completely hide a sense of emptiness and sorrow that accompanies the mere mentioning of other creatures. The adults can’t help alluding to animals, mentioning them at least occasionally, thus confusing the children more.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ANIMALS IS A PAINFUL TOPIC

The disappearance of animals can have many metaphorical meanings. When you read this book, I’m sure you’ll be able to come up with many interpretations yourself. On a more practical level, we can examine the loss of animals through our own experience. We have all experienced moments when animals have brought profound joy or even reassuring comfort into our lives. If nothing else, we have enjoyed watching a funny video with animals misbehaving. Imagine a world without animals. It would be a sad place indeed. Now, in this book the disappearance of animals can have additional meanings and it can be regarded as metaphor for losing something that is precious for us.

“The grown-ups who still remembered usually chose to stay silent. To deny. To pretend they'd forgotten."

WHEN WE DON'T WANT TO CONFRONT OUR PAST, WE ARE RULED BY OUR FEARS

For the sake of an introduction, perhaps it is enough to say that the disappearance of animals is a taboo. Oz managed to present a society that is ruled by fear, that is unable to face its past or speak of its taboos. A society that won’t admit that there is something wrong. Now, isn’t this often the case with human societies?

TWO BRAVE SOULS CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

I mentioned that our protagonists are brave. As funny as it may seem, the foundation of this bravery seems to be fear. Maybe that is not so funny for it is said there is no courage without fear. These two children aren’t afraid to admit they are afraid. Both of them are outcasts in a way. What makes them outcasts is nothing extraordinary. The boy, for instance, dreams of animals. He tells his dreams to other children, even if he knows he will be mocked. This boy and this girl are willing to face their fear. They are aware there are things they do not know about but they don’t let that stop them. I think children will find it easy to relate to them. Their portrayal and character development is wonderful. Little by little, we get to see more, we get to know the souls and hearts of these two children.

THE WRITING IS SIMPLE BUT BEAUTIFUL IN ITS SIMPLICITY
There is simplicity in the writing, but the fact that it is written for children doesn’t take anything from the beauty of the writing. Even without using big words, this novel is written in a very lyrical way. Its prose is enchanting and it flows ever so naturally. It invokes strong sensations and emotions, yet it does it so softly and effortlessly. Sinking into this world is so easy and it feels so natural, almost like falling to sleep and dreaming a beautiful dream. Once you finish reading this novel, you’ll have a feeling that you’ve woken up from a dream. Not just any dream. One of those deeply meaningful dreams that made you realize something you failed to grasp while you were awake. One of those dreams that make your heart full.

THIS FABLE FOR ALL AGES SHOULD BE A MANDATORY READING

I would make this book a mandatory reading in schools everywhere. Its speaks about bullying without bitterness, it speaks about love and friendship without sentimentality, it speaks about the need to overcome our fears without being pretentious. This fairy tale manages to explore in depth so many difficult yet important subject, that I cannot call it anything else but amazing. The story is well constructed and is surely capable of keeping the full attention of reader (whatever age he/she might be). Moreover, it conveys such a powerful message of hope. I read it in a heartbeat. It warmed my heart. It uplifted my spirit. Read it to your children. If you don’t have any, read it to your cousins or children of your friends. Read it to yourself. Let the message sink in deep.

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO KNOW MORE- INFORMATION FROM WIKIPEDIA

Suddenly in the Depth of the Forest (Hebrew: פתאום בעומק היער: אגדה) is a literary piece written by Amos Oz in Hebrew in 2005. The full title is Suddenly in the Depth of the Forest (A Fable for all ages). The English translation by Sondra Silverston was published in 2010.^[1]

The plot takes place in an unnamed village which is cursed because all the animals were taken from the past by Nehi the Mountain Demon. The adult population is afraid of this demon and nobody ever walks out outside after dark. The adults refuse even to talk about the animals and about the past of the village to their children. Two of the children, Maya and Matti, who were born after the exodus of the animals and who have never seen a living animal, decide to investigate the matter and find Nehi, who is in fact a human and a former inhabitant of the village who was humiliated on a regular basis and decided to leave, taking along all of the animals. Maya. Matti, and Nehi hold a conversation about his motivations, he proposes the children to stay at his place, but finally they decide to return to the village and try to convince the villagers to stop humiliating each other. The fable ends by showing Maya and Matti reentering the village.^[1] ^[2]^[3]

The piece is written as a fable, and, whereas different allusions such as the Holocaust were suggested by various authors, none of these allusions is explicit in the piece itself.^[1]^[4]