Scribblers contributor Andrew Sanger‘s first book, “The J-Word” is now available in the US. Here’s our interview with the British novelist and travel writer on all things “J”
What was your inspiration for “The J-Word?”
The main one is the whole issue of secular Jewish identity. What does it consist of? How much ‘Jewishness’ does it allow you to pass on to the next generation? The inspiration was [also] seeing how my own total secularism – and Englishness – resulted in a struggle to ensure a meaningful Jewish identity for my son.
Were you ever concerned about making the transition from travel journalist to novelist?
Yes, it would have been a better career move, perhaps, if the novel had been about travel! Instead, the J-Word is close to home in every sense. It’s set in the neighbourhood where I live. A lot of the story takes place in and around a park where I walk almost daily. But I am still a travel writer as well. I have a guidebook to Normandy coming out this year.
Are there any similarities in your separate writing genres?
Writing The J-Word turned out to be not so very different from writing a travel book in some ways. I made a research trip to every location in the book. I did some pretty scary research trips to find out about racist thugs. I describe the places in London where the action takes place, and try to evoke the city’s squalid, confused and unsatisfying multiculturalism.
What made you decide to write a story with “Jewish” themes?
My intention was always to write about the dilemmas and contradictions of being Jewish. I’m intrigued by what “Jewish” actually means for someone who is not religiously observant and shares modern society’s values of liberty, equality, rationality and tolerance, yet who cannot shake off – does not want to shake off – the idea of being part of this ancient tribe.
How did you decide to tackle the whole issue of anti-Semitism?
I decided my anti-Semites should be old-fashioned ,white working-class hoodlums, because I did not want to muddy the water by bringing in too many other issues. After Jack has been attacked, I do allow his rescuer Villy to make a few brief references to the other issues. First of all, Villy remarks that many attacks on Jews are by black people, not white. Then they agree that the greatest danger to Jews now comes not from traditional racists but from Muslims. Later, Jack denounces the British media and universities for promoting anti-Semitism.
I [also] wanted my racists to be real people with real opinions, albeit very stupid [ones]. I wanted to show clearly and openly the intense feelings and mad thoughts that hard-core anti-Semites have about Jews. And I wanted to show that their obsession with the “J” word is not entirely dissimilar from Jack’s own obsession with it.
Do you think the issues Jack and Danny deal with are still prevalent in today’s society?
Jack Silver wants to abandon Jewishness and Yiddishkeit, but can’t do so. His son Simon wants to embrace Jewishness, but feels he can’t do so. Little Danny’s upbringing is so secular he doesn’t even know what Jewish means. Such issues are as real as ever for many Jewish families.
As far as physical attacks on Jews are concerned, of the type Jack experiences, I think these are really quite rare in Britain or America nowadays. However, the fear of them remains strong, and it is a perfectly reasonable fear. Violent anti-Semitism could return at any time.
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[...] A good interview with the author on his intentions. And a nice link from him, as well. Thank [...]