Joshua Cohen: Witz

**DB Cooper** · 09-Jun-2010, 03:46

A young author whos massive 800+ page book, Witz, is starting to generate some buzz. From what Ive read it features a unique, and quite funny, premise. Due to some sort of genetic disease all of the Jewish people in the world die, and there is only one remaining, named Benjamin Israelien. All things Jewish become fetish and style, while he becomes a bizarre sort of celebrity. There are scant reviews out, but they claim that the book is long, difficult, but quite unique. Its caught my eye, and I just ordered a copy today. Here are some links, but like I said, there isnt a whole lot out there yet but there is increasing chatter almost daily about the book.

One of the few reviews out there:Witz - The Barnes & Noble Review

Interview at HTML Giant:HTMLGIANT / My Mother is the Father of the List: An Interview with Joshua Cohen

You can actually read several pages at Google Books here: Witz - Google Books

The Complete Review: http://www.complete-review.com/reviews/usx/cohenj.htm

**Mirabell** · 09-Jun-2010, 07:13

Readin' it and lovin' it

**DB Cooper** · 12-Jun-2010, 04:09

My copy will be here on Tuesday, looking forward to it. Mirabell, I would love to hear your thoughts as you progress through the book, or if you do a blog post please link.

**e joseph** · 12-Jun-2010, 14:29

Yup, this one's an attention grabber. Everything I've seen makes it pretty attractive. I'll read it in say, hmmm, 2012.

**Mirabell** · 12-Jun-2010, 17:20

haven't read this review yet but here it is Book Review - Witz - By Joshua Cohen - NYTimes.com

**DB Cooper** · 21-Jun-2010, 06:25

About 100 pages into Witz, and its clear that Cohen is a talent. The prose has a very musical quality to it, and it almost reads like a novel in verse. Its not slow reading per se, but there is a lot to take in, and you want to savor the passages as you go along. This is one of those books that you will love or hate, depending on what you look for when you read. If sentence level craftsmanship is your thing, you will love Witz. Its hard to find a comparison, maybe one will occur to me later on but this feels very singular. I thought the passage where Hanna births Benjamin, after the Sabbath dinner, was pretty hilarious. About to dig in and read some more.

**DB Cooper** · 25-Jun-2010, 04:10

200+ pages in. Totally hooked now, such a fun book. There is a period of adjustment to the prose, and in the beginning I think Cohen wants to make you work a little bit, but things have opened up now and the story is pretty compelling. Also the writing remains at a very high level. Cant wait to start reading tonight. You finished yet Mirabell?

**Mirabell** · 27-Jun-2010, 23:52

Honey, do you have any questions for Mr. Cohen? Anything that would interest you? Out with it!

**DB Cooper** · 28-Jun-2010, 02:48

Anyone else reading this? Or planning to?

**DB Cooper** · 14-Jul-2010, 07:07

100 pages to the finish line. Witz is becoming more and more bizarre as the book progresses, thats for certain. A maelstrom of language that sucks you down and dares you to escape. Very nice paradox of the Affiliated sending Un-Affiliated off to Polandland for execution. Probably as close an approximation that a gentile can feel about his race being sent off for "cleansing". Very nicely done, if a bit willfully obtuse. Surprised about how Ben's story has unfolded, he has almost reached unintentional martyr status. Overall just a blazingly original and singular work of fiction. Having said that, its been quite a long haul, and all the new books that have been patiently waiting on my shelves are not so patient anymore, so it will be nice to start something else and read a different voice.

**Refus de Sejour** · 14-Jul-2010, 13:24

So many books to read... Witz sounds intriguing, but I really can't decide if I should make it a priority or not. Let's see what your final judgement is.

**DB Cooper** · 16-Jul-2010, 05:35

Rufus, Ill definitely check in with final thoughts on Witz, as Ill be finishing it very soon. Though I can already tell you that its definitely worth a read, and if you would like you can read the first 20 pages or so on google books to get a feel for the prose style, which is really the only hurdle to overcome. For some reason Mirabell is being stingy with his final thoughts and overall impression of Witz. Hopefully my goading will wake him from his slumber and he will post something.