This was an interesting story, albeit not the kind I like that much. It takes place in Jaffa, Israel, after the Holocaust, in which a survivor from Italy lives in an estranged relationship with his wife and two daughters, both grown--one married and the other single and mentally challenged. This man spends his days alone, watching other people, watching the sea, drinking coffee in cafes, and smoking cigarettes. His interactions with others are rare, uncomfortable, and suffused with angst. How much of this is a result of his wartime experiences and how much his own personality is not exactly clear.

I'm glad the story was short as I found it difficult to read because there reallly was not much personal interaction throughout--only a sense of loneliness and alienation. ( )