Ofir Touche Gafla is an Israeli best-selling author and has written six novels.His debut The World of the End, published in 2004, was a huge hit and won the Geffen Award in 2005 and the Hebrew Literature Prize in 2006. More than 40,000 copies have been sold. The Chinese version is now available. Gafla is also author of other bestsellers.
He now lives in Jerusalem and teaches creative writing in the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School. He was a visiting professor in Texas University, USA.
Gafla was asked by a high school student whether he felt satisfied with his works being translated into other languages. He said that there would be, more or less, something missing during the translation process and that he was a part in the process of translating his works from Hebrew to English. As for the Chinese translation, he was not involved in as he was so confident with his Chinese level that he preferred to take it on his agent.
What is the role of literature when one wants to express his opinions? What makes of Kafka’s writing style? Gafla answered that good literature makes people think. The novels are not to give certain answers but to encourage the readers to ask questions, just like the ringing bell, containing certain information.
During his meet with the journalists, he expressed his love of the spicy but wonderful food in Chengdu and his willingness to stay here. He said he had read the frog by Mo Yan, which was translated into Hebrew, the official language of Israel and remained a bestseller there. Speaking of the influence of Chinese literature and the social phenomenon of China, he said that he could not give a brief answer since China is a country of vast territory and abundant resources, but that he would be very willing to learn more about it in the future.