Declared a genius by The New York Times, Israeli author Etgar Keret has a new, long-awaited collection of short stories, Suddenly a Knock on the Door. He’s been a hit at the Adelaide and Ubud (Bali) writers’ festivals in recent years, had a story in a recent edition of The New Yorker – and he will be visiting our shores this month. If you haven’t familiarised yourself with Keret’s snappy, often darkly funny stories, now is the perfect time to make his acquaintance.

Keret serves up short sharp treats, overflowing with satire, absurdity and realism – which are dark, funny, strange and even occasionally cruel. He is more interested in his situations than his characters, who are often flat and functional – but with humanity that is at times familiar, then completely foreign. Keret’s surreal stories encompass the living and the dead, talking animals, and more. This collection includes an extraordinary tale of a woman who finds a zip in her boyfriend’s mouth; and in the superb opening story, a request for a story – from an author suffering writers’ block – takes a dark twist.

Keret began writing stories to find ‘a place to hide from life itself’ and this collection feels just like that – and as such, doesn’t invite continuous reading. Read a few, put it down, go experience the real world and then come back. You will be rewarded.

Scott Noble is manager of Readings St Kilda.