Reviews

I was trying to give a book with a lower rating on Goodreads a chance. I started off really liking Epstein's story, but as soon as the next chapter came and it change characters and starting being philosophical about Jewishness and existential crisis, I liked it a lot less. I really gave it a long leash, but only made it to 32% before I couldn't do it anymore. As someone who is partly Jewish I felt like it was easier to make an effort to identify with the material, but a boring book is a boring book.

janneyf's review against another edition

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2.0

I got through it but just didn’t get it. More than likely my fault, but still.

hatrireads's review against another edition

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3.0

Engrossing story of two very different characters with similar experiences in Tel Aviv. Haunting with lots of interior thoughts. Good characters and very well written. Not as good as the amazing History of Love. But a very good novel.

niknakpattywhack's review against another edition

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4.0

I had to sit with this book for a while before I could write a review as it's still hard for me to pin down my exact feelings on it. There are some scenes that I'm still thinking about, and it's obvious that Krauss is a good writer, I think the conceit of the book just didn't click for me in the end. I'm sure the two stories link up in a way that I'm not seeing, or parallel each other in a way I couldn't see by reading in 30 minute chunks on the train; or at least I have to hope they did or I really missed the point here. I loved the main storyline, but couldn't grasp the intent behind the chapters told from the author's (fictionalized? I suppose?) perspective, though I did enjoy them at time. It just ended up feeling like a rough draft of a book I would have loved a lot, which is frustrating. But I won't let it take away from what I enjoyed about the book, hence the 4 stars.

mightymeep's review against another edition

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4.0

I'm giving this four stars because it's so well written. It almost certainly deserves five stars but I found this a challenge and a rather difficult read which I didn't particularly enjoy. However, I am very glad I have done so as I feel it's stretched me somewhat.

austinburns's review against another edition

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3.0

bizarre fever dream of a novel, two separate stories alternating chapters. all about jewishness, israel, king david, writing, kafka, and death; none of which i could really connect to. the prose, as always with krauss, was beautiful.

fragglerocker's review against another edition

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3.0

Unfortunately for Krauss, I measure every book of hers against "A History of Love." Once again, she fails to meet the high bar she set in that novel. Her newest book includes a character also named Nicole, who is a writer, who is in a failing marriage. The bits of the book that detail that struggle or dive into her writer's block are far less interesting that those that reflect on Jewish history and culture. The real star of the book is Tel Aviv/Israel, and I came away with a desire (the first ever) to visit Israel and better experience what was described. I'd only recommend reading this if you've like all of Krauss's books and don't mind reading about failing marriages.

One of my favorite passages from the book, which left me laughing out loud on the bus as I read -- it was just such unexpectedly black humor against a backdrop of earnestness:
"Despite the par-for-the-Jewish-course nightmares I had a few times a year about trying to hide my children under the floorboards or carry them in my arms on a death march, far more often I found myself contemplating how much personal growth they could achieve in a few weeks of running for their lives through a Polish forest."

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