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jgoins's review against another edition
4.0
Inside the mind and house of a neurotic Jewish man, there are plenty of opportunities for dark humor in this novel. His mother just happens to have moved in with his family because of her declining health and this sets the stage for a general decline in everyone's health and sanity. His mother can't seem to get over the atrocities she suffered during the Holocaust -- which didn't really happen to her. In a strange turn of events, he also finds Anne Frank living in his attic. Ba dun dun.
The best parts of this book are the narrator's observations about the human condition. Also worth noting are his observations about the chipmunk condition. It was a passage of his philosophizing about the final thoughts of a dying chipmunk that led my book guru to recommend this one to me. I'm glad I listened to her.
The best parts of this book are the narrator's observations about the human condition. Also worth noting are his observations about the chipmunk condition. It was a passage of his philosophizing about the final thoughts of a dying chipmunk that led my book guru to recommend this one to me. I'm glad I listened to her.
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
Our main character has moved into an old farmhouse that he can ill afford; his elderly mother insists on lamenting the horrible time she had in the concentration camps, which she was never actually in, having been born in Brooklyn in 1945. And then he discovers, hiding in his attic, Anne Frank. And how can he throw her out? How can anyone, least of all a Jew, throw Anne Frank out of the attic? His marriage is buckling under the pressure....it's sort of funny, in an odd, sad little way.
etiberland's review against another edition
5.0
Only Shalom Auslander can say what everyone is too afraid to say about the Holocaust. Like a modern day Flannery O'Connor, he uses violence and darkness to get to the truth, to the heart of suffering and loss - and with humor and wit.
Favorite lines:
The glory was in the rising, fool, not in having burned! We all burn, everyone burns. Burning doesn't make you special!
Not the agony of what was, but the agony of what was no longer; this was the source of all life's pain - not the fear of hell to come, but rather the knowledge of an Eden that is no more. Hell isn't the punishment, said Professor Jove. Eden was.
Why did the chicken cross the road? Because he was a schmuch... because he thought tehre might be something better on the other side.
Why did children always draw the sun smiling? he wondered. It's a giant ball of fire, kids. It's rage and fury. Whatever it's doing, it isn't f-ing smiling.
Favorite lines:
The glory was in the rising, fool, not in having burned! We all burn, everyone burns. Burning doesn't make you special!
Not the agony of what was, but the agony of what was no longer; this was the source of all life's pain - not the fear of hell to come, but rather the knowledge of an Eden that is no more. Hell isn't the punishment, said Professor Jove. Eden was.
Why did the chicken cross the road? Because he was a schmuch... because he thought tehre might be something better on the other side.
Why did children always draw the sun smiling? he wondered. It's a giant ball of fire, kids. It's rage and fury. Whatever it's doing, it isn't f-ing smiling.
adamvolle's review against another edition
5.0
Believe any hype you read. Oh, the ending may infuriate you, but you won't be able to say Auslander hasn't played fair, and anyway it's thematically perfect. This is both the ballsiest and funniest story yet by one of my two favorite Jewish authors (the other being Nathan Englander).
seddso's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. After reading the synopsis, I was worried that the main character Kugel had found Hitler in the attic, alas it was someone else of Holocaust importance. As strange as the plot seems, the story was unusual , well written and kept me interested right till the last page, where the reader is treated to an unexpected ending.
Often funny despite the grim theme, this book opened my eyes to the way the Holocaust is written about, discussed and remembered by both Germans and Jews alike.
I heartily recommend this book.
moricina's review against another edition
2.0
All the ingredients I love were there: it's dark and funny, irreverent, brave and bold. And still, I didn't enjoy it and I can put my finger on the reasons why. Nevertheless I recommend it, it doesn't fall short of brilliant ideas and magnificent, bright, hilarious periods.
bs_'s review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
3.25
Pales in comparison to Mother for Dinner
sarahtokar's review against another edition
3.0
Strange topic, but I liked the black humor and self deprecating main character. A quick read.
luckygreendress's review
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5