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suzanlemont's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the most unusual, disturbing, original books I've read in a long time. Not the most uplifting, mind you. In fact, if you let it, it could be pretty depressing. But it's so charmingly bizarre (in some spots a little too earnestly so) though, and funny in many ways, that this can be forgiven. I would normally give it 4.5 stars probably, but seeing the what I consider to be lower than deserved rating I'm going to go ahead and go the whole 5. Was thoroughly engrossed for one entire day (took me about 3 before-bed reading sessions to get 50 pages in but then I just sped through the rest) and I feel enriched for having done so.
sara277's review against another edition
funny
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
booktwitcher23's review against another edition
1.0
I started getting into the book, but tired of it towards the end - I actually didn't really get it!
flogigyahoo's review against another edition
2.0
I like the writing of Shalom Auslander. But this book, although it made me laugh, also made me very uncomfortable. The hero, Kugel, has moved his family to a farmhouse out of the big city to keep them safe. Then things start going wrong. First, there's an arsonist in the neighborhood setting fire to farmhouses just like his. Then he has to include his mother in his household which his wife resents. Kugel's mother keeps complaining about her life since the War although she was born in the US in 1945. Then Kugel discovers another old woman living in his attic. She turns out to be Anne Frank, who has been hiding in people's attics writing her memoirs; she keeps her existence a secret to ensure the continued sales of her diary. As I said: well written, funny, but made me uncomfortable. Everyone will have to decide for themself.
sarahjsnider's review against another edition
5.0
Dark and darkly comic--I can't remember the last time I snort-laughed at a book (the mattress store scene). All characters and situations are dialed at least one or two notches past realistic well into satire. Definitely not for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
shannonmcewen's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so super funny. It's a satire, obviously. Jewish dude and his wife buy a Vermont farmhouse, turns out Anne Frank has been living in its attic for 40 years. It's hard for them to kick her out. Things don't end well.
I love Shalom Auslander.
I love Shalom Auslander.
hogwash1's review against another edition
1.0
Too glib the way that... something that's too glib is too glib, is how the narrator would probably put it. Not a novel so much as a comic monologue, but the voice and jokes get old fast, there's no depth to any of the characters, the one potential interesting plot element turns, predictably, into a joke. There are almost brilliant passages and ideas that could have been explored instead of joked about, but that's not enough for a book. Pass.
craftyhilary's review
2.0
Solomon Kugel is a schlemiel. He has a job he used to be good at (in sales, which honestly, I found hard to believe), a strong-willed wife, a kvetching mother, and a smart 3-year-old son (who we see so little of that I am also skeptical of his intelligence, since he's clearly missing out on all the crazy stuff happening in and around his house). He also has an old farmhouse with a bad smell, an irate tenant, and Anne Frank living in the attic.
Yes, that Anne Frank.
This was a lot more depressing and unpleasant than I expected. Shalom Auslander (whose stories I've enjoyed) is funnier than this, and in fact the book is hilarious in places. If we didn't spend so much time on Kugel's misery and fear and internal trauma, and instead enjoyed his twisted sense of humor more, it would have rated at least 3 stars from me.
As it was, I found it slightly distasteful and a little boring. I felt like I was supposed to take away some important message from it, but whatever that was, I missed it.
Yes, that Anne Frank.
This was a lot more depressing and unpleasant than I expected. Shalom Auslander (whose stories I've enjoyed) is funnier than this, and in fact the book is hilarious in places. If we didn't spend so much time on Kugel's misery and fear and internal trauma, and instead enjoyed his twisted sense of humor more, it would have rated at least 3 stars from me.
As it was, I found it slightly distasteful and a little boring. I felt like I was supposed to take away some important message from it, but whatever that was, I missed it.
maritacov's review against another edition
3.0
I grabbed this book off the shelf because I recognized the name from This American Life and I have Foreskin's Lament sitting somewhere on my bookshelf, still unread. I started reading this knowing nothing about the plot and, as a concept, the book is interesting. I would have liked to have read this story as told by a more competent writer. The themes and ideas seem half-baked and not fully realized. I did laugh out loud quite a few times reading through it.