Reviews

I think this book tries to be too many things. Some of them (a story of Jewish life and inter-communal pressures, an interesting discussion of class in Britain, a look at xenophobia during the war in Britain) it does well. Others (a story about likable people who do bad things or blame others for their problems) it doesn't do in such a winning manner. Overall, enjoyable. Would I read it again or recommend it? Not unless I knew a Yiddish speaking prodigy who'd relate.

nigelbrown's review against another edition

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3.0

I have to be honest, I haven't met too many jews. The few I have met, however, have all been extremely charming, a trait completely absent from any of the characters in this verbose novel. Considering the variety and quantity of words used in this book I struggle to understand how Lebrecht has no comprehension of the meaning of the word empathy.
The story, I feel, is interesting enough, well told, if not a little misleadingly described on the cover, so the only thing I can say is , that at least I did want to finish it .
One final thing, he might not be a curmudgeon but he is a snob

kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition

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1.0

Couldn't get into it.

kielma's review against another edition

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2.0

I have to say that I didn't really enjoy this book. The story itself is a good one, but it just wasn't told well. I was bored most of the time and I didn't feel sympathy for or even like any of the characters, except perhaps the wife who was only a very minor character anyway. The story wasn't told chronologically which made especially the beginning quite boring. When I found out what the "Song of Names" actually was, it was a bit heart-stopping, but that was one of the few touching moments in the book, and it was short-lived. I did enjoy that large vocabulary in this book--I came across a word I didn't know every twenty pages or so--that's something that doesn't happen often. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this. Too boring. I'm sure you can find similar stories told much better elsewhere.

debshelf's review

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3.0

I'm sorry, did you just put yourself into your own effing book!?! First all the interminable alliterations and assonance, now this. I just don't think I can forgive you these things, Norman Lebrecht.

The one part of this novel I enjoyed was the section where David tells Martin about the years during his disappearance. Judaism is the most fascinating religion/form of spirituality to me, mostly because of its insistence on asking questions as a way of seeking the truth. I feel that Christianity has lost the questing nature of discover and has become ever more ridged in its attempts to explain the unexplainable. I liked how Lebrecht incorporated aspects of Judaic study that are mostly unknown to me into his novel.

(...but I still don't forgive him for the above-mentioned atrocities.)

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