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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I can't think of a single reason to give this book fewer than five stars.
House on Endless Water, Emuna Elon
Yoel Blum is one of Israel’s most famous writers, and his agent has insisted he visit Amsterdam to promote his most recent novel. Although he and his wife have travelled the world, they’ve never been to Amsterdam because of a promise Yoel made to his now deceased mother to not visit the country of his birth. But, this time, he decides to go.
During the trip he makes a visit to the Jewish Museum where he sees prewar footage of Dutch Jews. Yoel sees the face of his mother and Father in the footage as the video loops over and over. He also sees that his mother is standing with a young girl who looks like his older sister. His mother is also holding a baby, a baby who looks nothing like him. Confused and finally confronted with the past his mother never would address, Yoel spends many weeks in Amsterdam investigating what happened to his family in during WWII.
In an effort to understand who he really is, Yoel’s research not only reveals his family history, but it also exposes the secret networks that helped hide Jewish children, some of whom never reconnected with parents or other family members who survived Hitler’s death camps. It also exposes the Jews who betrayed their own in the hopes of helping their families survive.
Despite the fact that Yoel is a hugely successful writer, has a loving wife, three grown daughters, grandchildren, and had a mother who fiercely loved him, Yoel feels lost now that he doesn’t understand who he is or how he came to be Yoel Blum.
The book is supposed to be a mystery where Yoel slowly discovers his true beginnings. While he’s investigating his past and Amsterdam during the war, he’s also writing the story of this family’s survival and how he, his mother and sister where able to eventually immigrate to Israel.
Meanwhile, I knew after the first few chapters who he really was. Not sure if that was intentional, or if I was among the few who figure it out right away, but it’s annoying to then have to wait for the entire book for Yoel to get there. It’s really a myster about how he came to be his mother’s son and his true origin.
The novel is sad, and learning about the Netherlands during WWII is eyeopening, especially if you are interested in that period. However, the story annoyed me because his sister tells him early on what she remembers about the war, but he doesn’t reveal that conversation. Instead, you know he knows what happened. In other words, the reader knows enough to figure out who he is, he probably knows who he is, but it’s not until the end that it’s actually revealed.
The novel is written in a convoluted way because Yoel himself is writing the story of his beginning while he is figuring it out - so the novel is two parallel and interspersed stories within chapters. The novel about his mothger’s time in Amsterdam is a much more compelling and engaging story than Yoel‘s struggles with his identity. He suffers much throughout the book trying to figure out why his mother always kept their family apart from others and why, even now, he has a hard time connecting to people. When you finally learn about the trauma he faced in early childhood you understand why he’s so annoying and lost as an adult. Maybe his mother should have told him the truth.
Yoel Blum is one of Israel’s most famous writers, and his agent has insisted he visit Amsterdam to promote his most recent novel. Although he and his wife have travelled the world, they’ve never been to Amsterdam because of a promise Yoel made to his now deceased mother to not visit the country of his birth. But, this time, he decides to go.
During the trip he makes a visit to the Jewish Museum where he sees prewar footage of Dutch Jews. Yoel sees the face of his mother and Father in the footage as the video loops over and over. He also sees that his mother is standing with a young girl who looks like his older sister. His mother is also holding a baby, a baby who looks nothing like him. Confused and finally confronted with the past his mother never would address, Yoel spends many weeks in Amsterdam investigating what happened to his family in during WWII.
In an effort to understand who he really is, Yoel’s research not only reveals his family history, but it also exposes the secret networks that helped hide Jewish children, some of whom never reconnected with parents or other family members who survived Hitler’s death camps. It also exposes the Jews who betrayed their own in the hopes of helping their families survive.
Despite the fact that Yoel is a hugely successful writer, has a loving wife, three grown daughters, grandchildren, and had a mother who fiercely loved him, Yoel feels lost now that he doesn’t understand who he is or how he came to be Yoel Blum.
The book is supposed to be a mystery where Yoel slowly discovers his true beginnings. While he’s investigating his past and Amsterdam during the war, he’s also writing the story of this family’s survival and how he, his mother and sister where able to eventually immigrate to Israel.
Meanwhile, I knew after the first few chapters who he really was. Not sure if that was intentional, or if I was among the few who figure it out right away, but it’s annoying to then have to wait for the entire book for Yoel to get there. It’s really a myster about how he came to be his mother’s son and his true origin.
The novel is sad, and learning about the Netherlands during WWII is eyeopening, especially if you are interested in that period. However, the story annoyed me because his sister tells him early on what she remembers about the war, but he doesn’t reveal that conversation. Instead, you know he knows what happened. In other words, the reader knows enough to figure out who he is, he probably knows who he is, but it’s not until the end that it’s actually revealed.
The novel is written in a convoluted way because Yoel himself is writing the story of his beginning while he is figuring it out - so the novel is two parallel and interspersed stories within chapters. The novel about his mothger’s time in Amsterdam is a much more compelling and engaging story than Yoel‘s struggles with his identity. He suffers much throughout the book trying to figure out why his mother always kept their family apart from others and why, even now, he has a hard time connecting to people. When you finally learn about the trauma he faced in early childhood you understand why he’s so annoying and lost as an adult. Maybe his mother should have told him the truth.
Though I didn't love the third person perspective, and usually don't enjoy dreamy writing, this one works very well and is a good story.
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
I'm European so I can't say "I didn't know what happened in Amsterdam during WWII" as Anna Frank Diary was something I had to read at 12 and my father was involved in helping the Jews to run to Switzerland.
That said it was a great read that does a great job in depicting a historical period and what happened in Netherlands during the WWII to Jew children.
I liked both the parts the contemporary and historical, I think that the writer wrote well thought and fleshed out characters and the plot is poignant and engrossing.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
That said it was a great read that does a great job in depicting a historical period and what happened in Netherlands during the WWII to Jew children.
I liked both the parts the contemporary and historical, I think that the writer wrote well thought and fleshed out characters and the plot is poignant and engrossing.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
ספר נהדר המשחזר את קורותיהם של יהודי הולנד לפני ובזמן מלחמת העולם השנייה. הדמות הראשית היא סופר מצליח בשם יואל בלום, נאלץ להגיע לאמסטרדם נגד בקשתה המפורשת של אמו לפני מותה, לצורך עבודתו. הוא נולד בהולנד, אך מאז לא דרכה שם כף רגלו. ברגע שהוא מגיע לעיר, עולים בו זכרונות ושאלות רבות לגבי זהותו ומשפחתו, המתחזקות כאשר הוא מגלה במוזיאון היהודי בעיר סרטון קצרצר שבו נראית אמו מחזיקה בתינוק שאינו הוא. הוא שב לישראל, אך מחליט לטוס מייד בחזרה לאמסטרדם כדי להתחקות אחרי סודותיה של אמו, ולהתחיל לכתוב את סיפורה. באמסטרדם הוא אכן מצליח לגלות הרבה אודותיה, אך גם לגלות הרבה על חייו הנוכחיים, רגשותיו כלפי משפחתו הנוכחית ובעיקר על עצמו.
כתוב מצויין, שחזור הסטורי מלא פרטים ואמין, מרגש אך לא סנטימנטלי-דביק. למדתי פרק שלא היה ידוע לי על שואת יהודי הולנד ועל תרבותם העשירה.
כתוב מצויין, שחזור הסטורי מלא פרטים ואמין, מרגש אך לא סנטימנטלי-דביק. למדתי פרק שלא היה ידוע לי על שואת יהודי הולנד ועל תרבותם העשירה.
While I enjoyed the mystery that is the basis of House on Endless Waters, I found the way Elon alternated the different story lines – not only in the same chapter but sometimes even within the same paragraph – jarring, so that it became a book hampered by needless, excessive complexity. Elon may have wanted to use this technique to illustrate Yoel Blum's fears and confusion, but instead it resulted in an authorial self-conscious cleverness that distracts the reader.
In spite of this, Elon writes beautifully, and in this book effectively explores the meaning of identity, family, survival and remembrance.
With thanks to A&U and Better Reading for this ARC
In spite of this, Elon writes beautifully, and in this book effectively explores the meaning of identity, family, survival and remembrance.
With thanks to A&U and Better Reading for this ARC
The beginning of the felt disjointed to me I think that that might just be an issue from translation. The story itself I found slow and disappointing, I thought it would be about how Jewish children were sent to Christian families and how Yoel was one of those kids finding that out and learning about that and finding out about his family, it's not and that really leaves a lot of my lack of enjoyment as my own fault from my expectations of the book.
I was so excited to get an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley, I love "If You Awaken Love" by the same author. This one was a struggle for me. The writing was beautiful, the translation was very well done, and it brought an area I didn't know much about into focus - the plight of Dutch Jews.
My issue with it was that pretty early on, the main character finds out the big secret, yet the reader is left in the dark. I guessed at it pretty early on and was right, but I don't like plots that do that. I struggled with the first 60% of the book as a result. Normally a book by a favorite author, I will tear through. This one, my frustration with it made me not want to read it. If it hadn't been written by an author I loved, I would have abandoned it. I'm really glad I finished it, I was bawling my eyes out towards the end. But it doesn't get 5 stars from me, though I'd happily recommend it. Others won't necessarily have an issue with it like I did.
My issue with it was that pretty early on, the main character finds out the big secret, yet the reader is left in the dark. I guessed at it pretty early on and was right, but I don't like plots that do that. I struggled with the first 60% of the book as a result. Normally a book by a favorite author, I will tear through. This one, my frustration with it made me not want to read it. If it hadn't been written by an author I loved, I would have abandoned it. I'm really glad I finished it, I was bawling my eyes out towards the end. But it doesn't get 5 stars from me, though I'd happily recommend it. Others won't necessarily have an issue with it like I did.
Yoel Blum is a writer who grew up in Israel. However, he was born in Amsterdam. His mother had told Yoel that he must never go back to Amsterdam. She also never mentioned why or anything about her life while living there. After she died, Yoel had to go there for publicity for the release of one of his books.
The trip opened up a Pandora’s box for Yoel. He ends up staying for an extended time, determined to dig up the past and write his mother’s story. What he doesn’t realize is that his mother’s story will reveal things about his own past that he would have never imagined.
The story was astonishing and one that needed to be told. During World War II, many residents risked everything to save Jewish children from the Nazi’s by taking them in and passing them off as their own or by hiding them in different places. After the war, many children never found out who they really were.
I almost did not finish this book. In the beginning it just didn’t flow well and I had trouble following the transitions in the story. I really wanted to add it to my DNF shelf, but instead, I did something I almost never do—I turned to the end of the story to see what was going on. That is the only thing that kept me committed to finishing, because I had to find out how the story unfolded. Once I got into the rhythm of the author’s writing, it was easier to follow.
I’m glad I finished the story and hope other readers will find it an easier read than I did.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
The trip opened up a Pandora’s box for Yoel. He ends up staying for an extended time, determined to dig up the past and write his mother’s story. What he doesn’t realize is that his mother’s story will reveal things about his own past that he would have never imagined.
The story was astonishing and one that needed to be told. During World War II, many residents risked everything to save Jewish children from the Nazi’s by taking them in and passing them off as their own or by hiding them in different places. After the war, many children never found out who they really were.
I almost did not finish this book. In the beginning it just didn’t flow well and I had trouble following the transitions in the story. I really wanted to add it to my DNF shelf, but instead, I did something I almost never do—I turned to the end of the story to see what was going on. That is the only thing that kept me committed to finishing, because I had to find out how the story unfolded. Once I got into the rhythm of the author’s writing, it was easier to follow.
I’m glad I finished the story and hope other readers will find it an easier read than I did.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.