You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, War
Reading this right now - the English version (The Jewish Messiah). Not sure why it's not listed on Goodreads in English. Anyhoo, it's interesting and weird in a John Irving kind of way. Suffice it to say that it's about a kid (grandson of a Nazi) who is focused on translating Mein Kampf into Yiddish...
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn't put this book down but it's.... Weird. I read it in English, rather than the original Dutch. It's a really good book but it's so weird I kinda couldn't tell you why.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Botched circumcision and poop stuff.
"It's a fascinating book. It's got pace, it's got momentum, it's full of humor, and I think the writer has a story to tell. We've struck gold."
This is as good a review as I can give right now. That the above is one of the two main characters talking about Mein Kampf, which they are translating into Yiddish, gives you an idea of the tone. Biting satire, but satire kept in a disturbingly real, grounded reality. (Well grounded for the majority of the book. Grunberg slowly wound his characters up and in the final section of the book everything is fast and unbelievable.)
Grunberg is the most awesome writer than probably 97% of the reading public would not touch with a ten foot pole. But if you like your lit straight up, fearless and difficult he is the dude for you. If you want to scare a friend or relative go up to them with big puppy dog eyes, hand them the novel and say softly, "I love this book..."*
-----
*(I would never do this in real life, but on the internet I'm okay with scaring the crap out of all you imaginary people.)