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michaeldebonis's review
3.0
There has been a bit of buzz about Malamud lately mostly due to his daughter’s recently published memoir, My Father Is a Book. Malamud is most often described as the under appreciated, overlooked middle child between the great Jewish-American novelists of the last century, Bellow and Roth. I can’t speak to that claim.
The Assistant is one of Malamud’s most acclaimed books and I have had it on my bookshelf for over a year. I can’t really remember why I bought it other than I had heard a bit about the name and thought I would give it a shot.
I thought this was a good book mostly because of how well Malamud captures the cultural nuances of New York Jews. The story is of the Bober Family who run a small run-down grocery in a bad neighborhood in what I think is Brooklyn or Queens. They have a daughter who didn’t go to college and works as a secretary to help with the bills. A young hobo type named Frank enters the picture and coaxes Mr. Bober into letting him work at the grocery for next to nothing.
Basically, this is a story about miserable people who continually fail. Every opportunity is lost. Good luck doesn’t know where they live. She never heard of them. At one point, the assistant Frank asks the grocer about Jews and suffering. The answer is, “I suffer for you,” but the real answer is “Oi, who should need a reason?”
Anyway, the characters are great and fully realized and this makes the book worth while. The major drawback is the very last paragraph of the book which made me shout, “What?!” Take that for what it is worth.
The Assistant is one of Malamud’s most acclaimed books and I have had it on my bookshelf for over a year. I can’t really remember why I bought it other than I had heard a bit about the name and thought I would give it a shot.
I thought this was a good book mostly because of how well Malamud captures the cultural nuances of New York Jews. The story is of the Bober Family who run a small run-down grocery in a bad neighborhood in what I think is Brooklyn or Queens. They have a daughter who didn’t go to college and works as a secretary to help with the bills. A young hobo type named Frank enters the picture and coaxes Mr. Bober into letting him work at the grocery for next to nothing.
Basically, this is a story about miserable people who continually fail. Every opportunity is lost. Good luck doesn’t know where they live. She never heard of them. At one point, the assistant Frank asks the grocer about Jews and suffering. The answer is, “I suffer for you,” but the real answer is “Oi, who should need a reason?”
Anyway, the characters are great and fully realized and this makes the book worth while. The major drawback is the very last paragraph of the book which made me shout, “What?!” Take that for what it is worth.
briandice's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book up until the last two pages. Ending was terrible. Felt like Malamud just got tired of writing the book.
pitosalas's review
5.0
After a string of disappointing reads, finally a really good book. This is a really old-fashioned book, written in 1959 probably from around the same time. It's set in Brooklyn among a series of hard luck cases. It touches on inner conflict, ambivalence, people's attempt to overcome their own past, luck, compassion and other forever topics. I really enjoyed it.
themadmadmadeline's review
5.0
Absolutely gorgeous. From the characters, to the writing, to the tragic nature of Morris Bober...I loved every page of it. I found it to be both sad and beautiful and the story moved me. The characters were nothing short of delicious, and the plot kept me hooked for the entirety of the novel. Officially one of my all-time favorites.
yesterdayyellow's review
dark
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
samanthalenore's review
5.0
This book has an extremely simple plot, but it still feels as if so much happens due to the careful, restrained writing style. The characters are whole, and real, and capable of tremendous grace and honesty. I was nervous to find where the story would go, but the ending was not tragic. A really wonderful story about trying to be one's best self and trying to live according to the Law with discipline and love, even (especially) in poverty and without reward.
tribonyx's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0