Reviews

Memoirs of an Anti-Semite: A Novel in Five Stories by Gregor Von Rezzori

nderiley's review against another edition

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I could not get over the writing style.

miramadsen's review against another edition

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5.0

min yndlings undergangsroman

sloatsj's review

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4.0

Through the first three stories, I felt I was reading something enriching but not terribly enjoyable. It wasn’t dull, the writing was good and the story well set, but it did seem long on monologue. Then I got to the fourth story, “Troth,” which was nothing short of magnificent. What made it magnificent? The characters, the situation, the humor and the devastation. It’s lively and touching and dead serious. The first story was perhaps more developed, but the heart of the book is in “Troth.”

Anti-semitism pervades but doesn’t overwhelm “Memoirs.” The narrator thinks of Jews as second-class citizens but seems perfectly happy to go on pursuing his various involvements with them. And of course they are the most interesting characters in the book.

Anti-semitism only comes into sharp focus with history. One of the most interesting experiences in reading this book was the first encounter with a Nazi. All this time you’ve been listening to the background music of how Jews have lice or they’re loud and exaggerate or they’re innately feminine and weak and greedy, and then comes the Nazi Oskar, who literally turns your stomach.

kingkong's review against another edition

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3.0

Memoirs of an Anti-Semite more like Memoirs of a guy bragging about getting girls

emmc's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

angiesm's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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