A review by deanna_rigney
Hope: A Tragedy by Shalom Auslander

4.0

This story had an intriguing surprise early on that was rather weird & original. I found it both funny & pessimistic. Solomon Kugel, the protagonist of the story, reminded me so much of a Woody Allen character. Really, all the characters did to some extent, but definitely Kugel. It's a very "far-out" and cynical read, and it definitely isn't for everyone. It was crude, farcical, unstructured, and repetitive, but these are things I actually enjoyed about it. In my opnion, the format enhanced the book, especially if you consider the personalities/neuroses of the characters. I wasn’t quite as taken with this as his memoir, ‘Foreskin’s Lament’, but Auslander’s twisted wit & darkness still pleased me sufficiently.