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pumpkinmama's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like I should have liked this more - terrific writing but the plot/characters just did not click for me, so, it was fine.
inaczej's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
stephanie_opp's review against another edition
3.0
Another well-written Nicole Krauss book, I think I like her prose better than her plot here. She weaves together several stories around a shared desk, but I am just starting to like this type of organization (bordering on short stories with the faint hope of pulling it all together in the end) and think David Mitchell does it best.
buttercupita's review against another edition
2.0
I LOVED History of Love (one of my favorites of all time), so I was really disappointed by this one. Nicole Krauss is an incredible observer of the human condition, but in this one, the pieces just didn't coalesce into something satisfying.
ssmart213's review against another edition
1.0
I was expecting so much more. It seemed like an aimless story to me, through out the book I was expecting the stories to connect and be beautifully meshed together but instead I got a jumble of stories trying to make sense together.
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
5.0
National Book Award finalist
Definitely deserving of the NBA nomination. The writing is lovely, the characters interesting, and the story intriguing.
Definitely deserving of the NBA nomination. The writing is lovely, the characters interesting, and the story intriguing.
apol27's review against another edition
4.0
I wish I could give this book 2 stars for the beginning, but it really picked up and I did end up enjoying it. I think our book club discussion tonight also enhanced my appreciation for the book
philippakmoore's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, although it was hard to get into at first. I disagreed with the Guardian's review, who said that the character of Aaron was too distracting and almost overpowered the other stories, but it was Aaron's story that got me hooked - I almost abandoned the book after the first section narrated by Nadia, whom I found it very difficult to empathise with. Aaron's sections are addressed to his son Dov, who he has always had a difficult relationship with. They are so powerful and beautifully written. They were what kept me reading.
I really liked the parallel with Freud's study being left as he left it, and also liked the sections narrated by Arthur and Izzy, they were both characters who on the outside seem to live very quiet and unassuming lives but there is actually a whole lot going on inside. Arthur's encounter with the woman in Liverpool didn't quite ring true though - I'd have thought there would be more Scouse in her! ;)
I have read every book Nicole Krauss has written and enjoyed all of them. She writes so beautifully. I really want to reread The History of Love after reading this.
I really liked the parallel with Freud's study being left as he left it, and also liked the sections narrated by Arthur and Izzy, they were both characters who on the outside seem to live very quiet and unassuming lives but there is actually a whole lot going on inside. Arthur's encounter with the woman in Liverpool didn't quite ring true though - I'd have thought there would be more Scouse in her! ;)
I have read every book Nicole Krauss has written and enjoyed all of them. She writes so beautifully. I really want to reread The History of Love after reading this.
somanybookstoread's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful prose and excellent characters. Plot was a bit complicated for complicated's sake I think. But the prose alone makes this one worthy of another round one day.