agsztyl's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
suvata's review against another edition
5.0
Continuing my TBR project:
This is one the oldest selection on my TBR list - Originally added February 26, 2016.
The Fixer was written in 1966 and won Bernard Malamud both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Set in Kiev in 1911, it is the story of a Jewish handyman named Yakov Bok. During that time, anti-Semitism was widespread in Russia. Bok was falsely accused of brutally murdering an adolescent Russian boy. He was arrested, imprisoned and spent years trying to convince the authorities of his innocence. A great work of historical significance.
This is one the oldest selection on my TBR list - Originally added February 26, 2016.
The Fixer was written in 1966 and won Bernard Malamud both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Set in Kiev in 1911, it is the story of a Jewish handyman named Yakov Bok. During that time, anti-Semitism was widespread in Russia. Bok was falsely accused of brutally murdering an adolescent Russian boy. He was arrested, imprisoned and spent years trying to convince the authorities of his innocence. A great work of historical significance.
motherbird76's review against another edition
I will need to start this over again at some point. Not a priority right now.
cosmonautchris's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
With the tension and ghastliness of a horror story, The Fixer follows the story of a Jewish man in the late stages of the Russian empire as he deals with prejudice and false imprisonment. The book is based on a true story, and although parts of this novel may have been "heavily inspired" by the real life protagonist's memoir, Malamud nevertheless crafted here a tale of human misery woven with true flourishes of memorable prose. The story is a difficult one to read, but it's one which we should all be familiar.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture
ninafcf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
snutedute's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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? It's complicated
4.0
bgramps's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
eliane37's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
"The French have a saying, "The more it changes, the more it remains the same.’
You must admit there may be a certain truth to that, especially with reference to what we call 'society.' In effect it has not changed in its essentials from what it was in the dim past, even though we tend loosely to think of civilization as progress. I
frankly no longer believe in that concept. I respect man for what he has to go through in life, and sometimes for how he does it, but he has changed little since he began to pretend he was civilized, and the same
thing may be said about our society. That is how I feel, but having made that confession Iet me say, as you may have guessed, that I am somewhat of a meliorist. That is to say, I act as an optimist because I find I cannot act at all as a persimist. One often feels helpless in the face of the confusion of these times, such a mass of apparently uncontrollable events and experiences to live through, attempt ti understand, and if at all possible, give order to; but one must not withdraw from the task if he has some small thing to offer- he does so at the risk of diminishing his humanity. “ 154
bookhawk's review against another edition
4.0
The Fixer is simultaneously grim nearly beyond description and powerful in both a simple and complex manner. The Fixer tells of the persecution of an innocent man and of the Jewish people in Russia in 1912 and for several years. This deserving Pulitzer winner reminded me of the way I felt after seeing Saving Private Ryan which was that it was a great movie but one I never wanted to watch again.
“Those who persecute the innocent were themselves never free.”
I tend to see this book relating to the persecution of any group rather than just in response to anti-Semitic behavior. This is not a long book but was a slower read. Recommended for the reader who wants a thoughtful and serious book.
“Those who persecute the innocent were themselves never free.”
I tend to see this book relating to the persecution of any group rather than just in response to anti-Semitic behavior. This is not a long book but was a slower read. Recommended for the reader who wants a thoughtful and serious book.
mark_lm's review against another edition
4.0
I was lead to this novel by comments that J. Epstein made in his biographical essays, mostly running down Saul Bellow. While reading it, I suddenly realized that I had seen the movie of it in the late 60's with the YPS of TBE. Sometimes I think that it is a good idea to be reminded of what imprisonment is like, before we give our consent to locking up every African-American who has some marijuana.