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A review by nicka
Omega Minor by Paul Verhaeghen
5.0
Imagine my excitement when I was introduced to another doorstop tome previously off my radar. Put out by Dalkey. Grappling with the aftershocks of the holocaust. This had promise before I even opened the the cover.
Here are some thoughts, just riffing on things I thought about while reading Verhaeghen's novel:
From reading the other reviews on goodreads, it would seem I might be the only one to be reminded of Delillo's Underworld while reading Omega Minor. I almost omit this comparison, as I doubt the veracity of that likeness since no other reader has tied the two novels. But both are searing novels. Delillo focusing on America's joint addictions of consumption and entertainment; Verhaegen's excoriation of Germany before, during, and after the war. Both offer maximalist views from on high of a very specific time and place (though Omega Minor jumps around the globe and clock). Both are granular in their construction, juxtaposing multitudinous plot threads to weave a bigger whole.
I would have loved if Minor was pared down and ended 100 pgs before its conclusion. It seemed Verhaeghen struggled to tie the threads, closing the novel coherently. I was left questioning a major character's motivations, and confused of the ultimate fate of another protagonist.
All in all, Omega Minor is a success in the Holocaust Novel-vein, taking its rightful place alongside Levi, Weisel, and the laundry list of other name checked holocaust writers. I loved what Verhaeghen did with this novel, he managed to be resolutely impactful but also unpredictable in his construction.
Here are some thoughts, just riffing on things I thought about while reading Verhaeghen's novel:
From reading the other reviews on goodreads, it would seem I might be the only one to be reminded of Delillo's Underworld while reading Omega Minor. I almost omit this comparison, as I doubt the veracity of that likeness since no other reader has tied the two novels. But both are searing novels. Delillo focusing on America's joint addictions of consumption and entertainment; Verhaegen's excoriation of Germany before, during, and after the war. Both offer maximalist views from on high of a very specific time and place (though Omega Minor jumps around the globe and clock). Both are granular in their construction, juxtaposing multitudinous plot threads to weave a bigger whole.
I would have loved if Minor was pared down and ended 100 pgs before its conclusion. It seemed Verhaeghen struggled to tie the threads, closing the novel coherently. I was left questioning a major character's motivations, and confused of the ultimate fate of another protagonist.
All in all, Omega Minor is a success in the Holocaust Novel-vein, taking its rightful place alongside Levi, Weisel, and the laundry list of other name checked holocaust writers. I loved what Verhaeghen did with this novel, he managed to be resolutely impactful but also unpredictable in his construction.