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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I picked this up at the library because Nicole Krauss' The History of Love was such a beautiful and memorable book. Though this book, her first, did not surpass the History, it was just as intelligent, thoughtful, and filled with melancholy and a tragedy that is not sudden but...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“An incredibly haunting and sensual novel.”
ohno Nicole wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Another well written novel by Nicole Krauss. I'm not sure if I like this one better than "A History of Love," but I do like this writer. I'm thinking (or hoping) her masterpiece is still ahead of her.”
Sam O wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I love Nicole Krauss. I read The History of Love mid 2006. I loved it, but for some reason did not hunt for other books the author had written. Perhaps I had a long enough To Read list as it was. Earlier this summer I stumbled upon this book, and after recalling how much I loved the first book of hers I’d read, decided to give her debut a go.
Laala K wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I read it almost start to finish without putting it down. I put it down just the once, and because I had to. I loved Samson, I love Krauss’ writing, I sympathized heavily with Anna. Maybe this book meant even more to me because Samson was the last name of a boy I once loved and lost, despite the fact that he and the character are not in any way similar.
The story is about a man, who has lived a good life, who loses his memory from the age of 12 onwards due to a benign tumour in his brain. The novel follows the aftermath, how he views the world, his interactions and thoughts, and how he feels about the people who were once very important to him. Memory loss has become a fixture in modern entertainment, from books to films, but Krauss touched upon it so beautifully and with originality, much in the same way I feel Niffenegger did with Time Traveler’s Wife with respect to time travel. That’s not to say that their styles are similar, just that they both understand that when writing about a subject so broad and so often realised, they must find a new angle in which to project from.
I definitely loved the book, and if it weren’t for the fact that I have 35 other books waiting on my shelf to be read, I honestly think that once I’d reached the end, I would just started all over again.”
“Read Krauss's History of Love, instead. This book like many first books is not nearly as strong.”
Jean L wrote this review Saturday, May 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
0 of 1 members found this review helpful“I really loved the introduction. the rest was pretty poo”
Christina H wrote this review Thursday, March 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book was fine. I didn't hate it, but it definitely wasn't the greatest book I've ever read. I checked it out from the library because the book I originally went there for wasn't on the shelf, but this one was by the same author. All of the reviews I read online said that this book isn't as good as the author's other book (The History of Love), so I'm hoping that's true. ”
Lisa wrote this review Thursday, January 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a really unusual story, written by an author who is better known for her more recent novel, The History of Love.
Ms. Fink wrote this review Friday, August 29 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
At the story's opening, the protagonist, Samson Green, awakens to discover he has no idea where he is, or who he is. It turns out an enormous brain tumor has been growing in his head, ultimately causing a complete amnesia. Well, almost complete. Samson is able to recall every memory from his childhood, but nothing past his early teens.
The premise of the novel is certainly compelling, but what I liked more was Krauss's deeply descriptive writing about the various settings of the novel: the Upper West Side, the hills of Los Angeles, the barren Nevada desert. Through her language, I felt myself transported to each locale.
I would recommend this book for anyone interested in traveling to unusual American places or learning more about the weird workings of the human mind.”
“Nicole Krauss knows how to write a story. She is an excellent writer. This book is about a man who loses his memory and his journey. I won't spoil any of it for you. The ending is a bit all over the place for me but I would still recommend it.”
Meggly wrote this review Thursday, July 17 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really enjoy Nicole Krauss's writing. She really has a nack for layering the story lines, but not leaving anything out. I enjoyed the story, but towards the end when he found his uncle...I wasn't intrigued although it really was important to his own well-being. Still, I'm becoming a fan of Krauss.”
Carmarie wrote this review Monday, July 14 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“ man is found wandering the desert outside Las Vegas. The cards in his wallet identify him as Samson Greene, a Columbia University English professor last seen leaving campus eight days ago. Thirty-six years old, with a wife, Anna, and a dog, Frank. The New Yorker When a tumor in his brain is discovered and removed, Samson Greene, an English professor in his thirties, finds himself afflicted by a peculiar kind of amnesia: he cannot remember anything that happened after he was twelve. Even as he struggles to connect with his wife, Anna, he thinks that he might prefer the blankness of his new life. Samson's loss takes place against a backdrop of secret experiments on human memory and the social implications of atomic testing, but it is his shadow-filled scrutiny of intimacy -- as he wonders why he might have married this beautiful stranger, and whether he can love her -- that is the book's real strength. ”
Lis B wrote this review Tuesday, June 3 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
