The History of Love
11 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Dorothyredboots from York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, January 8, 2006
From the jacket:-
'Fourteen-year-old Alma Singer is trying to find a cure for her mother's lonliness. Believing she might discover it in an old book her mother is lovingly translating, she sets out in search of its author.
Across New York an old man named Leo Gursky is trying to survive a little bit longer. He spaends his days dreaming of the lost love that sixty years ago in Poland inspired him to write a book. And although he doesn't know it yet, that book also survived: crossing oceans and generations, and changing lives...'
I bought this to read as I am once again following Richard and Judy's Book Club selections. I didn't enjoy this very much, although I can see that it will be popular with other readers. It is well written and amusing in parts but just not for me. I found it somehow irritating and the narrative is deliberately very fragmented with several 'voices', which I found distracting. All in all a bit of a flop - particularly after reading the four pages of quotes at the beginning all singing this book's praises.
Will probably take this to Meetup in the hopes that it finds a more empathetic reader.
'Fourteen-year-old Alma Singer is trying to find a cure for her mother's lonliness. Believing she might discover it in an old book her mother is lovingly translating, she sets out in search of its author.
Across New York an old man named Leo Gursky is trying to survive a little bit longer. He spaends his days dreaming of the lost love that sixty years ago in Poland inspired him to write a book. And although he doesn't know it yet, that book also survived: crossing oceans and generations, and changing lives...'
I bought this to read as I am once again following Richard and Judy's Book Club selections. I didn't enjoy this very much, although I can see that it will be popular with other readers. It is well written and amusing in parts but just not for me. I found it somehow irritating and the narrative is deliberately very fragmented with several 'voices', which I found distracting. All in all a bit of a flop - particularly after reading the four pages of quotes at the beginning all singing this book's praises.
Will probably take this to Meetup in the hopes that it finds a more empathetic reader.
Journal Entry 2 by Dorothyredboots at Judges Lodgings in York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, January 23, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (1/24/2006 UTC) at Judges Lodgings in York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Journal Entry 3 by Dorothyredboots from York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 24, 2006
I've 'caught'this before it got released because Phatomcougar has very nicely asked to read it and I have promised to reserve it for her. Will take another to Meetup in its place.
Journal Entry 4 by Dorothyredboots from York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, January 30, 2006
Sending this in the post today to Phantomcougar. Enjoy!
Many thanks for the book, (and the card and the lollie!). I am going to Spain in 2 weeks so am trying to save this book for the beach! Should be back for the York meet so hope to see you there and we can compare notes.
Some of this was very good but just as you started to enjoy it it went off in another direction. Some of it was very annoying and frustrating, particularly the bits where Leo was talking,(And yet). The best bits were those where Alma talked about her family. But whole lumps of this book seem unresolved and the ending was useless so the book had a very unsatisfactory feel to it. I too heard lots of people raving on about this book. A much better and more intelligently put together read is "The Island" by Victoria Hislop which makes this one look like "Janet and John"
Taking to the Leeds meetup.
Journal Entry 8 by Ally1665 at Leeds Meet @ The Victoria in Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, August 7, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (8/8/2006 UTC) at Leeds Meet @ The Victoria in Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
I started off really enjoying this book...but I waned towards the end as I lost touch with who everyone was. On the whole nicely written and enjoyable.
CAUGHT IN LEEDS W YORKS ENGLAND
CAUGHT IN LEEDS W YORKS ENGLAND
Journal Entry 10 by gaelpixie from Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, September 16, 2006
Picked up at Leeds Meetup this week.
This started out well, but I suddenly found myself bored with it about halfway through. I think I probably just wasn't in the mood for it, as it seemed to be well written. But there are so many books waiting to be read that I'm afraid I gave up on this one.
Journal Entry 12 by gaelpixie from Leeds, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, October 26, 2006
Posted off to Jesmondgirl in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Journal Entry 13 by jesmondgirl from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Thursday, October 26, 2006
Gaelpixie saw this one my wishlist and kindly sent it to me. It has been interesting to read the comments so far and a felt a real twinge of nostalgia when I read of the Leeds meet up in The Victoria as I was brought up in Leeds and it is a wonderful pub!!!. I am looking forward to reading this one
Journal Entry 14 by jesmondgirl from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Friday, December 15, 2006
An intriguing and slightly confusing book. I was sometimes irritated by the way the narrator switches so often that sometimes it took a while to realise who was talking but the themes of love, loss, and the random things that shape our lives kept me going. It is one of those books that I know will make more sense on a second reading but also that knowing at the beginning what one realises at the end will take away so much. I too found there was a little too much left unresolved for me.
I am not sure where it should go next I have in mind a friend and fellow bookcrosser but will look at the wonderful wishlists first.
I am not sure where it should go next I have in mind a friend and fellow bookcrosser but will look at the wonderful wishlists first.
Journal Entry 15 by jesmondgirl from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Monday, December 18, 2006
This one had so many people listed on Cliffs wishlists that I decided to send it out on a ray.
The running order is
BOOKCROSSER LOCATION SHIPPING PREFERENCES
1. Lisa-b Hessen Germany Int
2. Aunt-sophie Quebec Canada Int
3. Aceofhearts Ontario Canada IntBook is Here
4. Squeakychu MAryland USA US/Int
4a. Valerief New York Int
5. Icekween01 St Louis USA US
6. Caligula03 Hayward California US
7. Gelibeli Hayward California Int
7a. Mellonhead Austin Texas Int
8. Vicki9170 Tampa Florida Int
9. Pikkewyn UK Int
10. Jillbe UK UK/Europe
10a Lizziepie UK UK/Europe
11. Thewhitelion uk
12. Wormyone uk
Please pm the next person when you receive the book to find out their address and whether they still wish to take part.
Thankyou all so much for taking part.
The running order is
BOOKCROSSER LOCATION SHIPPING PREFERENCES
1. Lisa-b Hessen Germany Int
2. Aunt-sophie Quebec Canada Int
3. Aceofhearts Ontario Canada IntBook is Here
4. Squeakychu MAryland USA US/Int
4a. Valerief New York Int
5. Icekween01 St Louis USA US
6. Caligula03 Hayward California US
7. Gelibeli Hayward California Int
7a. Mellonhead Austin Texas Int
8. Vicki9170 Tampa Florida Int
9. Pikkewyn UK Int
10. Jillbe UK UK/Europe
10a Lizziepie UK UK/Europe
11. Thewhitelion uk
12. Wormyone uk
Please pm the next person when you receive the book to find out their address and whether they still wish to take part.
Thankyou all so much for taking part.
Received today, thanks a lot for sharing it!
This was the last book I finished in 2006, and for me it was one of the better I read in 2006. I really liked it, and had no trouble distinguishing the different voices and times, maybe because I was forewarned by some of your reviews and took care about it. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read it!
The History of Love is ready to be mailed to Canada tomorrow.
The History of Love is ready to be mailed to Canada tomorrow.
Received today. Moving to the rings-to-be-read queue.
It was really a great book, and a quick read! I liked to read a book about the story of a book and the people who revolve around that book. Some parts of the book reminded me of J. Safran Foer's "Everything Is Illuminated", but I liked it much better, I admit. So thank you for sharing it via this ring!
I already have Aceofhearts' address, so I should send the book on over the next days.
I already have Aceofhearts' address, so I should send the book on over the next days.
received in the mail. Will get to it ASAP
I do not give up on many books but this is one I just could not get into. It is very confusing with the different narratives. Also by page 120 the stories still weren't connected. There are too many books I would rather be reading
mailed Friday to SqueakyChu
The book arrived today! Thanks, jesmondgirl, for sharing your book and Aceofhearts for mailing it to me. I hope to start it soon...
Edit 03/24/07: I'm starting the book today. PMing Valerief for a mailing address.
Edit 03/24/07: I'm starting the book today. PMing Valerief for a mailing address.
I think the story was a good one, but was dismayed to find the first half of the book thoroughly confusing. I simply could not get the characters straight or figure out how each was related to the other. I finally had to write down notes about each character in order to continue reading. About half-way through the book, it all became clear. It was at that point I was finally able to relax and enjoy the book.
I think the writing was good, but I hate to work so hard at reading! :-)
>as I lost touch with who everyone was.
LOL, AnonymousFinder!
This book is now in the mail to Valerief in New York. Enjoy!
I think the writing was good, but I hate to work so hard at reading! :-)
>as I lost touch with who everyone was.
LOL, AnonymousFinder!
This book is now in the mail to Valerief in New York. Enjoy!
This was in my stack of unread mail. It's midway in my Mt TBR. Am planning on lots of summer beach reading, so I should complete reading it in a month and a half. Thanks!
As convoluted as this book is, I really enjoyed it. I also had a rough time at the beginning sorting out the different voices, but it was interesting seeing how it ties together in the end. It reminds me of Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, both by Jonathan Safran Foer. Another theme I pulled out of this is the glimmer of sadness in happiness that is a common theme in Judaism, like when they break the glass at weddings (part of which is to commemorate the destruction of the temple while also symbolizing other things as well). Even though I am not Jewish, I appreciate the religious and cultural themes that Nicole Krauss and other authors bring to their work.
Icekween01 and Caligula03 have asked to be skipped. This is off to Gelibeli very shortly. I have left Squeakychu's beautiful bookmark and included another one.
Icekween01 and Caligula03 have asked to be skipped. This is off to Gelibeli very shortly. I have left Squeakychu's beautiful bookmark and included another one.
The book arrived a few days ago! Thanks for sending it. I'll read ASAP and send it off to next reader shortly thereafter...
