The Ministry of Special Cases

by Nathan Englander | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0375404937 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingSqueakyChuwing of Rockville, Maryland USA on 4/26/2008
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This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingSqueakyChuwing from Rockville, Maryland USA on Sunday, March 9, 2014
I selected this book from The Book Thing of Baltimore, an organization whose mission it is to put unwanted books into the hands of those who want them.

I read another copy of this book in 2007. This is what i wrote about it after I read it...

Lillian and Kaddish Poznan live with their 19-year-old son Pato in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the 1970’s. Kaddish makes a living by rubbing out names on Jewish gravestones. He lives his life in a way to distance himself from his Jewishness. Both parents have a sense of fear and attempt to fortify their personal security when suddenly police come to their home to remove their son. In their search for their disappeared son, the parents find that most acquaintances fearfully withdraw any alliance they have to Pato. Both friends and the government beaurocracy combine to become one forceful labyrinth into which the parents delve differently in an effort to retrieve their son.

This book presents what seems at first a humorous look at a serious problem - that of the disappeared Jews in Argentina’s "dirty war". As the story progresses, the reader learns that the situation is not quite as funny as it first seems. Although I know some reviewers disapprove of the light-hearted approach with which this book was written, I think that the black humor only makes this book more readable. I love the funny characters who reinforce a sense of poignancy in their desperate attempt to limit their vulnerability in an especially precarious time for Jews in Argentina’s history. Englander’s taut construction of the story, thoughtful approach to a heart-breaking situation, and outrageous material makes me think of him as a Jewish John Irving!

Journal Entry 2 by wingSqueakyChuwing at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA on Thursday, January 18, 2018

Released 6 yrs ago (1/25/2018 UTC) at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I'm releasing this book for...

***The 2018 Clean Start Release Challenge hosted by BOOKWORMINUSALL for zbird. The author's name contains the word AND.

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Enjoy the book!

Journal Entry 3 by wingSqueakyChuwing at Rockville, Maryland USA on Wednesday, February 7, 2018
I selected this book from the Little Free Library of Twinbrook (#7720) to travel elsewhere...

Journal Entry 4 by wingSqueakyChuwing at La Madeleine Bakery & Cafe in Alexandria, Virginia USA on Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Released 6 yrs ago (2/18/2018 UTC) at La Madeleine Bakery & Cafe in Alexandria, Virginia USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I'm releasing this book at the February 2018 meetup of BCinDC at La Madeleine.

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Enjoy the book!

Journal Entry 5 by Firegirl at Annandale, Virginia USA on Sunday, February 18, 2018
This was left over at today's BC-in-DC meetup. I gathered all the leftovers to take to my hospital's book cart, but this seems very heavy for a hospital waiting room read. There's a LFL right down the street from me; I think I'll release it there instead.

Journal Entry 6 by Firegirl at Little Free Library #42544 in Annandale, Virginia USA on Sunday, February 18, 2018

Released 6 yrs ago (2/19/2018 UTC) at Little Free Library #42544 in Annandale, Virginia USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Left in the LFL as part of the "Keep Them Moving" release challenge.

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