"Imre Kertesz's mesmerizing novel is a tale of identity and memory - the story of a middle-aged man taking stock of his life in the ever-present shadow of the Holocaust. The story unfolds at a writers retreat as the narrator, a survivor of the Holocaust, explains to a friend he cannot bring a child into a world where the Holocaust occurred and could occur again. In an intricate narrative, we learn of the narrator's myriad disappointments: his unsuccessful literary career, his failed marriage, his ex-wife's new family and children - children that could have been his own. 'Kaddish For a Child Not Born' is a deeply introspective, poetic, yet unsentimental work."

This almost reads more like a philosophical text than a novel. The language is intricately lovely. I thought I would feel sympathy for the narrator, but I don't, really. Rather, I'm proud of him for living the way he knows he has to live. I'm definitely intrigued, and will be looking for more of Kertesz.

I returned from Stockholm today and found this book on my mail pile. Thank you so much for this RABCK, ealasaidmae! I am looking forward to reading it!

It took me three weeks to read this as it was quite hard to get into. There are no chapters or paragraphs to make it easier, it is just one long essay. But the second half was easier to read. All in all quite an interesting read.

Thank you so much for sharing, ealasaidmae!

I will put this book in a box about the holocaust called "Nie wieder!". It will continue its travel...

I read this book in the German version about four years ago. It was quite hard stuff and I remember that it took me a long time to get through. Before I read "Fateless", also in the German translation, what was more impressing in my opinion whereas it was another kind of rememberance.

This book keeps staying in the box, which seemed to be lost for more than five years. Now its travelling on shortly.

wird gelesen , unterwegs zur Convention 2014

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