Editorial Review

Some historical events simply beggar any attempt at description--the Holocaust is one of these. Therefore, as it recedes and the people able to bear witness die, it becomes more and more essential that novel, vigorous methods are used to describe the indescribable. Examined in these terms, Art Spiegelman's Read more

Reviews (129)

Why are so many amazed that its a "comic" book?
...I loved this graphic novel, and so many accolades have been heaped upon this book that I need'nt say more. However, in reviewing some of the readers responses, and colligiate papers regarding the works of Maus, many seemed surprised or shocked that such amazing storytelling could be attributed to the comic book form. Why? I have been a lover and reader of comics for many years and this so - called "low" art form has produced some of the most memorable, touching, exciting, and thought-provoking material I have ever read. Granted, a large percentage of "comic" books cater to the stylized "men-in-tights" brigade, however even this attitude has changed much within the industry and modern comics. Even the long-running "hero" titles touch upon modern issues with a compexity that some people might find surprising. It should also be noted however that largely indie, underground, and other "non-mainstream" works really drive the graphic novel and comic industry in terms of content. If you thought comics simply "silly childrens stories" or "lame escapism" you should read some of the highly recommended titles of the genre and see why "comics" are being used as source material for a lot of current and upcoming films.

An Incredible Historical Perspective
Making one man's story about his life during the Holocaust into a comic book isn't contrite or demeaning. It's brilliant.
Ja! Like lightning!
Despite all the press and hype regarding it, I had never heard of Maus until mid-last year when browsing through a book store. The image of Hitler as a cat with two mice seemingly losing all hope on the cover really struck me, and I then made a blind purchase. I didn't even flip through the pages to see the art style, or read the back of the book or inside flaps to get an idea of what it was about. All I knew was that Nazis = cats, and Jews = mice. Having loved my experience in various history classes, I figured I'd get something out of this comic. Then I read it, and didn't. It all seemed bland, some parts rushed, and I didn't like the art style too much. Then, almost a year later, I reread it, and I don't know what it is, but my view changed. I actually got the characters, loved the story of survival, and understood just how bad the times were from the narrator's point of view. I still hated the art style, but everything else was meaningful. While most stories of the Holocaust rub in your face how bad things were, giving you every tiny detail about the pain and suffering, Maus takes things in a different direction. Art Spiegelman, the semi-author and artist, interviews his own father, a Holocaust survivor, and tells his story in comic form. It's not "normal" though- his father, Vladek, is a cranky old man now, and Art even makes a comment that he's now the stereotypical Jew. Maus takes both the real story of the Holocaust as Vladek experienced it, as well as the in-between portions of getting together with his father and the difficulties the two experience together in trying to make things work out. It's these little things that make the story so much more real than just simply a survivor telling their story straight forward.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography And Autobiography    4. Children of Holocaust survivors    5. Comic books, strips, etc    6. Comics & Graphic Novels    7. Fine Arts    8. Historical - Holocaust    9. History: World    10. Holocaust    11. Holocaust survivors    12. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    13. Jewish - General    14. Literary    15. Literature: Classics    16. Military - World War II    17. Personal Memoirs    18. Poland    19. Spiegelman, Vladek    20. United States    21. Europe    22. Fiction / Graphic Novels    23. Graphic novels    24. Spiegelman, Art   

Editorial Review

Paul Johnson says that writing Read more

Reviews (62)

The best book on the subject, with no religiuos bias
It is one of the best books I read in my life. The book is full of intriguing thoughts and explanations. It does not have the sadness, which comes with the subject. The cross-cultural analysis has been very revealing. I found fascinating the accuracy of details presented on topics, which I lived through. Somehow it adds credibility to many other thoughts in the book. Thank you very much, Mr. Johnson

Should be required reading for sunday schools
This is a wonderful book that is extremely readable.I learned more from 10 days of reading this book than I did from 10 years of attending Sunday School.

Another Great Johnson Historical Review
Johnson is my favorite historian. I have read several of his other works over the years, History of Christianity, Birth of the Modern, Modern Times, and now, A History of the Jews.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Israel    6. Jewish - General    7. Jews    8. History / General    9. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    10. Jewish studies   

Editorial Review

Read more

Reviews (58)

100% Recommended
It recounts the hellish 12 months that Primo Levi, an Italian jew, spent as Haftling 174517, at the notorious Deathcamp (during 1939 and 1944 2 million people were murdered there). He was captured by the Fascist Militia in December 1943 and wished to be charged based on his religious beliefs rather than his political ones in the view that he would be treated more leniently. After a period in a detention camp at Fossili, Modena, he along with the rest of the Jews are transferred to the concentration camps. The opening chapters describe the horrific conditions of the transfer and the hasty selection process used to determine who would go to the camp and who would go to the gas chambers at Birkenau; all the women, children and infirm were sent to cremation without question. In some ways he was fortunate to have avoided arrest until the latter stages of the war as the Germans decided that the prisoners in the lagers would be of more use to them alive than dead, at Auschwitz they were detailed to build a Buna - a synthetic rubber processing plant which never saw a day of production. Prior to this the prisoners were killed without recourse.
Primo Levi enthusiasts: This is a re-issue of 'If this is a man'
It's a great book. But if you've already got 'If this is a man', don't buy this.

Brutual & Clinical Look of Survival
I stopped reading books of the Holocaust several years ago simply because the stories that come out of the Holocaust are heart-wrenching, bitter, courgaeous, guilt-ridden .... all of the emotions and thoughts that we human have produced can be a lot to digest at one time.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Auschwitz (Concentration camp)    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Historical - Holocaust    4. History: World    5. Holocaust    6. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    7. Italy    8. Jewish Holocaust Personal Narratives    9. Levi, Primo    10. Levi, Primo - Prose & Criticism    11. Literary    12. Personal narratives    13. Personal narratives, Italian    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. European history: Second World War    16. History / Jewish    17. Poland    18. The Holocaust   

Reviews (25)

Prominent doesn't mean anything!
All those interviews proved is that the diversity among "prominent" Jews is the same as that among the general Jewish population. It may make observant Jews angry and non-observant Jews feel good but doesn't contribute to anyone else's well-being or beliefs in any shape or form.All one has to do is pick one interview and say that's why 1. Either I dont' still feel I'm a Jew or 2. I still feel I'm a Jew.

disappointing and uninspiring
What a disappointment. These people are prominent, but not for their connection to Judaism. Sarah Jessica Parker chooses to have a mezzuah because she thinks it's a cute good luck charm. Many of the people highlighted had no Jewish upbringing and know little about their religion.
Jewish in Detail, but Applicable to All
The surprising thing about this book is that the people being interviewed have achieved such prominence in other fields such as acting, reporting, designing, judging, financing.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Attitudes    2. Biography    3. Ethnic Studies - General    4. Interviews    5. Jewish Sociology    6. Jewish Studies    7. Jews in public life    8. Popular Culture - General    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Social Science / Ethnic Studies   

Reviews (26)

Answers the What Happened, But WHY?
The whole idea of the Holocaust is so abhorrent to many of us that we find it difficult to understand or believe as many otherwise 'normal' people participated either directly or indirectly. In France, in most of the occupied countries, and of course in Germany itself Jews were regularly turned over to the authorities. (Although I must add that in Denmark, Italy and Hungary the Governments at least resisted with more or less success.) So many people find it so unbelievable that they simply have re-written history to pretend that it really didn't happen.
Well written but with the unforgivable bias
This book is well written and starts with an excellent review of the context of Polish history after the World War 2 (Chapter 1). Unfortunately, following chapters go downhill from there, to end up with the incredibly biased conclusion. Shattering, factual crime descriptions (such as the description of the Kielce pogrom) are getting more and more intertwined with the one sided anecdotal evidence, author's opinions, as well as clear omissions of important facts, not to mention some clearly misleading and untruthful statements.
Another Case Study In Polish Savagery!
In pondering this disturbing and provocative tome by Jan T. Gross, one is reminded not only of his previous shocking entry, "Neighbors" (see my review) but also of the increasing evidence of a shockingly resurgent and quite virulent anti- Semitism across Europe as well as throughout the Middle East. With horrific detail, Mr. Gross describes the almost indescribable violence and murder systematically visited against returning Jews to Poland in the aftermath of the Second World War. This current work indicates just how typical the previous study ("Neighbors") he had conducted concerning the events in one particular rural town (Jedwabne) had been. In that account he detailed how the local inhabitantsintentionally clubbed, murdered, and mutilated its local indigenous Jews in 1941 under the urgent ministrations of a cruel Nazi occupation. Since many stood to gain materially from the Jews' demise in the way of money, farms, houses, furniture, and other earthly possessions, they were seemingly encouraged by local German occupying forces to engage in the bludgeoning murders of as many as 1,000 of their Jewish fellow villagers; men, women, and children.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Antisemitism    3. Discrimination & Racism    4. Eastern Europe - General    5. Eastern Europe - Poland    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Jewish - General    10. Jews    11. Kielce    12. Persecutions    13. Pogroms    14. Poland    15. Poland - History    16. History / Europe / Eastern   

Reviews (6)

Riveting Story of Diversity
This is a companion book to the documentary about the Paper Clip project started at Whitwell Middle School outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the late 1990s.What began as a class to teach diversity to a mostly white southern group of schoolchildren evolved into a project of collecting 6 million paper clips (the clips are historically tied to the Holocaust) to represent the Jews who perished during that dark period.This book is a wonderful story that shows what can be accomplished when children are determined and how a relatively small idea can grow into something significant that can affect millions of people.This one is highly recommended for children of all ages.

Deserves 10 stars
I happened upon a review and ordered the book. When it arrived, I read it with a lump in my throat and my eyes tearing up.My 72 year old mother and I were driving to another town when I started telling her about it.I couldn't get that damn lump out of my throat and pretty soon my voice started quivering and I started crying. She just reached over and held my hand as I got my composure back.I was done, though, I told her she had to read it.She did. Afterward, she took it to one of her clubs and shared it.It's just a 10 minute read, but it sure provides plenty of emotion. I am so glad I happened upon it. A glorious story. Thank you.

The power of a symbol.
Those of us who are horrified by the murderous actions of the Nazis during the Holocaust pray that such a terrible event will never happen again.It is heartening to know that there are a number of middle school children in Whitwell, Tennessee who did their share to raise the consciousness of people from all over the world.Whitwell, a small town of white Anglo-Saxon Protestants with a population of only 1,600, is now internationally famous for its "Paper Clip Project."
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - History - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Ethnic relations    5. History - Holocaust    6. Holocaust    7. Holocaust memorials    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Religion - Judaism    12. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    13. Study and teaching (Elementary    14. Study and teaching (Elementary)    15. Tennesee    16. Whitwell    17. Whitwell (Tenn.)    18. Jewish studies   

Reviews (8)

A refreshing, compact look at Sephardic history
It has often been difficult for me to keep old textbooks.Oftentimes they're dry as toast and I can't wait to foist them off to the university bookstore again.However, I kept Gerber's book after my Spanish Jewry class ended.Simply put, it's a nice little treasure.
"Basta mi nombre que es Abrabanel."
THE JEWS OF SPAIN is an eminently readable and important survey history of the Ibero-Jewish experience from Biblical times. The Jews of Sepharad (Spain) are first mentioned in the Prophetic Book of Obadiah. From this beginning in antiquity, they can trace their history on Spanish soil right down to the present day.
True Experience
I am a Sephardic Jew,I have thought these thoughts and felt these feelings.I read the book and was surprised that my thoughts and feelings were far from uncommon among Spain's exiles and Jane Gerber captured it truly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Spain & Portugal    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Jewish - General    6. Judaism - General    7. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    8. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    9. Jewish studies    10. Judaism    11. Religion / Judaism / General    12. Spain   

Reviews (60)

Solid, important and highly informative book.
A very solid, important and highly informative book. Norman Finkelstein provides extensive details and analysis, with considerable historical depth and expert research, of a very wide range of issues concerning Israel, the Palestinians, and the U.S.
A Follow-Up of Sorts to the Holocaust Industry
In this book, Finkelstein extends his seminal work on the Holocaust Industry to encompass (what he considers to be) the uncritical support for Israel regardless of (what he contends to be) her repeated criminal acts against the Palestinians. For example, he discusses the decades-old massacre of Arab civilians by Israelis at Deir Yassin as well as larger, lesser-known Israeli massacres of Arab civilians in the early days of the State of Israel (Lydda, 250 victims; Ad Dawayima, "hundreds"; p. 263). Unlike most other reviews, however, this one focuses on Finkelstein's latest views on the Holocaust Industry.
Beyond Chutzpah: As powerful and well-documented as they come!
This book is a must read for every person interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It breaks through the artificial complexity and explains the core problems (occupation, expansion and human rights abuses) in a simple and direct manner. The book is a powerful blow to the "pro-Israel" forces that approve of Israel's illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories. It demonstrates pretty well the consensus among human rights organizations about Israel's widespread abuse, torture and war crimes. It also exposes the fabricated smoke screen stirred in the US to divert attention away from Israel's atrocities.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Arab-Israeli conflict    2. Case for Israel    3. Crimes against    4. Dershowitz, Alan M    5. General    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Judaism - General    10. Middle East - General    11. Middle East - Israel    12. Palestinian Arabs    13. Zionism    14. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    15. History / General    16. Israel    17. Jewish studies    18. Palestine   

Reviews (81)

The One Book
This was the second book I read in my Holocaust Literature class and it's excellent! Gerda describes everything perferctly, taking you back in time. She remembers both the good and the bad with extreme clarity, something I wish I had (I have a horrible memory). The actual story being told is extremely sad though and I almost feel that it's wrong to tell of something like Gerda went through and saw, but the courage and strength she has gained in life is unbelievable (an epiloge is included in the back showing this). Gerda is such an inspiration and I hope that there are more people like her in the future. If I could only bring 1 holocaust book with me to a desert island, this would be it! Highly recommended.

Amazing
I read this book for an eigth grade English project last year.It is truely touching and amazing to think how the world once was, and still is in some areas of the world.When I read this book, I could hardly put it down.Even now, it makes me remember the pain the war caused.This is a good read that speaks the truth.

Life, Hope, Survival
It may have been serendipity that the author survived the German labor camps.This book, however, is about more than serendipity--it's about character, and the ability of a survivor to heal and find beauty, purpose and love in the aftermath of great personal tragedy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1924-    2. Bielsko-Biaa    3. Bielsko-Bia±a    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Conscript labor    9. Germany    10. Historical - Holocaust    11. Holocaust    12. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    13. Jews    14. Klein, Gerda Weissmann,    15. Personal narratives    16. Poland    17. Women    18. World War, 1939-1945   

Editorial Review

The condition of exile is an exaggeration of the process of change and loss that many people experience as they grow and mature, leaving behind the innocence of childhood. Eva Hoffman spent her early years in Cracow, among family friends who, like her parents, had escaped the Holocaust and were skeptical of the newly imposed Communist state. Hoffman's parents managed to immigrate to Canada in the 1950s, where Eva was old enough to feel like a stranger--bland food, a quieter life, and schoolmates who hardly knew where Poland was. Still, there were neighbors who knew something of Old World ways, and a piano teacher who was classically Middle European in his neurotic enthusiasm for music. Her true exile came in college in Texas, where she found herself among people who were frightened by and hostile to her foreignness. Later, at Harvard, Hoffman found herself initially alienated by her burgeoning intellectualism; her parents found it difficult to comprehend. Her sense of perpetual otherness was extended by encounters with childhood friends who had escaped Cracow to grow up in Israel, rather than Canada or the United States, and were preoccupied with soldiers, not scholars. Read more

Reviews (20)

a classic
I loved this book when it came out and I love it still many rereadings later. Thisportrait of the Wandering Jew as ayoung girl begins with Hoffman's childhood in Cracow, Poland just after the second world war; moves to Vancouver, British Columbia when she is thirteen; continues on to Texas and Massachusetts for her university years; and ends in New York, where she becomes a writer and an editor at the New York Times Book Review. It encompasses many themes: the defining power of language; the cost of changing cultures, the construction of personal identity, and the consequences, for many Jews, of the Nazi and Communist regimes. Hoffman was born in the summer of 1945. Like many Jews in post-war, Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe, the Hoffmans observed Passover and had home-baked challah, on shabbat but Eva was culturally Polish, reading Sienkiewicz's nationalistic novels, playing Chopin etudes, attending church with her friends, receiving gifts on St. Nicholas's Day. After emigration, she adapts to North American culture, first Canadian, then Texan, then New York. This is a memoir squarely in the Jewish immigrant tradition but one in which the immigrant is a graduate student at Harvard, and relates her situation not only to Mary Antin but to contexts laid out by Sartre and Nabokov, Jung and Freud. Lost in Translation contains stories and essays, phrases to ruminate on, ideas to consider. It is a demanding read that challenges its reader to consider her own autobiography, her own childhood, her own assumptions. Having compiled an internationalbibliography of Jewish women's non-fiction books with poet Irena Klepfisz (available on my website) , I can say this is one of my favorites.

Intriguing, brilliant read
As a senior Literature major, there are many things I am required to read that make my college experience rather painful. This book, however, was not only relevant to the class I was taking but was also the most intriguing book I have read in years, maybe ever. Eva Hoffman's memoir is beautifully written and constructed, and is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature.

What a great book
This book was in excellent condition.It was a really good read and I read it straight through.I would recommend this book and any related material such as biography and autobiography of Eva Hoffman. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Children of Holocaust survivors    7. Historical - Holocaust    8. Hoffman, Eva,    9. Immigrants    10. Jewish Studies    11. Jews    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Poland    14. United States    15. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    16. Hoffman, Eva   

Reviews (5)

Sentimental plus
OKI admit I read it in one sitting.But during that whole time, kept thinking the same embarrassing thought "This book is as sentimental and idealistically patriotic as a Leni Riefenstahl film (but, unfortunately, not quite as artistically fascinating.)
I would give this book five stars simply on the basis of its main idea
Alan Dershowitz gathers the evidence of eighty distinguished witnesses who tell what Israel means to them. These are all basically pro- Israel voices though there are some sharp critics of Israeli policies among them. Among those whose testimony is included are: William Bennett,Hillary Clinton, Barbra Streisand, Al Gore, Henry Kissinger, Elie Wiesel, Saul Bellow, Arnold Schwartzenegger, Jerry Seinfeld, Sir Martin Gilbert, Harvey Weinstein, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Ron Silver, Barney Frank, Larry King, Natalie Portman.
Wonderful tour of Israel from so many different perspectives.
What's wonderful about this book is that it isn't just one person's take or one person's dogma.Some of the writers are passionate defenders, some are critics, some are sentimental, and some are intellectual.All viewpoints (except anyone who would not like Israel to exist at all) are represented, articulately and readably.Quite a few of the essays were surprsingly moving.I'd especially recommend this book for someone about to take a first trip to Israel. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Attitudes    2. Celebrities    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Israel    7. Middle East - General    8. Middle East - Israel    9. History / Middle East    10. Jewish studies   

Editorial Review

A photographic celebration of the diversity of the Jewish religion and Jewish people in America--from "Jews with Hogs," a portrait of a motorcycle group astride their Harley Davidsons outside a Miami Beach Synagogue, to "Passover 5754," which captures the observance of the holiday feast in a maximum-security women's prison, to "Marxists," a group portrait of a boisterous band of Groucho Marx imitators. Photographer Frederic Brenner goes beyond the confines of conventional Judaism to depict the practical application of the religion in everyday America. A visual catalogue of signs, ritual objects, artifacts, and kitsch rounds out this book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Lovely
Surprising, moving, magical. Brenner's photographs speak volumes. I was most moved by a picture that includes not a single Jew. It features instead a panoramic shot of the main street of Billings, Montana, the citizens of which had filled the streets, each holding a menorah aloft in protest against a violent attack on a Jewish resident's home. A book that claims to, and succeeds at, framing the diversity of American Jewish experience also succeeded in reaffirming my faith in the decency of humankind.

The Jews do not control the banks, newspapers and movies.
All stereotypes are broken with this unique view of a people and their eclectic influence on the American scene. The mostly black & white panoramic viewpoint maximizes the visual impact. The outstanding photo technique, large page size and strong composition make this a center piece of your home coffee table books to be enjoyed for years to come. I only wish several pages were devoted to the actual technical aspects of the shots

Stunning photographs of Jews in America and American Jews
This oversize coffee table book caught my eye in the bookstore.With a price of $67.50, its gotta be great to sell -- and it is. The photographs are truly outstanding and many outlandish.Jews on Harleys in front of a synogoge in Florida, Holocaust survivors visiting LA's holocaust museum, and a family of persian, jewish immigrants seated on a flying carpet in their neighborhood.The best part of this book is not that the photographer manages to capture the diversity of jews in the states but that each of the pictures he presents is stunning in its own right.Brenner managed to gain access to an unbeliveable number of private, Jewish forums, from Jewish Civil War buffs who get together in costume to re-enact period battles to Lesbian Jewish families, the collection is fresh, provocative, and rich ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Collections Of Photographs    2. History: American    3. Individual Photographer    4. Jewish Sociology    5. Jews    6. Photo Essays    7. Photography    8. Photography, Artistic    9. Pictorial works    10. Social life and customs    11. Travel - World/Middle East    12. United States    13. Jewish studies    14. Photographs: collections    15. USA   

Reviews (7)

Disappointing
The story of the blind hatred and inhumanity whipped up by the Nazis needs to be told - and told often.But it deserves a more nuanced telling than this single-dimensional presentation.This account is all bright colors (first quarter) and darkness (remainder), with little in between.
Decadence and Poverty of Wartime Shanghai
I thoroughly enjoyed "Ten Green Bottles".Unlike other books on Shanghai of that period, I particularly relished the intimate glimpse of the extreme wealth and decadence that was ongoing alongside the abject poverty of the immigrants that fled Europe.Much is written here of how people of many nations with unimaginable wealth made Shanghai their "sumptuous playground" between the stench and filth of the city.
A story that should not be forgotten
This story about the experiences of a Viennese Jewish family in Shanghai perfectly fulfills two raison d'etre of books - on the one hand it allows the reader to enter a time-warp machine and be transplanted to another time and another place and vicariously live through the emotional upheavals, the smells, sights, sounds and most importantly the feelings of fear, frustration, Angst and yes, fortunately also joy, of the main characters.Vivian Kaplan is a master of setting the scene and allowing the reader to slip into the protagonist's skin.I have lived and worked in Vienna and also in Northern China (albeit at a much later time) and Vivian's writing rings true.The chapters in the book are like 3-D images conjured up for the reader (and would make a very gripping screenplay).The other raison d'etre of books is to preserve and hand down important happenings and narrate them in a gripping and thought-provoking manner.The manner in which the Jews in Austria and elsewhere were treated by an Austrian madman who managed to come to power in Germany should never be forgotten. More importantly, we all need to be vigilant that such events happen less and less frequently in the history of humankind.Although familiar with the story of displaced Jews from German-speaking countries as I (like the author) am offspring, I was unable to put down the book.What Nini Karpel's mother had to experience in one short lifetime is more than most people should have to live through.The book also helped me understand the initial inertia of many Jews in Vienna to the anti-Semitic flare-up in the 1920s and 30s."Oh, we've seen this many times, let's just lie low and wait for it to blow over". Writing in the present tense made the story more immediate.However, despite the fact that the book had its share of gruesome scenes, overall the manner in which Nini viewed the world seemed overly rosy-colored and syrupy sweet.The naive tone that permeates the book distracts from the serious situation in which these refugees find themselves.Even a five-year old would know better than to state 'we are awed by the changes in the babywithin his first year.Every day he seems to learn some new word...'p.5.Should the book get reprinted, I suggest a German-speaking editor correct some of the German words.The great Ferris wheel in Vienna is no 'Reisenrad' p.77 and the 'Fuhrer' should be spelled 'Fuehrer'.But overall we are better off for having another story capture the senseless suffering human beings will inflict upon one another. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Austria    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. China    7. Ethnic Cultures - General    8. Historical - General    9. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    10. Jewish - General    11. Jews, Austrian    12. Karpel, Nini    13. Refugees, Jewish    14. Shanghai    15. The Holocaust   

Reviews (25)

A touching story
A Tale of Love and Darkness is a hilarious though serious book about the life of the author in the historical setting of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Being the great storyteller he is, Amos Oz made the true events so easy to relate to, and as such this book is remarkable.Also liked Usurper and Other Stories, which I have included in my collection.

Lyrical memories
A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS is a deeply poignant, lyrical tapestry of memories that will be much loved by admirers of Oz's work. The prose is finely crafted, as we'd expect from a writer of Oz's stature. This book is not a memoir, as such--its narrative is not linear, but waxes and wanes through various themes. Arching over the narrative is the shadow of Oz's loss of his mother. My one reservation about the book is that I feel Oz withholds from us--it's never really adequately explained why he changed his name to Oz or what train of thoughts led him to do this. Was he attempting to erase the trauma of his profound loss? Regardless, this work will linger with you after you finish its final pages.

Brilliant piece of storytelling but, alas, not a memoir
Amos Oz likes to say "the first thing you should know about [his] autobiography is that it's not an autobiography. It's an imposition forced on [him] by the Library of Congress." An interesting confession considering "A Tale" was publishedunder the genre "memoir" and went on to reap much acclaim - and quite a bit of money -- as a memoir, including The Koret Jewish Book Award for Autobiography. Asked by befuddled interviewers to clarify himself, Mr. Oz will say only that having asked the dead into his home, "they told him the stories he never heard". This is a writerly response, with much truth and sense, but it doesn't excuse Mr. Oz for allowing his publisher to tout the work as a memoir or to blame th