The History of Love: A Novel
16 journalers for this copy...
Written in the Jewish Story tradition (midrash) this book is written in a fresh language - belonging to the author, his voice brings out the characters and the themes interwoven together. A book that once read you want to share! Here is a favorite line from the early pages of this book: Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering. I'm not done with the book yet but my nose will be in it until it is done because I have other books on the way!
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The last words of this haunting novel resonate like a pealing bell. "He fell in love. It was his life." This is the unofficial obituary of octogenarian Leo Gursky, a character whose mordant wit, gallows humor and searching heart create an unforgettable portrait. Born in Poland and a WWII refugee in New York, Leo has become invisible to the world. When he leaves his tiny apartment, he deliberately draws attention to himself to be sure he exists. What's really missing in his life is the woman he has always loved, the son who doesn't know that Leo is his father, and his lost novel, called The History of Love, which, unbeknownst to Leo, was published years ago in Chile under a different man's name. Another family in New York has also been truncated by loss. Teenager Alma Singer, who was named after the heroine of The History of Love, is trying to ease the loneliness of her widowed mother, Charlotte. When a stranger asks Charlotte to translate The History of Love from Spanish for an exorbitant sum, the mysteries deepen. Krauss (Man Walks into a Room) ties these and other plot strands together with surprising twists and turns, chronicling the survival of the human spirit against all odds. Writing with tenderness about eccentric characters, she uses earthy humor to mask pain and to question the universe. Her distinctive voice is both plangent and wry, and her imagination encompasses many worlds.
Welcome to the The History of Love US/CANADA bookring!
This is how it works
- If you wish to be added to the list, please PM me with your details.
- This is a United States, Canada only book ring.
- We will kick off once we have 3 members.
- You will be sending the book to the person who appears after you in the list, so you need to PM them to get their address!
- It's not a race, but please read and send the book on as speedily as you can, other people are dying to read it too! About two to three weeks is OK.
- Please journal the book once you have received it (so we all know where it currently is) and again when you have read it ( so we know what you thought of it!).
- If you're the last person on the list the book comes back to me!
Participants and Locations. Book currently with person listed as "Being read by".
1. CynthiaA---->Toronto, Canada
2. snowy652---->Abbotford, British Columbia Canada
3. vzfamily---->Willard,Ohio
4. kelwood---->Toledo, Ohio
5. tiatia---->Springfield, Virginia
6. WarEagle78---->Hoover, Alabama
7. amber-h---->Saint Marys, Georgia
8. KarenZero---->Brooklyn, New York
9. tobysrus---->Cambridge, Massachusettes
10. rainwolfe---->Crofton, Maryland
11. lolamarie---->Three Rivers, California
12. RlyLv2Rd---->Minneapolis, Minnesota
13. pjmom8025---->Brooklyn Park, Minnesota~~~Dropped
14. lauran---->Tulsa, Oklahoma
15. beckerbuns----San Jose, California-----------> Being read by
16. angel1509---->Notingshire, Nottingham, United Kingdom---->
17. rebeccaljames---->Cincinatti, Ohio---->BACK TO ME!
Book arrived back home looking like it was well read!!!
1. CynthiaA---->Toronto, Canada
2. snowy652---->Abbotford, British Columbia Canada
3. vzfamily---->Willard,Ohio
4. kelwood---->Toledo, Ohio
5. tiatia---->Springfield, Virginia
6. WarEagle78---->Hoover, Alabama
7. amber-h---->Saint Marys, Georgia
8. KarenZero---->Brooklyn, New York
9. tobysrus---->Cambridge, Massachusettes
10. rainwolfe---->Crofton, Maryland
11. lolamarie---->Three Rivers, California
12. RlyLv2Rd---->Minneapolis, Minnesota
13. pjmom8025---->Brooklyn Park, Minnesota~~~Dropped
14. lauran---->Tulsa, Oklahoma
15. beckerbuns----San Jose, California-----------> Being read by
16. angel1509---->Notingshire, Nottingham, United Kingdom---->
17. rebeccaljames---->Cincinatti, Ohio---->BACK TO ME!
Book arrived back home looking like it was well read!!!
It arrived! I was starting to get worried! Almost 15 days in the post, but it is safe and sound now. :o)
Edited October 13, 2005. I finished the book last night, and it is a lovely lovely story. One that I'm so glad I read. I know that many readers will connect with the Leo character, but it was Alma and her brother Bird that resonated with me. She just seemed so real, I wanted to bring her home with me and hug her to pieces. Thank you so much, 4-lele, for sharing it with me. I will be posting it to the next recipient this afternoon.
Edited October 13, 2005. I finished the book last night, and it is a lovely lovely story. One that I'm so glad I read. I know that many readers will connect with the Leo character, but it was Alma and her brother Bird that resonated with me. She just seemed so real, I wanted to bring her home with me and hug her to pieces. Thank you so much, 4-lele, for sharing it with me. I will be posting it to the next recipient this afternoon.
received this one today. Thank you for including me in this ring. I have a couple to read before it but I am sure that I will be done it in a timely manner. I will comment once again once read and will ship it off to the next person in line.
***November 12, 2006 ~ ~ I gave this book my best shot at reading and truth be told I could not get past page 72. I have been trying to read this for days but for some reason I just can't get into it. Usually when that happens I just force myself to get through the book. However, in this case, I just am having too hard of a time doing even that. I have thus decided to send it on to the next person and hope that they will enjoy it more than I have.
Thank you so much for letting me be part of this ring. I appreciated being able to read a new author.
***November 12, 2006 ~ ~ I gave this book my best shot at reading and truth be told I could not get past page 72. I have been trying to read this for days but for some reason I just can't get into it. Usually when that happens I just force myself to get through the book. However, in this case, I just am having too hard of a time doing even that. I have thus decided to send it on to the next person and hope that they will enjoy it more than I have.
Thank you so much for letting me be part of this ring. I appreciated being able to read a new author.
Journal Entry 4 by snowy652 at -- By Hand or Post, Ray/ring, Meet-up, Rabck in Abbotsford, British Columbia Canada on Monday, November 14, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (11/14/2005 UTC) at -- By Hand or Post, Ray/ring, Meet-up, Rabck in Abbotsford, British Columbia Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
hope he gets to you safely
hope he gets to you safely
I couldn't get into this book. I always give a book 50 pages and if I'm STILL not into it - I know it's time to move on. Maybe it was the style it was written in, I'm not sure. I hope all others like it!!! Will send on as soon as I get the next address!
Journal Entry 6 by vzfamily at Postal Release in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Ohio USA on Monday, December 5, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (12/5/2005 UTC) at Postal Release in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Ohio USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sending along to the next in the bookring. Doesn't have to travel too far this time - just under 2 hours away! HAPPY READING!
Sending along to the next in the bookring. Doesn't have to travel too far this time - just under 2 hours away! HAPPY READING!
Just arrived in the mail today. I am really looking forward to this. It sounds wonderful. Thank you 4-lele for sharing!
I found this to be a very captivating story and one which I had no problem getting through. I thought the characters were engaging for a variety of reasons, except for Alma's mother who I just couldn't relate to at all. A very good read to finish out 2005 and start 2006. Thanks for sharing!
Will PM tiatia and hopefully get this book on its way again later this week.
Will PM tiatia and hopefully get this book on its way again later this week.
Released Tuesday, Jan. 10 via media mail to tiatia in Virginia. Enjoy!
Arrived after the Martin Luther King holiday. Will try to read it quickly and pass it on.
Evocative. Maybe because I am in the "what is the meaning of life" stage, this author spoke to the many questions of life, love's purpose, the role of God, and other related themes. I sometimes found the switch from sets of characters disorienting but I enjoyed how they were all tied together at the conclusion. This is a read that I will continue to dwell on, long after I pass it on.
It's off to War Eagle 78 as soon as I get an addy.
It's off to War Eagle 78 as soon as I get an addy.
Arrived safely in Alabama today, thanks! Will journal again when read.
I'm sure this is a very worthwhile book. The narrator's introduction, describing himself in an elderly man afraid of dying without anyone being aware, is wry and recognizable. His relationship with Bruno is drawn distinctively. I like these characters.
However, the book loses me. The narrator is working on a book, and as we flip between his book and the one I'm reading I have trouble following along, and I'm losing focus and patience with the work. With heartfelt apologies to 4-lele, I'm sending it on to amber-h on Saturday. Thanks for including me!
UPDATE: Mailed 2/25/06
However, the book loses me. The narrator is working on a book, and as we flip between his book and the one I'm reading I have trouble following along, and I'm losing focus and patience with the work. With heartfelt apologies to 4-lele, I'm sending it on to amber-h on Saturday. Thanks for including me!
UPDATE: Mailed 2/25/06
I've been a bad bookcrosser... I kept forgetting to post a journal entry on this book.
This was an absolutely beautiful book, and I literally couldn't put it down once I began it, and read it within a day. I adored the story, and all of the different plots interacted so easily that it didn't even occur to me at times that it had changed voices.
I'm PMing the next person in line, and will send it out asap.
This was an absolutely beautiful book, and I literally couldn't put it down once I began it, and read it within a day. I adored the story, and all of the different plots interacted so easily that it didn't even occur to me at times that it had changed voices.
I'm PMing the next person in line, and will send it out asap.
Whoops, that was me!
Wow! This was a great book! It was moving and was a page-turner. It reminded me a lot of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's "The Shadow of the Wind" which is also about true loves and a mysterious book.
I really enjoyed the ending as well - I had tears in my eyes on the subway as I was reading it!
Thanks SO much 4-lele for sharing the book! I have tobyrus's address and will send it ASAP.
I really enjoyed the ending as well - I had tears in my eyes on the subway as I was reading it!
Thanks SO much 4-lele for sharing the book! I have tobyrus's address and will send it ASAP.
Journal Entry 18 by KarenZero at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Monday, May 15, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (5/16/2006 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed off from the Murphys, CA post office in Calaveras County - Gold Rush country!
Mailed off from the Murphys, CA post office in Calaveras County - Gold Rush country!
Just arrived in the mail today. It looks very interesting! I should be able to start it this weekend.
Wow...I really enjoyed this book. I stayed up late last night and finished it because I could not put it down! I found it started a bit slowly, I found the beginning with the elderly man depressing. However, it really picked up and I liked how the story lines all come together at the end. I have PM'd rainwolfe for her address and will get it in the mail to her pronto. Thanks again for hosting this bookring 4-lele!
Journal Entry 21 by tobysrus at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (5/31/2006 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to rainwolfe. Should be there by Saturday. Happy reading!
On its way to rainwolfe. Should be there by Saturday. Happy reading!
This was waiting on my bed when I got home from work tonight. I've been really looking forward to reading it, and just recently finished my in-the-car/sit-on-a-bench-and-read book so the timing is great.
Thank you!!!
Thank you!!!
This was kinda slow for me, and hard to get into at first. I really enjoyed it as it started to come together and by the end I felt like "wow that was really a good book!". Taking it to the post office today.
Received today! I plan on reading this next.
I enjoyed this book. It was an easy, captivating read. I especially liked the way the author explores how lives touch eachother in ways that aren't neccesarily known.
I posted this off to RlyLv2Rd today. Thanks 4-lele for sharing the book.
I posted this off to RlyLv2Rd today. Thanks 4-lele for sharing the book.
It has arrived...I will start it as soon as I finish my current read, and get it on it's way to my great friend pjmom8025.
PS: To those of you who took the test...do not depend on me if we ever camp. I would pretty much last about a day or two in the wild :).
PS: To those of you who took the test...do not depend on me if we ever camp. I would pretty much last about a day or two in the wild :).
First and foremost an apology for having this book so long. I made every effort to get bookrings and rays out the door in less than a week and this one didn't quite make it. I had the unfortunate circumstance of it arriving while I was reading another book, visiting South Dakota for a family reunion, preparing for and attending a wedding in Nebraska that both kids were ring bearers, and my oldest attending his first days of school.
That being said, I must admit that with all the tumult in my life, I had a hard time getting into this story. In fact I didn't quite get the entire premise until about 20 pages before I finished it. The characters didn't quite reach me the way some books do. I liked the plot, but I didn't get sucked into the story.
This is a book you need to read straight through, and really think about, instead of zipping through a page or two here and there like I did. I never quite related to the characters or plot the way I usually do, so really didn't enjoy it as much as I think I could have.
Thank you so much for sharing 4-lele. I will get this off to laurarn tomorrow!!!
That being said, I must admit that with all the tumult in my life, I had a hard time getting into this story. In fact I didn't quite get the entire premise until about 20 pages before I finished it. The characters didn't quite reach me the way some books do. I liked the plot, but I didn't get sucked into the story.
This is a book you need to read straight through, and really think about, instead of zipping through a page or two here and there like I did. I never quite related to the characters or plot the way I usually do, so really didn't enjoy it as much as I think I could have.
Thank you so much for sharing 4-lele. I will get this off to laurarn tomorrow!!!
Recieved in the mail today, will start tonight or tomorrow.
I liked this book. It is an good read. Thank you for sharing it. I will mail to next on ring monday afternoon.
It has arrived. I have two books before it but I'll read quickly. Thanks for including me!
On its way home.
