Customer Reviews

Just like that

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The heroine is a jewish woman, 2nd generation of the holochaust, kind of overanalyzed by herself and her therapists. The story is written from her perspective. Nothing spectacular happens in the everyday life of a New Yorker, emigrated from Australia, but an awsome reflection of the history of the 20th century makes the book thrilling and interesting. The contrast between this ordinary life and the inner world of a woman born one year after her parents escaped Auschwitz is dramatic. Married to a painter, she writes obituaries. She has three children. Her parents emigrated with her to Australia. Her life seems mainly balanced and secure on the outside, but internally this woman is haunted by the past, which is in most parts not hers but her parents'.

The flow of language is easy but the words are amazingly precisely chosen. Though the heroine's biography is in main points the same as the author's, the book to me never seems like a 'confession'. Perhaps that is why the characters are so believable. The perspective is loving but with the distance of someone who can not take the momentary easiness of life as granted. I liked the emotional depth, the humor. The topics are nothing new but amazingly the perspective did not once make it boring for me. ( -And I can be easily bored!)

The inner state of mind of the protagonist is psychologically believable and seems to me very precise described.

A girlfriend of mine gave me the book. She found the psychology as convincing as I do. I think it will be easier to read for women. I would not recommend that book for people who may seek mere entertainment and action in a book. For us other folks, neurotic, insecure, contemplating, 2nd or third generation: highly recommended. Reads like a biography and though giving insight in an historic process and new aspects towards pychology, it is entertaining.

Do yourself a favour - buy anything by Lily Brett, and buy it today. She is a superb writer. Just Like That is one of my personal favourites, but any of her books (fiction and non fiction alike) will satisfy if you crave for quality literature with a personal (almost confessional) feel. Her characters are wonderful, you really care about them and feel almost as if you know them. Her poetry is amazing as well. I really cannot do justice to Brett's work....so you had better buy this book yourself.