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Nicole Krauss

The History of Love Paperback – May 17, 2006

by Nicole Krauss (Author)

1,000 ratings

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ONE OF THE MOST LOVED NOVELS OF THE DECADE.

A long-lost book reappears, mysteriously connecting an old man searching for his son and a girl seeking a cure for her widowed mother's loneliness.

Leo Gursky taps his radiator each evening to let his upstairs neighbor know he’s still alive. But it wasn’t always like this: in the Polish village of his youth, he fell in love and wrote a book…Sixty years later and half a world away, fourteen-year-old Alma, who was named after a character in that book, undertakes an adventure to find her namesake and save her family. With virtuosic skill and soaring imaginative power, Nicole Krauss gradually draws these stories together toward a climax of "extraordinary depth and beauty" (Newsday).

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Vertiginously exciting…Beyond the vigorous whiplash that keeps The History of Love moving (and keeps its reader off balance until a stunning finale), this novel is tightly packed with ingenious asides…Even at their most oddball, these flourishes reflect the deep, surprising wisdom that gives this novel its ultimate heft.”
- Janet Maslin, New York Times

“At least as heartbreaking as it is hilarious.”
- Washington Post

“Krauss writes like an angel.”
- Guardian

“One of the most passionate vindications of the written word in recent fiction. It takes one’s breath away.”
- Spectator

“It’s the sort of book that makes life bearable after all.”
- Miami Herald

“A significant novel, genuinely one of the year’s best. Emotionally wrenching yet intellectually rigorous, idea-driven but with indelible characters and true suspense.”
- New York

“Big, bold, twist-your-heart sad, kick-your-heels joyful―Nicole Krauss's brilliant novel is as deep and multifaceted as love itself.”
- Marie Claire

“It restores your faith in fiction. It restores all sorts of faith.”
- Ali Smith

“Nicole Krauss's gripping new voice doesn't work its way into the pantheon of American voices: it literally walks straight up to them and asks them to move over.”
- Andre Aciman

From the Back Cover

ONE OF THE MOST LOVED NOVELS OF THE DECADE

A long-lost book reappears, mysteriously connecting an old man searching for his son, and a girl seeking a cure for her widowed mother's loneliness.

Leo Gursky taps his radiator each evening to let his upstairs neighbor know hes still alive. But it wasn't always like this: in the Polish village of his youth, he fell in love and wrote a book Sixty years later and half a world away, fourteen-year-old Alma, who was named after a character in that book, undertakes an adventure to find her namesake and save her family. With virtuosic skill, and soaring imaginative power, Nicole Krauss gradually draws these stories together toward a climax of extraordinary depth and beauty.

Vertiginously exciting. New York Times

At least as heartbreaking as it is hilarious. Washington Post

Krauss writers like an angel. Guardian

One of the most passionate vindications of the written word in recent fiction. It takes ones breath away. Spectator

It restores your faith in fiction. It restores all sorts of faith Ali Smith

Its the sort of book that makes life bearable after all. Miami Herald

Nicole Krauss has been hailed by the New York Times as one of Americas most important novelists. She is the author of the international bestseller Great House, a finalist for the National Book Award, and Man Walks Into a Room. Her books have been translated into more than thirty-five languages.

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (May 17, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0393328627
ISBN-13: 978-0393328622
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Customer Reviews: 1,000 customer ratings
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #538 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
- #69 in Jewish Literature & Fiction
- #450 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction

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Customer reviews

5 star		60%
4 star		15%
3 star		11%
2 star		6%
1 star		8%

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Ella Marks

Favorite book of all time

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2017

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I read this book ten years ago, and it's remains my favorite book to this day. What a beautiful story mixed with humor, heartbreak, and lessons of enduring love. Indeed, it's an intricate book that alternates between and weaves multiple storylines. Some reviewers say it's confusing and don't like the bouncing around, but I believe it adds an important element to the book. The effect is that it keeps you looking forward to see how each storyline and character progresses and guessing how they will ultimately link together. There's a feeling of great satisfaction when it starts coming together, and it does so beautifully. It was recently made into a movie that's showing in Europe, not sure when or if it will run in America. The format of the book doesn't seem like it would lend easily to a movie, and from the reviews I've read, there is a confusing element to it with the multiple stories.

30 people found this helpful

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Evocative, Literary, Novel Filled with Remarkable Characters

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2019

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If you are looking for an evocative literary read full of memorable, multi-dimensional characters, this may be the book for you. If you are looking for a simple, straightforward plotline with a clear resolution, this might not be the book for you. The writing is remarkable, particularly in how effectively the author describes the feelings of her characters. There are multiple narrators and storylines that move between countries and time. The bulk of the story is told through the points of view of Leo, an elderly man living in Brooklyn who fled Poland during WWII and Alma, a teenaged girl living in Brooklyn with her mother and younger brother. Many people have commented about how hilarious this book is. I would describe it differently. Much of this book is very sad, filled with loneliness, and loss. Yes, there are comic moments and quirky aspects that are humorous, but it feels tragi-comic more than funny. But, overall, it feels true. I believed these characters and the narrative. That said, there were places where I was confused about exactly who was who. There were places where the author began to build connections that, again, left me wondering what just happened. The connections are fragile and not fully explained. Even at the end, I found myself wondering what had happened and where we ended up. Despite those reservations, this is a beautiful book, and I was very glad that I read it. It was a selection for our book group and it led to an excellent discussion. If I had felt confident about where we ended up, I would have given it 5 stars because it is so beautifully written, but the residual confusion detracted from my rating.

8 people found this helpful

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Sydnee Elliot

A Great Read

Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2016

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This is the fourth or fifth time I'm reading The History of Love. First, Nicole Krauss is an excellent writer. I believe the first paragraph of this book is the best one I've ever read. Usually, when I reach the last ten pages, it takes me forever to finish the book because I don't want it to end. The humor, the humanity, the characters are wonderful. I definitely recommend it, read it not once, but several times. Each time the reading offers more and more surprises.

17 people found this helpful

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Margaret Carmel

Gorgeous Writing, Somewhat Overly Ambitious at Points

Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2015

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Normally my go to reading scale is that if a book makes me cry, then it's 5 stars.

This book is an exception to this rule.

The History of Love weave together three story lines stretching back to German occupied Poland in World War 2, to South America, and New York City. It follow the story of a book written by a young man in love with a girl who left for America to escape the Germans and the books convoluted path to publication and readership affected the lives of all of the characters.

While the writing was gorgeous, moving, funny, and absolutely quotable, I found myself sometimes lost in what was actually happening. This was especially true in the excerpts from the book that supposedly spawned all of the events. The passages were dense, lyrical, confusing, and didn't seem to have a point other than to be beautiful. I kept going back and rereading them thinking that I would find the point, but then eventually I just had to resign myself to push on and accept that not every part of this book would make complete sense to me.

Bird and his sister Alma were my favorite characters in the book. The way the Krauss told their story through their unique voices really touched me. I can't quite put my finger on why the writing in this novel moved me, but it just did.

Check this one out! I certainly enjoyed it, despite it's issues.

17 people found this helpful

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CAROL JEAN

Wonderful storytelling

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2017

Verified Purchase

Again we are reminded the victims of the nazi's are victims their whole lives including in death. They seem dead even when living for there is no escape from the suffering they incurred to find a life worth living. Well done. Thanks for the wonderful story also including the young children trying to find peace in their father's death at a young age. Your heart breaks for them searching for love. I appreciate the way you tied it all together with the "history of love".

5 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Overhyped

Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2018

Verified Purchase

The “novel inside a novel” concept never works because the fake novel is hyped to the point that when it’s introduced it’s always a disappointment. If it was any good the author would have written that book. Also, the 14 year old narrative that hijacks the novel has no chance but to disappoint. Why the need to reduce the insight about unrequited, tragic, and make believe love (3 different relationships) to a teenage level? The fact that this very contrived and trite character development and plot has been a best seller reveals more about the modern reader than this author, who is not a good writer.

6 people found this helpful

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Jessica Tanner

A beautifully woven and unforgettable story

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2017

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This book is not for the impatient reader. You won't want to rush through it. You may need to stop at times and think about where a previous story line left off. And instead of being annoyed, you'll be entranced by the layers and flow.

This is a beautiful story that deliciously, and often heart-breakingly, weaves past and present. I laughed, cried, feared, mourned, and loved, right along with each character. It's the kind of book I like to read over many days, a little at a time, to savor and digest.

3 people found this helpful

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Maria Luisa Sanchez Rubio

... the third time and I just can say I love it. Every time I read it I discover ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2018

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I have read this book for the third time and I just can say I love it. Every time I read it I discover something different. I reccomend it to everyone.

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Debs

Wonderful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2018

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Love love love this book! Moving, elegant and charming, i shall read this book many times in the years to come.

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Brigitta Veres

One of my favourites so far this year, and ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2017

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One of my favourites so far this year, and one that I will probably read again and again in the future. It just grows to be so dear to your heart.

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Elizabeth Andrew

I saw this book recommended on a list of the top 100 books to ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2015

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I saw this book recommended on a list of the top 100 books to read. A beautiful book with good intentions. However I did find it rather confusing as the author jumps between 3 stories running parallel, which interconnect. It was not always obvious who we were with or which era we were in as the same names are used. So did get somewhat lost at times.

One person found this helpful

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L. Nunn

Different life stories brought together and beautifully interwoven

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2013

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An unusual writing style, and a story with various levels, twists and turns, that keeps you involved until the last. A 20th century post-Holocaust quest for a life's love lost to history, and yet somehow redeemed. The story could be symbolic of many, and is sensitively explored, without ever descending into sentimentality. Complex, but well worth the effort.

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Katie Key

Book club read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2015

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Nicely written but meandering and not always absorbing!

One person found this helpful

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avid reader NY and London

Great story, great writing.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 20, 2015

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Had heard mixed things about this book but I really loved the many voices and interwoven stories. Krause really captured the Yiddish speaking refugee trying to make a life for themselves in New York. I couldn't wait to finish it but was sad when it ended.

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Rugby

Not mushy as the title would suggest

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2014

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I got a bit confused half way through, but I think this was probably down to me, not the book. The ending was beautiful.

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calmac

Read it now!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 13, 2015

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Seriously good book...about so many things...truth/literature/love just for starters. Well worth a read...and HT to Gabriella for the recommendation.

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Irina A

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 13, 2015

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Thank you, got it .

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petrovna

A very gifted author

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2013

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This is a wonderful book by a very gifted author, I have read three of her books and they are all a journey of pure amazement.
Can recommend wholeheartedly. Very well written, beautiful stories.

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James of The Ral

If I could only have one book...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 22, 2015

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This is a special book. I may not read another one for a while as I don't want to drown out its memory.

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Miss M Manton

Complex but wonderful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2015

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Loved this book. All the characters were a delight to discover and it unravelled beautifully. Onto the next by krauss now...

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Ensemble 2020

Großartig

Reviewed in Germany on June 23, 2019

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Ein wunderbare Buch, das mich – als ich vor zehn Jahren zum ersten Mal danach greifen wollte – wegen seines Bestseller-Charakters abgestoßen hatte, mich nun aber, wegen seiner Erzählkraft, seiner Vielfalt, seiner Reflexionstiefe und seiner Multiperspektivität, die jedoch wunderbar zusammengebunden wird, begeistert. Ein wunderbares Buch. Ein Schatz.
Ein junger Mann schreibt ein Buch, in dem er die Liebe zu seiner Freundin beschreibt, es gibt nur dieses eine Exemplar, das in den Wirren des Krieges, der Vertreibung und Tötung der Juden, der Flucht verloren gegangen scheint – während die beiden auf verschiedenen Wegen nach Amerika emigrieren dürfen.
Der Text erscheint zuerst in Spanisch und wird dann von der Mutter eines Mädchens übersetzt, das fortan die Fäden in die Hände nimmt, erzählt, Begriffe definiert, Notate macht, während der inzwischen sehr alte Autor in einem Appartment in Manhattan sitzt und erst sehr erfährt, dass das Script gerettet wurde. Großartig.

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Silvio

Pessima edizione

Reviewed in Italy on January 21, 2017

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Giudizio sull'edizione e non sul libro. Mi spiace per Penguin, ma questa edizione ha caratteri di stampa piccolissimi, quasi illegibili, brutta carta e brutta stampa.
Ne ho poi trovata una copia usata in condizioni perfette dell'edizione con copertina rigida su AbeBooks per la metà del prezzo di quella Penguin.
Il libro è molto bello e si legge bene.

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