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Nicole Krauss

The History of Love Paperback – Illustrated, May 17, 2006

by Nicole Krauss (Author)

1,258 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 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. 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 one s breath away. Spectator It restores your faith in fiction. It restores all sorts of faith Ali Smith It s the sort of book that makes life bearable after all. Miami HeraldNicole Krauss has been hailed by the New York Times as one of America s 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.

Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (May 17, 2006)
Language: : English
Paperback : 272 pages
ISBN-10 : 0393328627
ISBN-13 : 978-0393328622
Item Weight : 7.7 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #31,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #111 in Jewish Literature & Fiction
- #655 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- #844 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
1,258 ratings

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5 star		62%
4 star		16%
3 star		10%
2 star		5%
1 star		6%

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Top reviews from the United States

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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.

36 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.

11 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.

22 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.

10 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.

18 people found this helpful

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Lafmore

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2020

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This is a truly unique and captivating story. The characters are vivid and deep and you become totally involved. I would have given it five stars except for two things. Each character is written first person, and due to the stylistic composure of the book, leaves you well into a paragraph at times before you k ow who you're hearing. At times this was very distracting. The second is Alma's brother. It wasn't until the end that we had a short section from his point of view, and then it just didn't go anywhere. The book ended unresolved on things the author seemed to stress. I can make my own conclusions, but it left me a little feeling a bit more needed to be told. Since an outstanding story and highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

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CAROL JEAN

Wonderful storytelling

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2017

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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".

6 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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.

Niall Garden

Exactly what was needed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 9, 2020

Verified Purchase

Exactly what was needed

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.

Brigitta Veres

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

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2017

Verified Purchase

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.

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

Verified Purchase

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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