THE HISTORY OF LOVE
Posted by: gary
Today the Readers’ Advisory Section of the Wisconsin Library Association discussed a great book for our purposes: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.
This book is such a complex overlaying of issues that to try to explain the plot becomes a challenging enterprise. Let me say that it involves Leopold Gursky, an old man now living his life out after having pledged a life of devotion to a young girl he was separated from just prior to the Holocaust. Leo may or may not be a writer. It also features a man named Zvi Litvinoff who is the author of an obscure book called The History of Love that has had an affect on a number of the characters in this book. Lastly, there is the young Alma Singer whose mother is translating a Spanish language version of Litvinoff’s book. How all these characters interact is key to the book as that produces the themes that really are the reason to read this novel.
The themes include the reason for loneliness, the basis for relationships, and the role of family in the characters lives. Combine this with a challenging but marvelous writing style and you have a great book discussion title.
We had a lively discussion today at the convention and the READS section of WLA recommends this title to your group.
