Great House
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2010
304
Novel • Fiction
Multiple Locations • 20th-21st Century
2010
Adult
18+ years
Great House by Nicole Krauss weaves the lives of several characters around an antique desk that symbolizes loss and dislocation as it changes hands. Narrators include Nadia, a New York writer, who inherits the desk from the late Chilean poet Daniel Varsky; Dov, a judge; his father Aaron, a mentally vigorous Israeli lawyer; Arthur Bender, an Oxford don, and husband to author Lotte Berg; Isabel, who recounts her love affair with Yoav Weisz; and finally, George Weisz, who searches for his father's lost furniture. The novel explores the personal histories and emotional struggles tied to the desk. Contains references to experiences of torture and Holocaust trauma.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Mysterious
Bittersweet
19,038 ratings
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Mixed feelings
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Great House by Nicole Krauss presents a complex, evocative narrative praised for its lyrical prose and deep thematic exploration of memory and loss. While some readers appreciate the intricate character development, others find the multiple timelines and perspectives confusing. Overall, it is a poignant read, resonating more with those who enjoy literary fiction and non-linear storytelling.
A reader who enjoys intricate, character-driven narratives and interconnected stories will appreciate Nicole Krauss’s Great House. Fans of Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything Is Illuminated or David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas will find the novel’s exploration of memory and identity particularly engaging.
19,038 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
304
Novel • Fiction
Multiple Locations • 20th-21st Century
2010
Adult
18+ years
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