The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

1.  I'VE HAD THIS BOOK ON MY SHELF FOR A LONG TIME

The History of Love has actually been on my bookshelf for seven years and I never picked it up to read until now.  Sure I looked at it, flipped through the pages, considered reading it but something else was always more important to read at the time.  The History of Love could wait and did wait for seven years to be read.  It was worth the wait.  It was beautiful, wonderful and such a pleasurable reading experience.  I'm so glad Lisa picked it to read for our Book Club.  If she didn't, it might still be sitting on my shelf, waiting.  Waiting, no longer.

2.  THE WORLD IS FULL OF INVISIBLE PEOPLE

Leo Gursky is afraid of becoming invisible and so everyday he makes sure he does something so that he will be seen.  He drops something, he falls down, he buys something he doesn't need.  Leo goes out of his way to be seen.  He pushes the limits and goes so far as to become a nude model for an art class.  He is a writer.  He is a father.  He is a lover.  He is Jewish.  He is Polish.  He is the oldest man in the world.  He is forgotten.  He lives alone.  No one loves him.  He is invisible.  He is a survivor.

3.  THE FIRST SENTENCE OF A BOOK SHOULD BE AMAZING AND MAKE YOU WANT TO CONTINUE READING

And for that reason you must read the first sentence (or two, or three) of The History of Love.
"When they write my obituary.  Tomorrow.  Or the next day.  It will say, LEO GURSKY IS SURVIVED BY AN APARTMENT FULL OF SHIT."  pg.3.  Leo's voice jumps off the page and you are immediately drawn into a story that will make you fall in love with the characters and the absolute genius of a storyline.

4.  THE HISTORY OF LOVE IS THE TITLE OF THE BOOK

It is also the book Alma's mother is translating into English.  Alma Singer was named after Alma, who is the main character in The History of Love.  Alma's father fell in love with the book The History of Love and kept a special copy which he inscribed to her mother. Alma is sure The History of Love holds a secret to her past and her future.  Maybe the Alma in The History of Love is a real person.  Alma plans to find the real Alma.

5.  INSIDE EACH BOOK ARE HIDDEN GEMS THAT ARE MEANT FOR THE READER TO FIND

When you read a book it is an intimate experience between you and the author.  The author and the reader rarely meet in person but come together via a shared experience with a book full of wonderful words.  The History of Love contains hidden gems for the reader within its pages, like wonderful quotes, smiles, sadness, memories and connections.  Sometimes people have to show you the hidden gems for you to appreciate what you missed and it shows you that the book has deeper meaning then you previously thought.  Krauss's character, Alma Singer, is named after a Polish-Jewish author, Isaac Bashevis Singer.  Leo's best friend Bruno is named after Bruno Schulz, a Polish-Jewish author, artist and teacher who was killed by a German Nazi officer.

6.  THE HISTORY OF LOVE IS A GEM AND YOU NEED TO READ IT