The History of Love: A Novel

TheBookHippie

The History of Love: A Novel | Nicole Krauss

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#12Booksof2022 FEBRUARY

It‘s quite a different read but I just loved it. Was also our February #sundaybuddyread 🤍

Andrew65

Andrew65 Sounds superb. 1y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 🫖 1y

LeslieO Lovely picture! This book is on my all time fav list. I read somewhere that Krauss had a challenge with her then husband Jonathan Safran Foer that they would each write a book with certain elements. (Set in NYC, child character, WWII element ) She wrote this and he wrote Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Not sure if it‘s all true , but a great story. And I loved both books. 1y

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TheBookHippie @LeslieO Yes that‘s a true story!!! ♥️ 1y

TheBookHippie oh @Andrew65 you would love it!!! 1y

TheBookHippie @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks my great grandmas tea set! 1y

Andrew65 @TheBookHippie Stacked! 1y

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Librariana

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

"At the end, all that's left of you are your possessions. Perhaps that's why I've never been able to throw anything away. Perhaps that's why I hoarded the world: with the hope that when I died, the sum total of my things would suggest a life larger than the one I lived." -- Leo Gursky (pg. 165)

JamieArc Love this. 2y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💔💔 2y

EvieBee It‘s heartbreaking. I loved this book. 2y

Suet624 Oh boy. This has been on my mind recently. Funny you should post this today. 2y

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Librariana

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

Best way I can describe my current reading experience 😊

Paginetta Nice! What app is it? 🙂 2y

Hooked_on_books I can‘t tell if that‘s a good or bad thing! 😂 2y

Librariana @Paginetta - The screenshot is from Goodreads 😊 It's an app where you can make lists of books you have read, are reading, or plan to read. You can also track your progress with page numbers and share notes as you read. I then pasted that photograph to a collage on the PicCollage app. Hope this helps! 2y

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Librariana @Hooked_on_books - I don't know either, Holly! Lol! 🤣 I'm having flashbacks of very vague memories of watching The Royal Tenenbaums or The Grand Budapest Hotel... and I feel like that is what's happening as I'm reading this... like someone is narrating a movie to me. 2y

Librariana @Hooked_on_books - This book has been on my TBR for SO long and when I saw you would be reading it, I was like "I should give that a try, too!" I thought of bailing somewhere in the beginning because I wasn't sure I'd like the style/format, but it's grown on me a touch. I'm not... deeply invested, just very curious. 2y

Hooked_on_books I feel like this book had a lot of potential, but for me it was just too disjointed and didn‘t work in the end. If I hadn‘t read it as part of a buddy read, I would have bailed early. 2y

Paginetta @Librariana Thanks, I know goodreads but which I use little, just to keep the list of books read in a year, but I didn't know about Pincollage. I really like the final effect! You have been helpful! Thanks again! 🙂 2y

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BayouGirl85

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

so-so

I enjoyed a peek into a love so consuming but at times it was hard to follow the connection with the characters.

March Book 12/25 #LitsyLove #bookspinbingo

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Librariana

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

Hoping to make more significant progress with the tagged book before moving on to Dear Edward or possibly The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World.

Whenever I listen to Non-fiction titles, I try to find Fiction counterparts whose subject is complimentary and can be read in tandem with or immediately after completing an audiobook.

Does anyone else do this?

#weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

DivineDiana That‘s a great idea! 2y

ravenlee Not for audiobooks, but I homeschool my fourth-grade daughter, and I try to find novels that align with our history studies because it helps keep the facts alive and fresh. It gets her move invested in what we‘re studying. 2y

Cinfhen I love your pairing idea ♥️ 2y

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Librariana

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

🎶 Second verse, same as the first 🎶

This week's forecast is the same as last week's (two audiobooks, four print books) with the hope that I might be able to start the graphic novels on the right once I finish Gender Queer.

Also hoping to make a little bit more progress on the book of poetry as that deserves to be savored and pondered, not rushed.

#weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

Cinfhen Ohhhh, I 💚these graphics and the way you designed them 😍 2y

Librariana @Cinfhen - Aawww! Thanks, Cindy!! 🥰🥰 It's just a lot of me playing with the PicCollage app and hoping my little fingers can position things just so or crop things just right, but it's great fun ☺️ 2y

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vlwelser

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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I really liked this a lot. I'm so late finishing...

#SundayBuddyRead @TheBookHippie

TheBookHippie 🤍🤍🤍 it ended up being a good read for me. 2y

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wallacereads

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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I have been meaning to read this book for years and I can thank @TheBookHippie and her #sundaybuddyread for giving me the motivation to finally take it off my TBR. I had trouble following the various story lines at times. However, this book has some beautiful passages.

TheBookHippie It had some unexpected beauty. I too am glad to have finally read it! 2y

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Hooked_on_books

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

so-so

There‘s so much love for this book and some of it is really lovely. But there are so many storylines introduced early on that it became a muddle for me. If not for doing a buddy read, I would have bailed. I would have preferred if the book was a bit longer and each storyline a bit more fleshed out before introducing the next.

ShelleyBooksie Adorable dog 2y

Sargar114 Agree. I would have like seeing more of Leo and Alma‘s interaction after staying with them for so long (edited) 2y

Hooked_on_books @Sargar114 For sure! That would definitely have been more satisfying. 2y

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DebinHawaii

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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Gorgeous prose & an exploration of love & loss. I am still untangling it all in my head after finishing last night for #sundaybuddyread 💙This book intrigued me, made me smile & also brought a tear. And oh, all the quotes/passages I highlighted! I admire how the author wove everything together & the twists & turns. Our group discussions & reading it in chunks over the month made a book I might not have picked up otherwise a likely contender for ⬇️

DebinHawaii …my 2022 Top 10 Books list. Thanks to @TheBookHippie for picking it & the always amazing & illuminating discussions. 🤗 2y

TheBookHippie 💙💙💙💙💙 It is so good. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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It has been quite a long time since a book brought me to tears. This book on prose -⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5 stars. Thank you so much for once again traveling through a book with me! 🤍🤍🤍🤍

DebinHawaii I agree! Such a great book! 💙💙💙💙💙 2y

mollyrotondo Thank you for hosting an amazing discussion!! 2y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo What a great month of discussions we had! 2y

Sargar114 This last page poem was beautiful 2y

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Morr_Books

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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I think I appreciated this book more due to the #SundayBuddyRead discussions and everyone's amazing insights. I think this was beautiful writing with interesting and likeable characters. Some of the plot was a bit disjointed and confusing though, so I liked it but didn't love it. @TheBookHippie

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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Thoughts on things I missed?

Did you like the read?

megnews I love this book! So glad for this chance to reread and discuss! Thank you. 2y

vlwelser I'm running behind on this one. Only book worms have library drama. Thank you for bringing this book into my life! I will hopefully finish it soon. 2y

Morr_Books I am glad that you finally got me to read this book, @TheBookHippie , as it has been on my shelf for a decade. I thought it was beautiful, but I found myself getting a bit annoyed with it about halfway through. Sometimes it felt a bit disjointed. I can only assume that it was to be able to provide twists at the end - some of which worked for me and some of which didn't. I loved our Sundays discussions!!! 2y

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TheBookHippie @Morr_Books 🤍🤍🤍 YAY! I‘ve been looking at it as well on a shelf. I‘m so very glad we read it together. It was way more meaningful. 2y

Sargar114 I enjoyed it but agree with @Morr_Books it got a bit confusing and hard to follow. The twists felt genuine though, but didn‘t help to clarify much. I loved the poem at the end; beautifully tragic 2y

BooksNBowls Yes this was amazing! Thank you all!! ❤️ 2y

Karisa Great book made much better by having discussions! I thought the pacing of chunks each week actually helped me appreciate this book more too. It needs soaking time 😂 Thank you, @TheBookHippie for the wonderful questions and thank you everyone for the rich discussions 💗 2y

TheBookHippie @BooksNBowls I‘m so glad you joined us! 2y

TheBookHippie @Karisa the small portions made it so much better I am sure. I love our discussions the most! 2y

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 I‘m glad we had each other reading it! 2y

Sargar114 @TheBookHippie the discussions are the best part! 2y

BkClubCare I loved it (again) and want to reread it one more time and soon. I like how it all came together and that scene with Leo and young Alma makes the whole thing for me. 2y

BookwormAHN Definitely not my normal genre but I really enjoyed it and love the discussions 💙 2y

DebinHawaii I am glad we read it & I am still “unpacking” it in my mind & will probably be doing so for a while. For me although I got confused with the characters & the prose was the huge draw (I have some many passages highlighted in my Kindle), I really liked how the author brought it all together. The discussions, as always, really helped. Great choice! 🤗 2y

Hooked_on_books I liked parts but not others. Without this buddy read, I would have bailed during the muddle of the second part we read, so thanks for helping me push through! Like @Morr_Books this has been on my shelf forever and I‘m glad I finally read it! 2y

mollyrotondo I‘m glad we read this one together. The discussions really made it for me. I loved the writing but the lay out was a little messy for me. Too many twists revealed at once. But I really loved the very end when Alma and Leo finally meet. I of course cried 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick It ended up being a totally different syle and sort of book than I expected when I picked it up at a used book sale a few years ago, but I enjoyed it. I don't know that I'll need to read it again, but I'm glad to have read it this time with you all. 2y

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I have to agree I had no idea it‘d be like this. I‘m so glad we read it together that was a huge help! 2y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo same !!! I‘m so glad we read this together. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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Leo and Bird create alternate truths of life
Is it to survive ?

Also the dad and the son were alive and knew the truth at the same time before the son died… poetic.

All the forms of love
All the forms of grief
Two sides to the same coin?

Is it all a love story -every persons journey ?

Morr_Books I resort to a previous comment I made that this was not a live story to me but a tale of all the ways that losing love impacts different individuals. Some move on; some try to forget; some lose themselves completely to grief; and some search for connections with other people or ideas (create a make believe world, etc). 2y

Sargar114 I think it is a love story…well the history of love as the title suggests as it shows love in a variety of ways and the ways it can make us behave in a way to survive. @Morr_Books like you said, a lot of the ways are how the loss of live affects us; but I think it also showed us how experiencing love (even if lost) can impact us. 2y

megnews @Morr_Books great explanation 2y

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BookwormAHN I think the title sums it up, it's about past love. 2y

DebinHawaii Love this graphic—perfect! I go back to the intertwining of love and loss. Our connections to others & how the different characters processed/coped with each. 2y

Hooked_on_books I like that Isaac suspected about his biological father, though it makes their missed connection all the more bittersweet. 2y

mollyrotondo I tend to lean toward what @Morr_Books said about loss. The book focuses so much on the loss of love and how we all cope differently with that loss. 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick The history of love affects your present-day life. It was sweet that Isaac suspected, but sad that he never got the chance to acknowledge Leo as his father, even for a day. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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Stalled at the age she loved you most
Alma …his thoughts while seeing Alma the second.

And then

He fell in love
It was his life

Can you be in love your whole life with someone who doesn‘t love you? Or did she ? Does it matter ?

Morr_Books I think they had love together but then we're tragically separated. She moved on and found love with someone else and he didn't. I think it 100% can happen. 2y

Sargar114 @Morr_Books agreed. It makes me wonder how Leo‘s life would be different if he actually got in touch with Zvi and hate Rosa a little bit more than I already do. 2y

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 I‘m to the point of loathing Rosa 😅. 2y

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Sargar114 @TheBookHippie so infuriating!!! I get it, lengths we go for love…but destroying a house to protect her husband from plagiarism and maybe himself…ugh 2y

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 RIGHT?! Ugh. 2y

BooksNBowls I think Alma “loved” whoever gave her attention. It seemed like she was well admired in her village. And yes, Rosa is the WORST. How tragic that he was plagiarized twice by 2 different people, his friend and his son. Smh 2y

Karisa @BooksNBowls Yes, never given credit for his writing. It felt like the credit to Isaac was not Isaac‘s intention though. I felt like people found the manuscript in his house after his passing and just assumed “Words for Everything” was written by him? I may be wrong though 2y

BkClubCare Thank you @TheBookHippie for hosting and doing an AMAZING job with all these prompts. I am glad have reread it and to have the time to rethink everything. Thanks 💗 2y

TheBookHippie @BkClubCare ♥️ it was such a beautiful read and I loved the discussions!! so good! 2y

TheBookHippie @Karisa I made that same assumption ! 2y

BkClubCare @Karisa - sure! Finding a manuscript in Isaac‘s possession most certainly would have been assumed to be his (assuming no other names and notes included.) 2y

DebinHawaii @Karisa @TheBookHippie I made that assumption too—that others just assumed it was Isaac‘s work. I see Rosa as a villain but Alma as a survivor. I think she did have feelings if not love for Leo but was able to move on where he wasn‘t. 2y

BookwormAHN Poor Leo, really dislike Rosa. 2y

Hooked_on_books I feel like we as a society are so primed to judge women harshly and give men a pass. I don‘t see Rosa as a villain. I see her as someone who is so faithful to her husband and wanting to protect him that she damages her own house to do it. Zvi is the villain in this story. HE plagiarized the book and hid that fact by writing it in Spanish! He knew what he was doing was wrong, which is why he was haunted by it. 2y

mollyrotondo @Hooked_on_books I agree! I‘m not a fan of Rosa but it‘s Zvi who decided to steal his friend‘s work and publish it as his own. He made that choice. Rosa just made the choice to support her husband in the lie so he wouldn‘t get in trouble. I don‘t like either of them but I hate Zvi more. Even if Leo did die his actions are still disgusting. 2y

mollyrotondo I don‘t think it‘s healthy to stay in love with someone your whole life when that same someone doesn‘t love you back. It‘s like you‘re hurting yourself continuously by pining for someone who can‘t make you feel loved back. That‘s just my opinion. 2y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I‘m wondering if she did love him 🤷🏻‍♀️ IF she did it‘s a whole other story- it‘s all sad. 2y

mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie maybe she loved him but not in the same way Leo loved her and clung to that love. 2y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo Hard to let go of what kept and keeps you alive. Trauma on that level is so difficult. I don‘t fault him for it. Lot of damage unseen in war that lasts forever was my thoughts. Different than pinning for a relationship lost love in 2022 was my other thought -but who knows. It‘s interesting to see everyone‘s thoughts. 2y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo and maybe the fact she still just loved him was enough. 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Like the old song says, If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with, right? I don't think Rosa is a villain, she was just trying to protect her man. I don't condone what she did, but I understand it. Leo meeting young Alma, who is totally not related, was sweet. Some people never end up with the one they truly love. Sad but true. It seems a lonely way to live, but the heart wants what it wants. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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BRUNO IS DEAD died 1941 July

Well WOW. Did he need this to survive ?

Morr_Books I was actually saddened by this twist as Bruno had been one of my favorite characters and all his scenes weren't real. I don't know that I like what the author did to the character of Leo. 2y

Sargar114 @Morr_Books this made me sad too! So Bruno was Leo‘s means of survival so that he wasn‘t so alone. But just so sad. 2y

BooksNBowls The most heart breaking twist in the whole book 😭😭😭 2y

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megnews @Morr_Books Bruno was one of my favs too and I loved their relationship. It‘s so sad but I think Leo needed this “relationship” to survive. 2y

Karisa Bruno was everyone‘s favorite character. It‘s like the author was giving us someone to grieve too! 2y

DebinHawaii @Karisa Ooh great point! I definitely grieved Bruno. I jumped the gun & kind of alluded to this in the last question but yes, I think the fantasy of Bruno, having a friend is how Leo coped with & “survived” his loneliness & loss. 2y

BookwormAHN I had a bad feeling it was coming to that but it was heartbreaking 💔 2y

Karisa @DebinHawaii Agreed. It makes Leo‘s story all the sadder though 2y

DebinHawaii @Karisa Right?! Breaks my heart. 💔 2y

Hooked_on_books I found much of this book to be a bit of a muddle, but I loved the relationship between Leo and Bruno. I remember when they reunited—it lifted Leo so much. He clearly needed that connection to cope after losing everything. I was gutted when we found out Bruno had died long ago. I started to wonder when he didn‘t reply on the radiator. 2y

mollyrotondo @Morr_Books I don‘t like what the author did to Leo either. Most of his life was lived through imaginary connections. He never had any really connections once he came to America. He mostly lived in his mind. Way too sad and I blame the author lol 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick GAH! After Bruno let Leo go ahead to Isaac's house, I kind of thought that Bruno may not be real but didn't say anything. I thought it couldn't be, not here. DOH! But I was so sad to see that he died a long time ago. It's sweet that Leo held him close all this time and made him a part of his life. Considering that there is no one to really check on Leo made me so sad. He's truly alone. 💔 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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Alma -the original- told Leo THAT

SHE couldn‘t love him?! She was saying goodbye forever ?!
He made hisself forget -WHAT?!

Sargar114 I think I missed this. But the original Alma was a survivor, so it seemed she did what she had to to protect herself and her children. 2y

BooksNBowls Okay but can we bring up what Bruno said about alma at the end. “First you‘re in love with me, then Zvi, then Bruno and me” like did this change your perspective about the original alma like it did me? It seems like she was somewhat of a hussy. It makes sense she moved on as soon as she got to America. 2y

megnews Do you think she couldn‘t really love him? Or was she distancing herself from the possibility of lost love due to the uncertainty around them? 2y

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megnews @BooksNBowls my perspective wasn‘t changed on her. I think she did what any unmarried girl would do at that time if lucky enough to find someone willing to raise their child. The world was different then. Also, I think life was different then. My Gran often spoke of how “dating” was so different then. It was common to see different people much more casually than deep relationships and “run around in groups” as she‘d always say. 2y

Karisa I think people lie to themselves all the time. Leo loved Alma and wouldn‘t listen when she didn‘t love him as deeply… However, that love for her also drove him to survive. It‘s like it allowed him to value himself and gave him a hope to keep going. “The truth? What is the truth? That I mistook your mother for my life? No. The truth is the thing I invented so I could live.” (p.167) (edited) 2y

Sargar114 @BooksNBowls I didn‘t read it as she had relationships with all these men but that they all admired/liked her. It seemed she only actually had some kind of relationship with Leo. Going to America was a means to escape the war and when Leo never wrote her back like @megnews she found a way to survive. 2y

TheBookHippie @Karisa 💯♥️that quote. (edited) 2y

TheBookHippie @BooksNBowls BUT Zvi didn‘t get her love. He wanted a love like he saw with Leo and Alma and he never got it. I think I‘m with the others she didn‘t have sexual relationships with them. 2y

TheBookHippie @megnews I think she had to survive. 2y

DebinHawaii I kept thinking about the movie Life is Beautiful when I was reading the ending. The father made up games to help his son survive the concentration camp & relating it to Leo using his fantasies about Alma‘s love & Bruno‘s friendship to help him survive. I‘m still not clear if Alma didn‘t love him or telling him she couldn‘t live him was her way of coping & starting a new life. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii Me too and Jakob the Liar same thing the teacher of the children in the concentration camp. I also thought of A Beautiful Mind. 2y

BookwormAHN I did wonder if Alma was deeply in love with any of them, maybe her favorite was Leo. 2y

BookwormAHN @Karisa Love that quote 2y

DebinHawaii @TheBookHippie oh yes, Jakob the Liar too. I didn‘t think about A Beautiful Mind but that‘s another great comparison! 2y

Hooked_on_books @megnews This was my take on it, too. I think she loved him her whole life (she kept their picture together!), but knew when she was leaving how much uncertainty they both faced. She was releasing them both to try to move forward given the unlikelihood they would ever see one another again. 2y

TheBookHippie @Hooked_on_books I agree. 2y

mollyrotondo I am not sure how I feel about Alma. It‘s hard for me to judge because she was a young pregnant woman escaping war and trying to make it in a new country. And I don‘t think it‘s her fault if several young men were sweet on her. I don‘t think Leo blames her for anything either. He clung to the love that he had in youth so he could escape war too and make his way out of the country. I just think Leo clung to it too long. 2y

Sargar114 @Hooked_on_books @mollyrotondo agree with both of you. It seemed Leo even understood how this unrealistic love/relationship took over his life; but was so used to that way of living 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick We didn't get to know original Alma, just through the eyes of those who loved her. I can't say if she ever truly loved Leo or Zvi or her husband, but it seems like she was well loved by these men. I hope that she held a special place in her heart for Leo. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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Misha- he called and then said to not tell!
Herman drove her all that way!
Which is how the other son got the note and called and got Bird into motion to get Alma her answers…

These pieces to the puzzle, forming the end- the relationships - is it whole picture thinking is it I needed this person in life at this time to get go this point? It is just the intricate things of life? It‘s definitely woven well. Thoughts ?

Morr_Books I think all these characters are trying to find connections to deal with their own loss/grief. Even Misha is still feeling hurt from rejection. No one though is being honest and open about their feelings. 2y

Sargar114 It was sweet that Misha called. Very teenage love story. I liked that Bird was trying to help, even though he was completely wrong and kinda muddied the waters, but at least it drove to the final scene. 2y

BooksNBowls Yes it was a beautiful web these characters wove. It was so interesting to see how they were all connected in the end. Makes you wonder how connected we are to total strangers.. hmm 2y

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DebinHawaii Amazing how it all wove together. It made me think about how the author‘s writing process must have been to put it all together. Pretty amazing. And @BooksNBowls I am blown away everyday with our connections to strangers. Maybe it is living in Hawaii, on a island, but it seems like everyone I meet is connected somehow in only one or two people. 2y

BookwormAHN Loved the connections even though it took a while to wrap my head around them. 2y

Hooked_on_books I think instead of The History of Love this book should have been called Missed Communications. 2y

mollyrotondo I definitely believe in the whole meeting people at the right time in life thing. We don‘t always realize how needed it was until later. Life has a way of helping us out in funny ways sometimes. 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I was a little sad that Alma didn't get to realize that Misha helped to connect the dots. Overall, it was fun to see how they all connect in this story. My friend group is about the same age and most of us grew up local-ish. It makes me wonder if we ever crossed paths at school band competitions or the local bowling alley and such. I'd love that to flash across my eyes before death, along with the rest of my life. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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She was writing to JACOB THE SON-!-
ALSO THE MOM IS TRANSLATING IT WHICH IS WHY LEO COULDN‘T FIND IT !
WELL who saw that coming ?

Blew my mind..thoughts ?

Morr_Books Just so I'm clear on this twist, Jacob turns out to be Isaac right? 2y

TheBookHippie @Morr_Books 😅 yes 2y

TheBookHippie @Morr_Books OR I‘m wrong and someone will catch it 😬 2y

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Morr_Books Oh good. A lot happened in the end and I wanted to make sure I understood, because I like that twist a lot. 2y

TheBookHippie @Morr_Books I did as well! 2y

Sargar114 @TheBookHippie that‘s how I connected it! I thought it was a fantastic way to link them all. I half expected Alma to run into Leo at his house. It seemed Isaac, much like Alma, had suspicions about his bio father and this was his way of trying to find him… 2y

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 this helped prove my theory that you always know! Kids will always know 😂. But yes. I liked the connection. 2y

BooksNBowls I did not see it coming but I felt such relief putting my confusion at bay! I think I might read this again now that I‘ve got all the characters straight. 2y

megnews @Sargar114 I thought they were going to run into each other as well. 2y

Karisa Yep, Jacob = Isaac; Zvi‘s book “History of Love” = Leo‘s first book; Leo‘s book “Words for Everything” credited to Isaac; Best friend, Bruno = Leo‘s greatest fictional character; and there are two Almas (yet every loved girl is Alma)—what a book! 2y

DebinHawaii I am still untangling it all in my mind. It was quite the ending with the twists & turns. I was especially 🤯 about Bruno. 2y

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii I‘m still thinking about it too! 2y

TheBookHippie @BooksNBowls I agree I may reread it after a bit. 2y

BookwormAHN @Karisa I thought that was the way it worked out but it's nice to see it laid out plainly. 2y

Hooked_on_books See, I thought Leo found his complete translated book on Isaac‘s shelf, which can‘t be because it‘s not done being translated. I‘m either remembering wrong or this is a big continuity problem. We had previous thought these were different timelines because of this, I had thought. 2y

TheBookHippie @Hooked_on_books you could be right!!! The time thing is so messy! 2y

mollyrotondo @Hooked_on_books I was confused about the timeline the whole time. See I thought it would have been helpful if some of the reveals happened earlier in the book. Like Zvi stealing Leo‘s book. That would helped a little bit earlier in the book. I don‘t mean to be a downer but there were too many twists happening all at once. I do find it extremely sad that all of Leo‘s writing never get credited to him. I mean way to erase a person 😡 2y

mollyrotondo Was Bruno a real person Leo knew as a young man though? Or was he a totally made up person? 2y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo real person died 1941 2y

mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie yes okay I thought I remembered Leo saying this. Thank you! It just makes the Bruno part so sad. I think I connected to the Leo character the most out of anyone in this book. All that Leo lost and all that Leo was never able to gain like a relationship with his son, recognition for his writing, a true friendship. Not to mention the hardship of war. His whole life could be defined as lose. And the Bruno reveal just solidified that. 2y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I agree, I do love that he kept Bruno alive that much longer- an act of love, and it kept him going. I think Bruno would be thankful. 2y

Hooked_on_books @mollyrotondo I agree about two many twists. For me there were so many storylines being introduced one after another that it got so muddled. I would have bailed in the second section we read if not for the buddy read. 2y

mollyrotondo @Hooked_on_books I get it. Beautiful writing but definitely muddled with so many storylines. 2y

Sargar114 @mollyrotondo completely agree. Also, I thought Isaac sent him the interpreted version of his book since “Bruno” was the one that gave it to him, but I could be wrong. It got pretty messy with some of the timelines 2y

mollyrotondo @Sargar114 yeah I thought Bruno passed it on too but I guess Leo just concocted that exchange? The timelines were confusing in this one for sure. 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I was wondering how Isaac would connect to the story beyond asking for the translation! I was happy to see that connection. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Brother Alma wanted to help him but didn‘t know how…
Wakes him up to try to fix him.
He tries to go to ISREAL?
Also she threw everything away ?! The mom.
Is it grief?
Is counseling helping him at all?
What is the answer do you think ?

IS there are answer?
Childhood vs adult grief have you ever thought of that reading this?

Morr_Books I feel that there is a huge disconnect between the mom & her kids. I think the mom's grief is causing a lot of suffering for the kids. I think the kids need to talk about their father & hear about their father from their mother, but she doesn't do that or maybe she is just completely unaware of this need. Counseling is only a small part of trying to solve a problem. Hard to say that it is a failure if no work is being done outside of the sessions. 2y

Sargar114 I was glad to see he was getting some kind of counseling. Once we got his perspective I was much more convinced that his issues were less connected with grief (though that clearly didn‘t help) but more serious mental health concerns. Agree though that the mom‘s grief affecting her children but she was still so stuck in it she didn‘t see. 2y

Karisa It made me wonder if part of the going to Israel wish was also just to be with his grandparents. I didn‘t realize that Bird was also so sad about his father‘s things. It made me think of Leo‘s obsession with keeping things too. 2y

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Karisa Bird (and your quote from the last post) also made me think of a student who talks about her mother dying often. Her mom died 10 years ago when the girl was only 1 year old. She still feels grief, and it manifests in odd ways (asks to bring in her mother‘s urn, says morbid things, hops around the room/hisses to entertain friends…). She told me she tries to act “normal” so no one will worry. She‘s getting counseling too 2y

BooksNBowls @Morr_Books I agree if there‘s other mental health concerns under the surface, counseling can only do so much. His mom definitely needs to do more. Maybe she is so wrapped up in her own grief she doesn‘t notice what‘s going on with her kids? Not much of an excuse. You have to stay strong for your children. 2y

megnews I agree with @Sargar114 that I‘m glad Bird is finally getting counseling. Something is better than nothing. But also agree with @Morr_Books without intervention on the home front it isn‘t a complete solution for a child. @Karisa very interesting. It seems children‘s expressions of grief may look very different from adults. I wonder how much study has been done on this. 2y

Karisa @megnews I think this year has been especially tough on my student with her dad remarrying and having another daughter (about to turn 1). Student is very perceptive and it seems to be tapping into her missing her own mother more—not to mention the whole pandemic thing which has been tough on us all💗 2y

TheBookHippie @Karisa My brother was 6 months when my sister died I was 7 yrs. The affect on us was insurmountable in some regards. Childhood grief is a whole other beast. 2y

mollyrotondo I definitely agree @Morr_Books that counseling can only do so much and that work needs to be done at home too. I was heartbroken to read from Bird‘s perspective that he was upset too his mom threw out all his father‘s stuff. I still don‘t understand his Messiah coping mechanism but I felt sad for him. 2y

DebinHawaii I was hopeful at the end that the mom was starting to think about Bird & Alma—the comment about asking him to go to the zoo because they should do more as a family. I hope that continues as Bird needs the help & support. They all do. 2y

BookwormAHN I think they should do some sort of family counseling since non of them seem to know what's going on with the other. 2y

Hooked_on_books These people really need to talk to each other! I feel like their family unit has really broken down and they‘re more cohabiting than living as a unit. Which is awful for the kids. It‘s funny that we thought Alma was a meddler early on, but Bird takes the cake! 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick It was interesting to see a bit of the story from Bird's perspective. I did wonder if he's on the spectrum a bit, possibly undiagnosed, in addition to missing his father. I think his wanting to go to Israel was almost to give him purpose. Getting rid of their father's things was probably not the best thing, especially since they were so young when he died. Charlotte should've packed them away to share with her kids later on. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Obscure
Alma‘s mom
Grief- a jack in the box springing up on you.

Is her story (the mom) another love form, this immense grief?

megnews Absolutely! Everyone is different in how they process grief and I do think she had a tremendous love for her husband that led to tremendous grief at his loss. 2y

Morr_Books Yes. Her story was another example of a history of love. Also, do we ever learn her name or is she just Alma's mom, because she is told solely from Alma's perspective? 2y

Morr_Books Actually I think this book was less about love and more about the effects of losing love. 2y

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Sargar114 @Morr_Books I think her name was Charlotte, but only heard it once or twice since it was Alma‘s perspective. @TheBookHippie what a perfect quote. This does seem to be another version of love being shown. 2y

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 I‘ve had it with me a long long time. It‘s helpful🤍. 2y

BooksNBowls @Morr_Books I agree it‘s about love as much as it‘s about love lost 2y

Karisa @Sargar114 @TheBookHippie Took a screenshot of that image/quote. So beautifully put! @Morr_Books Agreed. So much loss represented in the book. Like the post‘s image/quote suggests, having loving someone or something deeply, we mourn it‘s loss in equal measure. Love and grief are intertwined 2y

mollyrotondo It‘s like said when we first started reading the book. Alma‘s mom needed to work through her grief in her own time. She doesn‘t want to find new love with another man and that‘s okay. And maybe she will always feel this way and maybe in the future she will find a connection with another man but that‘s for her to decide. Grief is about love. 2y

DebinHawaii @Karisa Yes, intertwined. You can‘t have love without also having loss & you don‘t feel loss without having loved. @TheBookHippie Beautiful quote. 💜 2y

BookwormAHN Lovely quote and yes I think this book is more about losing love and grief. 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Such a great perspective on grief. ❤ Charlotte still loves her husband. She may move on eventually or she may not. I think Alma is too young to fully understand, so I forgive her meddling. Charlotte's is just a different kind of love story being told. One of having lost it, but still holding onto the love she had through memories and trying to keep it alive. 2y

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BookwormAHN

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

pick

Admittedly this is not a novel that I would normally read, but I'm glad I did. This is a book about love, especially lost love and how we handle it.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's #SundayBuddyRead ❤️‍🩹
@TheBookHippie
#WickedWords #Love @AsYouWish

wanderinglynn I‘m so glad you joined us today! So sorry the call got cut at the 1-hour mark. 2y

BookwormAHN @wanderinglynn So am I and don't worry about it. It was fun while it lasted. I'm looking forward to next month. 2y

TheBookHippie 💙 2y

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BkClubCare

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

pick

💔💖
#favoritebook
#reread #readict
#SundayBuddyRead

TheBookHippie 💜 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

See you SUNDAY for the discussion of the ending 💙

🤐🤫🤐🤫🤐

Anyone who has read this feel free to join in 💙

Leftcoastzen Beautiful tea set! 2y

TheBookHippie @Leftcoastzen It‘s my great grandmas💙 (edited) 2y

LeahBergen What a lovely photo! 2y

TheBookHippie @LeahBergen 💙 2y

JaclynW Finished the book! Love the tea set!! 2y

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Donna1980

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

pick

This book hurt my heart in places. Beautifully written but at first I struggled with how the stories would link (for I felt sure they had to). When they do it‘s one of those moments when you pause on the page and a wave of emotion hits you. Leo Gursky is instantly likeable and you find yourself wishing throughout the book his life would have a different end but it seems just to have had a great love was enough. The world needs more Leo Gurskys. 5*

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mollyrotondo

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

pick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️For beautiful writing
⭐️⭐️⭐️For story layout
This book was beautifully written and of course I teared up at the end. But I did feel like the story felt a bit too confusing for me. I think some things could have been made clearer earlier on in the story. I can‘t wait to discuss the ending with #sundaybuddyread this coming Sunday!!

TheBookHippie

TheBookHippie 💙🤐🤫me too! Cannot wait! 2y

Sargar114 Completely agree with everything you said! 2y

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Sargar114

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

pick

A beautifully written story about a variety of people and multiple types of loving relationships. While it was confusing at times, it ended up being interwoven quite nicely. Books like these are why I love #sundaybuddyread! Because of the fabulous discussion, I try to read every selection of the group as I stumble upon gems like this that I wouldn‘t otherwise have read. Thanks @TheBookHippie 💙❤️

TheBookHippie 💙💙💙💙💙📘📘📘📘📘 2y

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megnews

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

pick

It‘s been great rereading and discussing this amazing novel. Looking forward to last discussion next week. #sundaybuddyread

TheBookHippie

KathyWheeler I read this years ago and loved it. 2y

67 likes1 comment

megnews

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

This seemed like such an accurate depiction of grief. #sundaybuddyread

TheBookHippie

Karisa 💗 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

We get to finish it ! 📘😱

I do love the prose of this book.
Some passages I read are just beautiful and there really aren‘t words. Or questions. Interesting view of love of all kinds. I think in life these kind of stories are way more than we think. Thanks for sticking with me!

So incredibly glad to read this in small parts and sit with it.

What are you thinking ?

Sargar114 There are some seriously beautifully written parts. I‘m still struggling with engaging with Alma as a character; but the list format does help differentiate the characters at least. Some of the other chapters and characters are hard to keep track of. Overall a lot to think about and enjoying. 2y

BkClubCare I thank you for the fabulous discussion points. I am glad to have found this! I once gave this title to a friend to read and I don‘t think she liked it (I know she read it — but we have never discussed). I do kind of wish that I could read the three perspectives all at once. I wonder if I was better reader the first time I read this! Because I am not following it well this time 😂 2y

BooksNBowls @Sargar114 I agree without the change of prose I may have struggled keeping the characters straight. I‘m glad most of my confusion from the story is coming together tho! 2y

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Morr_Books I don't think my opinion has changed from the beginning that this is beautifully written, but I am thinking that as the story continues it gets a bit more messy (confusing at times) as the author pulls all the characters together. 2y

vlwelser I think this is beautiful despite not liking all of the decisions the characters are making. I'm looking forward to finishing. 2y

BookwormAHN I'm getting a little sick of Leo's "and yet" s but overall I'm really enjoying how it's written. 2y

megnews @BookwormAHN I love those! It‘s one of my favorite parts. I feel I can hear his resigned voice most clearly in them. 2y

Hooked_on_books I struggled with the second section last week, but this was a smoother read for me. I noticed @Sargar114 that Alma‘s list format was reflecting the way The History of Love is written when we see Zvi‘s chapter. There‘s a lot of mirroring going on in this book. 2y

DebinHawaii I really enjoyed this week‘s reading & tagged a lot of quotes in my Kindle like “…there are two types of people in the world: those who prefer to be sad among others, and those who prefer to be sad alone.” I can fully relate to the second kind. 😉 While I do find myself confused with some of the characters & plot points & where it‘s all going, I love getting lost in the beauty of the writing. 💜 2y

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii I agree with everything you‘ve said. 2y

TheBookHippie @Hooked_on_books I love all the mirroring. 2y

Karisa @megnews 😂 I love them too. It makes me like him more. To me, it‘s him saying, “I realize the rational approach here. However, my feelings are irrational.” I guess I can just relate to that 😅 2y

Karisa Enjoying the slower reading of this too. It‘s a book best served in small doses to really linger on the gorgeous writing. 2y

TheBookHippie @Karisa I agree. It‘s seriously better in small doses. It makes you slow the pace and take it in. 2y

Sargar114 @DebinHawaii I loved that line as well! 2y

mollyrotondo I still think the writing and story are beautiful but it is confusing. I‘ll probably give it a five star on beauty but maybe a three star on story layout. 2y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I agree with that rating. 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I'm a bit confused still as to how this will all come together. I still like Leo's POV the best. I enjoy the book, but don't love it. However that line about keeping it a secret means no one can take it away has stayed with me for about 10 days, so that's something. 2y

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick the lines in this book stay with me even if I have no clue the plot 🤣!!! The fact you don‘t either is comforting ! 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Zvi journey and then Rosa..

Leo WROTE and asked for the book!
ROSA DESTROYED IT
just wow…

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS!! ?!!

Sargar114 🤬🤬🤬. On one hand, Rosa got sh*t done, pushing her husband to be greater and publish the story. On the other hand RAWR with all the lies and allowing them, so ragey! 2y

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 book almost sailed across livingroom .. 2y

Sargar114 @TheBookHippie totally!!! 😂🤣😂🤣 2y

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Morr_Books I was already not much of a fan of Rosa, so this just made me like her less. Is the author trying to show all different kinds of love? 2y

vlwelser @TheBookHippie @Sargar114 💯 2y

Sargar114 @Morr_Books I think so, various romantic relationships, various familial, and friendships. We seem to be running the gamut! 2y

BookwormAHN She's nuts lieing about the letter is abominable but then actually flooding the house. Really? 2y

megnews @BookwormAHN yeah flooding her own house took the cake for sure. 2y

Hooked_on_books I see that she‘s just trying to protect her husband, and her loyalty to him is admirable. But seen from Leo‘s perspective (if he were to know), it‘s a deplorable act. 2y

DebinHawaii @BookwormAHN @megnews Right?! That was crazy! 🤯 Definitely another level. 2y

mollyrotondo Definitely felt like tossing the book @TheBookHippie 😂 2y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo 💯💯💯💯 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I'm just going to quote Jason Bateman in Dodgeball: “That's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off.“ 😂 Rosa is shrewd. 2y

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 🤣🤣 (edited) 2y

JaclynW @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 🤣🤣🤣 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Litvinoff a witness to the love of Alma & Leo
Also he thinks Leo is dead
What did you think of the book being buried and everything else?!
Then the last chapter so people would know it was Leo.

What in the world ?!?

Thoughts?

Sargar114 This is where it took an infuriating turn…stealing his book and all. Adding the last chapter seemed only a way to appease his guilt for the plagiarism. I get he never intended to get it published…but he ultimately did. Ugh 2y

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 it‘s interesting that he was a witness to the love he wanted- not her but it, their love that was visceral. It reminded me of an old movie line from She‘s having a Baby- Davis McDonald: You're the only one I ever loved.
- Kristy Briggs: No, Davis. You're the only one you ever loved. Then her explaining.. you can‘t understand this. 2y

BkClubCare I am maybe more mad about Rosa. Why (did I miss it?) did Litvinoff think Leo was dead? 2y

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BooksNBowls I don‘t think he would have done it if he didn‘t think his friend was dead.. but it still doesn‘t make it right. I think he was so desperate to be successful and get Rosa to fall in love with him. 2y

Sargar114 @BkClubCare I missed that too, I was trying to remember why he thought that 2y

BooksNBowls @BkClubCare I think he assumed he died trying to escape the nazis because Leo went into hiding for so long and then moved to America. 2y

Morr_Books I have been finding the whole Litvinoff and Rosa storyline kind of messy (feeling detached from that part of the story), so I can't help but feel like that last chapter was to connect it all. 2y

vlwelser This character annoys me but I also feel a little bit bad for him. He seems caught up in melancholy and sort of struggling. 2y

BookwormAHN It is weird since Leo was eventually able to find him. 2y

megnews Agree with @BooksNBowls a lot of people were probably presumed dead during that period. 2y

Hooked_on_books This whole but was very Tell-Tale Heart to me. After all, he could have just burned the original manuscript, but he couldn‘t bring himself to destroy it. And I agree @Morr_Books , for me this storyline really isn‘t working with the book. 2y

DebinHawaii Yeah, that last chapter was to assuage his guilt. I liked that we finally got somewhat of an explanation of the book getting published but agree it was a swerve out of the story to get there. (edited) 2y

Karisa @Sargar114 @TheBookHippie Feels like this book has almost as many ways to feel/express guilt and regret as ways to feel love… It all feels so honest somehow though, the characters being so rough around the edges 2y

Karisa @Hooked_on_books Ooh, nice comparison with Tell-Tale Heart! That book kept haunting them no matter where they tried to hide it 2y

Sargar114 @Hooked_on_books good comparison! Very much that same feel. 2y

mollyrotondo I don‘t like Litvinoff. That was an awful thing to do. And Rosa flooding the house just to destroy the evidence of her husband‘s lie was also a gross characteristic. This was annoying. 2y

JaclynW @DebinHawaii Yes! 2y

JaclynW @Karisa Completely agree. You worded it so perfectly. 2y

JaclynW @mollyrotondo Yes, annoying! 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

This post contains spoilers

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#SundayBuddyRead

Alma-
Her mom -

Alma stoping the search for a mate for her.
Because her mom, although sad, has made a home in her memories …

Why isn‘t that okay, or is it?

Clearly not for Alma to decide. Or understand.

Thoughts?

Sargar114 The grief process is so personal. It‘s not really for Alma to decide but maybe in the search for the other Alma she realized that. Maybe that‘s part of why she stopped looking. I‘m sure part of it is teenage distraction and finding something for interesting to discover (the other Alma in this car) 2y

Morr_Books I feel like we are seeing Alma grow. As she explores her own feelings, reads the history of love, and has that conversation with her uncle, I think she finally is starting to understand her mother and her mother's feelings, realizing like @Sargar114 said that her mom has a right to feel how she feels, and Alma can't change that. 2y

BooksNBowls Let‘s be real. She gave up because her mom sent the transcript without her and she didn‘t get a chance to add her letter. Otherwise, she would have kept it up. Just my opinion tho. 2y

See All 17 Comments

vlwelser This seems like a turning point for new Alma. 2y

Sargar114 @BooksNBowls very possible! Teenagers can be narcissistic 2y

BookwormAHN @BooksNBowls Agreed and she could change her mind at any time. 2y

megnews @BooksNBowls probably true. 2y

megnews I don‘t see a problem with Alma‘s mom “not moving on.” Why the focus on being with somebody? I agree grief is personal but I think she needs to try to be as healthy as possible for her kids. 2y

BooksNBowls @megnews that‘s the problem this day and age people think you can‘t be happy alone when you can and should. 2y

DebinHawaii Yes, the decision to move on needs to come from Alma‘s mom, if & when she wants to. It will be interesting to see if Alma sticks with that idea or continues to pursue the matchmaking later on. 2y

Hooked_on_books Alma just doesn‘t understand yet. She‘s too young. Hopefully she comes to understand over time. And I agree with @BooksNBowls , she totally would have kept at it if she had the transcript! She was preparing her letter! 2y

Karisa @Morr_Books Yes! Agreed. Alma‘s starting to understand a little more through her budding feeling for Misha. It‘s giving her a tiny taste to better understand what her mom has experienced. It‘s a sign she‘s growing up. @DebinHawaii Yes! Her mom is fine! There are plenty of nosy aunts that still don‘t understand someone choosing not to have a romantic partner. Alma‘s thinking that equaled happiness is a common perception 2y

TheBookHippie @BooksNBowls agree. 2y

TheBookHippie @megnews me either- I am not a fan of a man is the answer to happiness trope. My grandpa died young my grandma loved him til she died some 50 years later. And was still so grateful to have had him and his love she lived a full life. 2y

mollyrotondo I think she now realizes that her mom is happy with her memories and holding on to that love without letting another man into the picture. That is okay. Everyone grieves and heals differently. 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick It's different for everyone. We touched on this a few weeks ago, but at this stage in life, I'd hope that I could find someone else if I lost my guy. I'm young enough, child-free, and enjoy the company of partner. My feelings may change 1, 10, or 35 years from now. perhaps that first love fills you so completely that you're set. I love my guy, but it's not all encompassing. 2y

JaclynW @BooksNBowls Ha! Such a good point! 2y

8 likes17 comments

TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

This post contains spoilers

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Alma wrote to Leo——
He watched his son

Leo at his sons house
I lost….and the list of it all.

Closure?

Anyone else wish we had Alma‘s voice in the story?

It‘s so tragic.

Sargar114 It would be nice to hear her perspective. It seems she always held on to Leo but not in the same way Leo held on to her. I wonder if Isaac had her keep up the connection to him (writing to him after they moved). I kinda answered about Isaacs house in the last question; but I enjoyed that scene for Leo. He seemed to truly be getting a connection to his sons life even if@he couldn‘t be a part of it while he was alive. 2y

Morr_Books I actually am glad not to hear her perspective. I think it is important that we stick with Leo who loved and lost. Alma got another chance at love and a family. 2y

BooksNBowls I struggle to feel sympathy for Alma, maybe because we don‘t have her perspective? 2y

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vlwelser It's hard to tell what Alma was thinking. It seems like she was making the best of a bad situation. She's like a classic missed opportunity in multiple ways. 2y

BookwormAHN I'm torn, although I would like her perspective I think there are enough voices I'm not sure of. 2y

megnews I agree with @BookwormAHN 👆🏻. I also agree with @vlwelser about Alma making the best of the situation. There were very few choices for a young girl who “got in trouble” then. And this was one. I‘m glad she kept Leo updated on Isaac but I wish Leo and Isaac could have been in each other‘s lives. 2y

DebinHawaii It‘s sad all around. I wish she would have allowed a relationship between Issac and Leo but I imagine that would have been difficult. 2y

Hooked_on_books I‘m glad she gave this to Leo. It shows how much he never left her mind and heart and that‘s lovely for him to know. She‘s also giving him permission to watch their son, which not everyone would do. There‘s clearly a love and trust there that is unbreakable. 2y

Karisa I think I underlined most of this section! Just beautiful like Leo was talking to Isaac…,“Forgive me, your mother didn‘t love me the way I wanted to be loved; perhaps I didn‘t love her the way she needed, either? And yet.” “I would have held my son in my arms. I would‘ve told him, once upon a time you were a fish…” 😢 2y

TheBookHippie @Karisa so much beautiful prose!!! 2y

mollyrotondo I‘m glad Alma never stopped Leo from keeping an eye on Isaac but I am sad that she never told Isaac that his father was a man from her youth. Especially since Alma did care for Leo. It‘s not like Leo was a villain in her life. I think we know Alma‘s feelings just from her choices so I don‘t know if the story would be enhanced by her perspective 2y

JaclynW @Morr_Books Good point! 2y

JaclynW @vlwelser That's how I saw her as well. 2y

JaclynW @TheBookHippie @karisa For real about the beautiful prose! Oh! 😍 2y

JaclynW @mollyrotondo It was heartbreaking because he was such a good man. Sometimes I don't understand people's choices. 2y

JaclynW Part of me would have loved Alma's perspective, but part of me wants to leave it unknown. It may add to the story keeping us guessing. I wonder if I knew her perspective, would I be angry? Would I understand? Like others mentioned above, I think considering her situation and time/place that she did what she thought she had to do. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Bruno Leo the train ..
Leo on the way to get back his book..!!

I very much like these two.
Does Bruno know something -how does he fit in the story?

The book seems to be about all the facets of love - yes?

Sargar114 I love Bruno but still confused how he plays into it, I don‘t think he‘s Zvi anymore…but seems to have known Alma. I liked that he was aware enough to let Leo take the trip on his own. The scene in Isaac‘s house was good. Leo finally in a way connecting with his son even though he‘s no longer there. 2y

Sargar114 The book…this book…does seem to be about the varieties of love and the different ways it can be felt and expressed. 2y

Morr_Books I like Bruno, because he represents someone who sees Leo, and that Leo isn't as invisible as he thinks. 2y

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vlwelser I love these too. But Bruno especially. 2y

Sargar114 @Morr_Books another great point! The relationship between Bruno and Leo may be my favorite in the book! 2y

BookwormAHN Love those two. 2y

DebinHawaii I like that they are good for each other. It will be interesting to see how it plays out! 2y

Hooked_on_books Bruno as a character serves as both a connection to Leo‘s past and the injection of levity into a book about heavy emotions. I loved the train scene. The interplay between the two was just brilliant. I‘d love to read a book just about the two of them. 2y

Karisa @Sargar114 I‘ve been thinking about that scene of Leo wandering through Isaac‘s house too. It‘s so eerie and honest. Leo says it‘s the closest he‘s ever been to him and yet the furthest away 😢 2y

Karisa Bruno and Leo feel like two sides of the same coin. @BookwormAHN I love them too! 2y

TheBookHippie @Hooked_on_books oh I so agree! I‘d love a book of the two of them! 2y

mollyrotondo They have the best relationship in the book at this point. Even if they might have had their troubles when they were young if they both dated Alma, their adult friendship is strong and really admirable. 2y

JaclynW @Sargar114 Agreed. I have loved seeing the different loved in the book. How they are all special in different ways, hard in different ways. This book has been much different than my expectations but I think I love it more than I had imagined for this reason you bring up. 2y

JaclynW @Karisa That part brought a tear to my eye as well. 2y

JaclynW @Hooked_on_books Loved that scene as well. Bruno and Leo are some of my favorite characters in the book. A book only about them would be enjoyable! 2y

JaclynW @mollyrotondo Yes! Strong and admirable. Love it! 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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Uncle Julian‘s wastebasket note
Well trouble there too with love ..
Also he woke her in the night? Creepy

Her uncle taking her to dinner
Then the gift
I still think he‘s creepy ..

What were your thoughts ?

Sargar114 Yeah I was worried this story was taking a turn, glad it didn‘t. He is working through his own relationship problems. It does seem like he cares for Alma but awkward adult male and teen girl. Maybe awkward runs in makes of the family. 2y

BkClubCare Huh, I didn‘t find it creepy, just awkward. 2y

Morr_Books I actually did find it creepy. Just because she has to sleep in a more public area because she gave up her bed, does not make it ok to invade her private sleep time - in the middle of the night! - unless there is a fire. I immediately assumed that the uncle was drunk and was going to cross a line. 2y

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vlwelser The uncle thing totally creeped me out. I was a little worried about this tbh and also her going out with him alone. Maybe I've been reading too many books with sinister male characters. 2y

Karisa Yeah, I thought it was odd too. I was reassured that Alma was not worried 2y

BookwormAHN I was also scared of the direction that could of headed. @vlwelser also mostly due to the books I've been reading. 2y

megnews I thought he was creepy when he woke her but I felt better about the dinner. 2y

Hooked_on_books I thought he was a bit creepy. I think if they were together for a longer time, it could have gone in a very bad direction. 2y

DebinHawaii The waking her up had a creepy-ick vibe so I was happy it didn‘t travel that route.🤢 2y

mollyrotondo I also got so nervous when he woke her up in the middle of the night 🙁 but then nothing happened so I thought it was just me being suspicious of male figures in novels. I still don‘t like him because he was lusting after a coworker. 2y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick This concerned me, too! I've been listening to some books with predatory vibes and hoped it was just projecting some of that creepiness here. Luckily, there was nothing gross here in The History of Love. (Yes, I'm still along for the ride. Work's been busy.) 2y

TheBookHippie @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 🙃 darn that work 😅 I was so relieved it just remained creepy vibes. 2y

JaclynW Totally creepy vibes! I was so worried. Glad nothing came of it but I distrusted the uncle the entire rest of the time! 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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Misha gave her a feeling in her stomach that wasn‘t an ache but something different ..

Give me hand…

Then. A kiss. Well. Then. Ugh.

Teenage angst and all the 😫🤦🏻‍♀️

Think her penpal and her relationship is over?

Sargar114 It seems like this teen relationship is over. A little sad but that‘s how life works. She didn‘t understand her feelings and was working through them. Seems like she is now regretting rejecting him. 2y

BooksNBowls I‘m just wondering WHY she sabotaged that relationship? She seemed to like him and he liked her. I don‘t understand why she told him she liked someone else. 2y

BkClubCare @BooksNBowls - because fear? We often (I do, anyway) push away scary things as first reaction. TOO scary! 2y

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BkClubCare It‘s so hard to attempt translations from Russian words. I really had to dig to get that dai ruku means give me your hand. 😕 2y

BooksNBowls @BkClubCare makes sense.. 2y

Sargar114 @BooksNBowls I gathered that she didn‘t really understand her own feelings. Like @BkClubCare said, that probably scared her and so she didn‘t know what to do 2y

TheBookHippie @BkClubCare I cheated and asked a student - who is from Russia- sorry I was going to post and forgot!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y

BkClubCare @Sargar114 @BooksNBowls - I can still remember the very first time I got “asked out” and I was probably 15 yo. I said NO and at the same time, I thought, “why did I say no?!?” (Date to Homecoming. Can recall what the guy looked like but not his name 🤣) I think my friends convinced me to call him back and say yes. 2y

Morr_Books I feel that once that line was crossed (of being more than friends), they can't go back to doing friendly things like Alma tried to make happen when she called him weeks later. @BooksNBowls I think she wasn't ready for that kind of relationship/experience, and at her age it isn't easy to be honest and just say that, especially when you are confused by your own feelings. 2y

vlwelser This seems like it might be important to the story, so my guess is it will tie back in somehow. 2y

Sargar114 Good point @Morr_Books 2y

Karisa @BkClubCare @TheBookHippie I totally googled it (Kindle translate didn‘t know). 2y

Karisa I feel like their young relationship is an echo of Leo and older Alma. There are so many love stories in the book! Zvi/Rosa; younger Alma‘s mom/her father; Alma/Bird; Bruno/Leo… 2y

BookwormAHN I hope they're not completely finished but it does seem like it and with her mother's refusal to date anyone she may be too scared. 2y

megnews @BooksNBowls I think she wasn‘t expecting it to go to that level. She liked it being easygoing friendship. 2y

Hooked_on_books I don‘t think she understood her feelings or how to process them. Even she was saying, “why did I say that?!?” Poor kid, but certainly an age-appropriate behavior. 2y

DebinHawaii I agree @BkClubCare it was fear that had he pushing him away—fear of her feelings, changing the relationship… 2y

mollyrotondo Definitely a 15 year old reaction lol she wasn‘t ready to lean into those feelings. And that‘s okay. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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5. The things I wanted to say I get stuck in my mouth…

Oh I‘ve been here … you?

Sargar114 Story. Of. My. Life! And then the constant reliving what you should have or didn‘t say after; oye 2y

BooksNBowls @Sargar114 yes! This is much worse for me! I usually stay quiet and then afterwards think of a million come backs. 2y

Morr_Books Happens all the time, but most of the time I just feel that whatever could've been said was better off not being said. Words should come easier when they are truly meant to be. 2y

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vlwelser Definitely. 2y

Karisa @BooksNBowls @Sargar114 💯 % agree! I think my speech processing takes longer than most 😂 2y

BookwormAHN @BooksNBowls me too. 2y

megnews Yes! 2y

Hooked_on_books This happened to me much more when I was younger. Less so now, but yes, I think we all definitely think up good stuff later! 2y

DebinHawaii I‘m definitely a reflective thinker—at least on the bigger/more important things. My brain needs time to process. 🤔 2y

mollyrotondo Always! I‘m like George Costanza. “That‘s what I should have said!” I always say I get stuck in my head and I don‘t know how to get my thoughts out. My fear of saying something prevents me from being vocal. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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Alma saying “She‘s real -he‘s in love with her -he could change every detail but he can‘t change her..”

Interesting that in the many phases of the book Alma remains ..

Can‘t help but wonder if this is the point 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thoughts while reading…

Hard to erase a person if you know them?

Sargar114 That was a great catch by young Alma. I‘ve never claimed to be a writer so I couldn‘t imagine that process, but it was such an interesting point. Especially feeling it when Zvi was transcribing the story and describing his physical inability to change the name. 2y

BooksNBowls I was just wondering was there anyone who didn‘t like Alma? Zvi, Leo, and Bruno were all in love with her. I bet the whole school pined after her lol 2y

BkClubCare And! Wow, I didn‘t catch that quote by new-Alma, but so true. Especially when we see the truth of Litvinoff not being able to change to “Rosa”. Update: I commented before I read @Sargar114 ‘s 🥴 (edited) 2y

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Sargar114 @BkClubCare Great Minds! 2y

vlwelser Are new Alma and OG Alma related somehow? I'm having trouble connecting this part. Is Bruno the person requesting the translation and how did he pick Alma's mum? 2y

Karisa @BkClubCare I was thinking about Zvi and how Alma was the one name he couldn‘t change too. Alma (young or old) is central to the book 2y

BookwormAHN I was starting to wonder if Litvinoff was Bruno? 2y

megnews @BookwormAHN but Litvinoff is dead right? 2y

megnews @vlwelser I think I‘ve remembered from my first reading how it comes together so 🤐 2y

BookwormAHN @megnews It was an early guess and I think Bruno is more involved somehow. 2y

Hooked_on_books This was my reaction, too, @Sargar114 . I liked that mirroring. 2y

DebinHawaii I am not sure where it is going to go or where everyone intersects yet. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y

mollyrotondo @BookwormAHN I thought the same thing. But then Litvinoff died so now I think I‘m wrong. 2y

mollyrotondo It is interesting that Litvinoff couldn‘t change Alma‘s name because she is a real person and he knew her as well. It is hard to just erase a person even when you are stealing a former friend‘s writing. 2y

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TheBookHippie

The History of Love | Nicole Krauss

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#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

(Alma)

Bird and his questions and noises and counting people …
His journaling …
His preparing for a flood..

I‘m still unsure about him, thoughts ?

Sargar114 I‘m starting to lean towards some serious mental health concerns…but I also listen to a lot of true crime 🤷🏼‍♀️ 2y

BooksNBowls Yeah he‘s definitely an odd duck. I think maybe autism or OCD? 2y

Morr_Books What is he building with all that lemonade money??!! 2y

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vlwelser I don't even know what this character is up to. Mental illness seems likely. I'm with @Morr_Books what the heck is he building? 2y

Sargar114 @Morr_Books @vlwelser with all the religious suggestions and flood references my brain goes to an ark 2y

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 my parochial school training says that too 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y

vlwelser It definitely sounds like an ark. @Sargar114 but I'm curious if it's a boat. 2y

Morr_Books @Sargar114 I feel like you should win something if it turns out to be an ark. 🙂 2y

BookwormAHN @Sargar114 I was also thinking ark, especially with all the rain and water related chapters. 2y

megnews @Sargar114 ark was my first thought too. 2y

megnews I agree with @BooksNBowls autism or ocd 2y

DebinHawaii I immediately thought ark as well. I also agree with the autism thoughts. 2y

mollyrotondo He definitely seems to be building an ark. But my question is why? I don‘t quite understand how what Bird doing fits into the story. 2y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo ME EITHER 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y

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