Published in sixteen languages and winner of the prestigious Prix Goncourt, Andre Schwarz-Bart's The Last of the Just is considered by many the sin...
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Apr 26, 2009
Gaye
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it is difficult to find words to describe a book that i look back upon as one of the most brilliant yet difficult reads of my life. andre' schwarz-bart, winner of the Prix Goncourt, is an author extraordinnaire. a genius of a writer who might not appeal to the "average" reader (please forgive the sound of arrogance) yet will titillate the juices of the discriminating, deep reader. i cannot say too much nor do i want to write so-called "spoilers." this work of genius and a
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Jun 04, 2008
Paul
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All I can say is that this book made me weep. Literally. If you read this book and are unmoved by the terrible inhumanity we are all capable of exhibiting, you may not have experienced a healthy dose of love in your life and therefore have no heart. Seriously. This book follows the Jewish experience through pograms to an entire family's extinction during the Holocaust. It examines anti-semitism and an all-too-human reaction to atrocity of "not my problem." It is tough to read, bu
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Aug 17, 2007
Jim
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This is an epic book. Okay 383 pages isn't that epic but it covers a long period of time, from the 12th through to the 20th centuries. I have to say, from my point of view, the Jews vanished from history by the end of the first century and then reappeared just in time for the Holocaust. I never had any idea what happened to them and I was never that interested. This book redresses the balance. I would not pretend for a moment that it's an easy read but I would say it is a necessary one.
Dec 14, 2008
Lee
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Nov 9
I'm as universalist as the next person, but I've been looking for an essentially Jewish book -- that is, a book that's as essentially Jewish as "Underworld" is essentially Catholic or "The Windup Bird Chronicle" is essentially essential. This might be it. I'm about to get to the Holocaust part (this is no spoiler -- you knew it was coming!)
Nov 15
I can't say I'd recommend this wholeheartedly. It drifts away from the tone I liked in the b More...
I'm as universalist as the next person, but I've been looking for an essentially Jewish book -- that is, a book that's as essentially Jewish as "Underworld" is essentially Catholic or "The Windup Bird Chronicle" is essentially essential. This might be it. I'm about to get to the Holocaust part (this is no spoiler -- you knew it was coming!)
Nov 15
I can't say I'd recommend this wholeheartedly. It drifts away from the tone I liked in the b More...
Mar 24, 2011
Jonfaith
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How common is a phase of Shoah exploration? I found it rather odd and off-outting when I fell into a period in my early 20s, I was nearly obsessed and read constantly from scholarly analyses, memoirs and novels. I found the subject nearly untenable for most people in Southern Indiana: why would you want to read about that? Since then I have encountered a half dozen kndred souls who likewise went inexplicably overboard on this darkest of subjects.
I read this novel in 1994 and was ripp More...
I read this novel in 1994 and was ripp More...
Jan 02, 2012
Mike
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"THE LAST OF THE JUST," Andre Schwarz-Bart's novel of remembrance
As an under grad at the University of Alabama, I often spent my time between classes at a college bookstore, Malone's, or at The Alabama Bookstore. Malone's was ultimately gobbled up by their competition. However both stores offered shelves of literature that frequently caught my eye and my meager funds.
The Last of the Just by André Schwarz-Bart was one of the many books I bought during my colleg More...
As an under grad at the University of Alabama, I often spent my time between classes at a college bookstore, Malone's, or at The Alabama Bookstore. Malone's was ultimately gobbled up by their competition. However both stores offered shelves of literature that frequently caught my eye and my meager funds.
The Last of the Just by André Schwarz-Bart was one of the many books I bought during my colleg More...
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Jul 30, 2008
Kressel
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Amongst the literature of the Holocaust, this is an absolute masterpiece. It's based on a twist of the Chassidic legend that there are 36 righteous people hidden in the world whose very existence justifies the existence of the rest of it, even evil. The author made mistakes with the concept, though. In his book, the status of being one of the righteous is passed from father to son, which is NOT part of the Chassidic tradition. Also, they seem to know that they are the hidden righteous, which is
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Jul 06, 2008
Isabelle
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The legend says that there are 36 just men who take on the world suffering onto their own shoulders, a kind of pact with God whereby He allows the world to continue.
Ernie Levy is one of those Justs, and while the book nominally covers eight centuries, Ernie's destiny is at its center, a destiny that will set him adrift through WWII Europe with an inevitable ending in a concentration camp.
This is one of the great books of my life, so powerful, moving and shocking that I literall More...
Ernie Levy is one of those Justs, and while the book nominally covers eight centuries, Ernie's destiny is at its center, a destiny that will set him adrift through WWII Europe with an inevitable ending in a concentration camp.
This is one of the great books of my life, so powerful, moving and shocking that I literall More...
Jul 27, 2011
JoJo
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Nice story line, but this man is obviously not a true writer, at least not of fiction. His writing is plain to say the least, and if not for the power of the subject matter, not readable in the least...
Sep 14, 2008
Elizabeth
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I wanted to read this book because one of its closing paragraphs is inscribed on the wall of the Auschwitz exhibit at Yad Vashem in Israel. That paragraph, along with the emotional content of Yad Vashem, almost made me faint--I got dizzy and my knees shook and my heart pounded when I read it. It seemed so perfectly to sum up the enormity of what had happened. When I checked the book out from the library and began reading it, I realized that I read it once in college. I have fond memories of it
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Jan 21, 2009
Sarah
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God only knows why this book isn't taught in every school. Okay, so on the surface, it's a story of Jewish oppression in WWII, but it's so much more.
Apr 20, 2009
Judkatty
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One of the most moving stories/historical novels of all times. Tracing the descendants of a righteous man (Lamed-vov) from generation to generation
Jun 07, 2009
Steven
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A great book with much historic effect.
Story of the sacrificial Jews throughout history.
Recommended to everyone.
Story of the sacrificial Jews throughout history.
Recommended to everyone.
Dec 28, 2008
Ali
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I only give this a two because I couldn't finish it. The humor in it didn't resonate with me.
Mar 21, 2009
Ilene
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this was one of the most fascinating books i have read in a long time. a must read,,,,,
Aug 05, 2011
Ellen
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This is a harrowing book of the stories of 36 righteous people who attempt to do something to help the persecuted Jews during the Holocaust. I can't recommend this one enough if you are interested in the Holocaust and sometimes wonder to yourself, "How could normal people allow this to happen"? When you read the stories of these 36 extraordinary people you'll gain an understanding of how much they had to go through to make even the slightest difference.
A superb read.
A superb read.
Feb 27, 2008
Daniele
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original french title: le dernier des justes. this book was so great; i read it in college for a class where we would rotate as to who was the "teacher" that day, and this was my book. it touched me so deeply that i actually started to cry when i was giving my presentation!
Sep 02, 2008
James
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An absolutely essential read for anyone who has any interest whatsoever in trying to understand the Holocaust. It is a singular work and one of the most powerful novels I have ever read. The ending is something that I will never get out of my mind. Devastating.
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Jan 29, 2012
Zoe
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I read the first few chapters but then...I temporarily gave up. Just knowing that the book was about hopelessness made me not want to read it. If any of you have read it, what did you like or not like about it?
Jul 31, 2011
Paul
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Powerful and moving. The journey through the generations is exhilirating. The outcome just heartbreaking. A beautiful book you will remember.
Apr 28, 2008
Brad
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This book is outstanding. Covers a huge span of time. The ending is so powerful that if you don't cry, you might not be a human being.
Oct 24, 2008
Cedar
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The first half of the book is funny. The second half, not so much. Completely beautiful, and a gut punch too.
Sep 17, 2008
Donald
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An intense tale of life in a Nazi concentration camp, with a poetic last sentence.
