In this powerful novel by one of Israel’s most prominent writers, Momik, the only child of Holocaust survivors, grows up in the shadow of hi...
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Aug 09, 2008
Karen
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In the first part of this book, Momik - the young son of Holocaust survivors, born and raised in Israel - says that grownups sometimes call him "alter kop", which in Yiddish means "old head". And he is, in a way, an old man in the body of a child. He is intelligent and painfully serious; he has no friends his own age but is drawn to the aging and deranged Holocaust survivors who populate his neighborhood in Jerusalem (which, believe me, is a creepy enough town as it is). But
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Dec 17, 2007
Philip
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I read the first 100-page chapter of this book in one stunned sitting the summer my son was born. I don't normally read Holocaust related fiction, but See Under: Love captivated me and tore me up. I lent the book to a dear friend who couldn't get past the opening pages, so I guess it's not for everyone, but for those with a tolerance or liking for magical realism, unusual plotting, and (truly) heartbreaking genius.
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Jun 01, 2011
Luana
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Quando si incontra un autore come Grossman la prima cosa da fare è sedersi.
In seguito bisogna munirsi di umiltà, aprire tutti e cinque i sensi all’apprendimento e diventare discepoli di un insegnante che accompagna lungo un percorso profondo, enigmatico, talvolta insidioso, ma infine soddisfacente e di arricchimento personale.
‘Vedi alla voce: amore’ è più di quanto lontano possa esserci da un libro, ‘Vedi alla voce: amore’ è un cammino a tappe volto a far scoprire cosa sia stato quel More...
In seguito bisogna munirsi di umiltà, aprire tutti e cinque i sensi all’apprendimento e diventare discepoli di un insegnante che accompagna lungo un percorso profondo, enigmatico, talvolta insidioso, ma infine soddisfacente e di arricchimento personale.
‘Vedi alla voce: amore’ è più di quanto lontano possa esserci da un libro, ‘Vedi alla voce: amore’ è un cammino a tappe volto a far scoprire cosa sia stato quel More...
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Jul 29, 2011
Yair
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This book shouldn't hold together as well as it does. So many disparate elements that, to me, shouldn't be attempting to work in cohesion. Child of holocaust survivors/cynical israeli author attempting to write about the holocaust whilst straightening his own life/post modern travails/camp inmate writer going all 1001 and nights on a camp commandant....in a lesser writer's hands this story woulve collapsed into an amorphous mess, falling under the weight ofg tis own ambition. But Grossman suc
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Jul 23, 2008
Candice
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there is lots of literature on the holocaust but this is by far my favorite holocaust representation. it is so, so impressive. mostly I say this because of the first section (there are four total), which is an 80-page story about a little boy named Momik. you could totally read this part without reading the rest of the book - it stands alone, and is just plain GOOD in that breathtaking way that short pieces sometimes are. the second section is very challenging to read and makes very little sense
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Mar 02, 2008
Claire
rated it: 
This is the most intense, and incredible, books I've read in a while. It took me almost a full month to read, but the effort was well worth it. The novel is preoccupied with finding a linguistic world to inhabit post-Holocaust:
"He knew that a language that will admit a sentence like 'I killed your Jew...In that case, I will now kill,' etc., a language where such verbal constructs do not turn to poison in the speaker's mouth--is not the language of life, human and moral, but a la More...
"He knew that a language that will admit a sentence like 'I killed your Jew...In that case, I will now kill,' etc., a language where such verbal constructs do not turn to poison in the speaker's mouth--is not the language of life, human and moral, but a la More...
Sep 02, 2009
laura
rated it:
When i first read “Someone to Run With”, i knew i would not rest until i finished reading all Grossman’s books. This one did not disappoint. I found myself crying at the very end of the book. Without a doubt is difficult to speak about Holocaust…, but is is extremely hard to speak about it to the new generation. Tha’s what Grossman did in this book. All of the characters and the plot make it so much interesting to read. So, to me, Grossman did an amazing job in this book.
I really recommen More...
I really recommen More...
Oct 25, 2010
I don't know what to say about this one -- I have been so anxious to read it but it's been weeks and I can't seem to make it past 150 pages. It's such a lovely, interesting premise but the story itself is just too much for me. The man turning into a fish, the narrator's fights with the ocean and her shimmering waves shrugging in the sun. It's much too postmodern and magical and twirling around the story I really want to hear that I just don't think I'll make it any further. Drat.
Dec 13, 2010
Jean
rated it: 
This was a very difficult book to read and even more difficult to feel with any certainty that I understood what the writer was saying. That said, I am actually reading again to see if I can sort things out. This is an author I respect and I feel the effort will pay off. The strong desire that humankind should exist without war is one message I heard.
Aug 03, 2011
A kid growing up in Israel in the shadow of the dark memories of all the Holocaust survivors around him - they don´t really talk about it and so Momik starts to build his own idea of the Nazi Beast.
I found it hard to follow and put it down several times.
I found it hard to follow and put it down several times.
Sep 24, 2009
Efrat
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One of the most heart wrenching and memorable books I have read. period.
The story the holocaust and its aftermath is told through different fictional perspectives/characters. Surreal, painful, disturbing, naive, and humanly intimate.
AMAZING!!!!
The story the holocaust and its aftermath is told through different fictional perspectives/characters. Surreal, painful, disturbing, naive, and humanly intimate.
AMAZING!!!!
Apr 14, 2008
Delphine
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Momik est un petit garçon de neuf ans qui grandit à Jérusalem. Autour de lui, les adultes parlent de "la Bête", celle qu'ils ont affronté "Là-Bas", celle qui a emporté le frère de grand-mère. Jusqu'au jour où celui-ci, Anshel Wasserman, revienne et soit placé chez les parents de Momik.
Momik se lance alors dans des expériences pour tenter de comprendre ce qu'est la Bête et pourquoi elle fait tant peur aux grands. Devenu adulte, Momik continue à traquer la Shoah.
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Momik se lance alors dans des expériences pour tenter de comprendre ce qu'est la Bête et pourquoi elle fait tant peur aux grands. Devenu adulte, Momik continue à traquer la Shoah.
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Jan 22, 2012
Lysergius
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Apart from the tip of the hat to Bruno Schultz in the first half of the book I would the second half hard work. It had its moments but just that.
Jun 17, 2010
I started reading this, but just it wasn't the right time. Will try again though as I am interested in this story.
Dec 17, 2009
daniel
rated it:
Pretty amazing. Grossman's writing sytle is different than anything I've read before. He jumps around a lot, both in style and plot, occasionally flowing into free verse. If you're not ready for it, it can be fustrating but once you resign yourself, it's very compelling.
He's got some magical realism goin' on in there which is fun. Not sure if 'fun' is the best way to describe it as most of the material is pretty depressing if you think about it enough. A reference in the book now has me r More...
He's got some magical realism goin' on in there which is fun. Not sure if 'fun' is the best way to describe it as most of the material is pretty depressing if you think about it enough. A reference in the book now has me r More...
Aug 06, 2008
The first section called Momik was very good perhaps he should have made it a novella and called it a day. Publisher's Weekly described it aptly "Although stylistically daring, the bulk of Grossman's novel never re-creates the pathos that introduced Momik the child." In other words, it becomes sulky and unreadable...maybe it's something in the translation.
May 17, 2007
Josh
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See Under: Love is one of the oddest, wonderful, and most challenging books that I have ever read. Divided into 3 unique sections, Grossman tastefully and skillfully critiques the mindsets of the first two generations of Israeli citizens and modern human males.
Jul 28, 2009
Kim
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pivotal book in my life. . .and Grossman is an incredible writer. (Although I've read most of his later books and none have matched this one for me.)
Aug 13, 2009
Shelving this for the moment until I've read Schulz-seems a little pointless to read an ode/tribute to/pastiche of an author I haven't yet digested.
I enjoyed the first novella, though.
I enjoyed the first novella, though.
Dec 17, 2009
Lee
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This is awesome. Bruno Schulz is a character. An insane stream of consciousness section. A son of Holocaust survivor imagination-addled masterpiece. Read it in an Holocaust in Fiction class in 1992.
Apr 11, 2011
Neža
rated it:
Knjiga je napisana v štirih, slogovno popolnoma različnih delih, od katerih sta mi ljuba predvsem prvi in tretji. Zanimiv pristop k opisu holokavsta, priporočam pa le potrpežljivim.
Aug 31, 2009
CarolineFromConcord
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This was a really hard book. I love the author, so I stuck with it, but it is not a favorite. The whole section on Bruno Schultz as a salmon was too obscure, even for a Bruno Schultz fan.
Dec 16, 2009
Avital
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A tough book to read, divided in a few parts, each different from the rest. The isuue is one that interests me personally as well: the first generation in Israel, second to the holocaust.
Dec 08, 2007
Rachel
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If you don't want this much Grossman--but you should--start with this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...
Jan 06, 2008
Kerilynn
rated it:
one of the best novels written about the israeli psyche and the holocaust
