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Richard Zimler

Goodreads Author

Born

in Roslyn Heights, New York, The United States

Website

http://www.zimler.com/

Genre

Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller

Influences

William Faulkner, Willa Cather, Dostoevsky, Primo Levi, Gershom Schole ...more

Member Since

January 2009

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Richard Zimler was born in Roslyn Heights, New York, in 1956. He has a bachelor's degree from Duke University (1977) and a master's degree in journalism from Stanford. In 1990, he moved to Porto, Portugal, where he taught journalism for sixteen years at the university level. In 2017, the city of Porto awarded Zimler its highest distinction, the Medal of Honor. At the ceremony, Porto's mayor described the novelist as "A citizen of Porto who was born far away, who makes the city greater and grander... Zimler projects Porto out into the world and brings the rest of the world to us."

Richard has published twelve novels over the last 22 years, and his works have been translated into 23 languages. His most recent novel is THE INCANDESCENT THREADS Richard Zimler was born in Roslyn Heights, New York, in 1956. He has a bachelor's degree from Duke University (1977) and a master's degree in journalism from Stanford. In 1990, he moved to Porto, Portugal, where he taught journalism for sixteen years at the university level. In 2017, the city of Porto awarded Zimler its highest distinction, the Medal of Honor. At the ceremony, Porto's mayor described the novelist as "A citizen of Porto who was born far away, who makes the city greater and grander... Zimler projects Porto out into the world and brings the rest of the world to us."

Richard has published twelve novels over the last 22 years, and his works have been translated into 23 languages. His most recent novel is THE INCANDESCENT THREADS, which was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Awards in the USA. In chronological order, his novels are: The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon, Unholy Ghosts, The Angelic Darkness, Hunting Midnight, Guardian of the Dawn, The Search for Sana, The Seventh Gate, The Warsaw Anagrams, Teresa Island (only in Portugal and Brazil), The Night Watchman, The Gospel According to Lazarus (The Lost Gospel of Lazarus in paperback) and The Incandescent Threads. His novels have appeared on bestseller lists in 12 different countries. Five of his books have been nominated for the prestigious International Dublin Literary Award: Hunting Midnight, The Search for Sana, The Seventh Gate, The Warsaw Anagrams and The Night Watchman.

Richard has also published six children's books in Portugal. He writes his children's books in Portuguese and his novels in English.

The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon, Hunting Midnight, Guardian of the Dawn, The Seventh Gate and The Incandescent Threads form the "Sephardic Cycle," a group of inter-connected - but fully independent - novels about different branches and generations of a Portuguese Jewish family. You do not need to read them in any order. Each book stands on its own. You can read the first chapters of all his books at his website: www.zimler.com

Richard's latest novel, The Incandescent Threads, is published by Parthian Books. It was a Number 1 Bestseller and Book of the Year in Portugal. It was also chosen as one of the Books of 2022 by the Sunday Times and Jewish Chronicle. Here is a brief synopsis:

From the acclaimed author of The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon and The Warsaw Anagrams comes an unforgettable, deeply moving ode to solidarity, heroism and the kind of love capable of overcoming humanity’s greatest horror.

Maybe none of us is ever aware of our true significance....

Benjamin Zarco and his cousin Shelly are the only two members of their family to survive the Holocaust. In the decades since, each man has learned, in his own unique way, to carry the burden of having outlived all the others, while ever wondering why he was spared.

Saved by a kindly piano teacher who hid him as a child, Benni suppresses the past entirely and becomes obsessed with studying kabbalah in search of the ‘Incandescent Threads’ – nearly invisible fibres that he believes link everything in the universe across space and time. But his mystical beliefs are tested when the birth of his son brings the ghosts of the past to his doorstep.

Meanwhile, Shelly – devastatingly handsome, charming and exuberantly bisexual – comes to believe that pleasures of the flesh are his only escape, and takes every opportunity to indulge his desires. That is, until he begins a relationship with a profoundly traumatised Canadian soldier and artist who helped to liberate Bergen-Belsen – and might just be connected to one of the cousins’ departed kin.

Across six non-linear mosaic pieces, we move from a Poland decimated by World War II to modern-day New York and Boston, hearing friends and relatives of Benni and Shelly tell of the deep influence of the beloved cousins on their lives. For within these intimate testimonies may lie the key to why they were saved and the unique bond that unites the ...more

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Richard Zimler’s books

Average rating: 3.96 · 10,779 ratings · 1,207 reviews · 50 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon (The Sephardic Cycle, #1) 3.86 avg rating — 3,764 ratings — published 1996 — 67 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Warsaw Anagrams 3.97 avg rating — 1,974 ratings — published 2009 — 43 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hunting Midnight (The Sephardic Cycle, #2) 4.30 avg rating — 823 ratings — published 2003 — 34 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Seventh Gate 4.25 avg rating — 753 ratings — published 2007 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Guardian of the Dawn (The Sephardic Cycle, #3) 4.07 avg rating — 587 ratings — published 2005 — 22 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Sentinela by Richard Zimler (Goodreads Author), José Lima (Translator) 3.90 avg rating — 518 ratings — published 2013 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Search for Sana : The Life and Death of a Palestinian 3.92 avg rating — 404 ratings — published 1997 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Gospel According to Lazarus 3.92 avg rating — 332 ratings — published 2016 — 14 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Incandescent Threads 4.20 avg rating — 289 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ilha Teresa by Richard Zimler (Goodreads Author), José Lima (Translator) 3.43 avg rating — 313 ratings — published 2011 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Richard Zimler's Blog

Programa Radiofónico sobre Literatura

Estou a participar num novo programa de Antena 1 sobre literatura. Esta semana, um romance muito curioso, "O Amante", de Marguerite Duras. Na semana que vem, uma obra-prima, "Se isto é um homem," de Primo Levi. Eis o link:
https://www.rtp.pt/play/p9930/bibliot...
O Amante
Se Isto é um Homem Read more of this blog post »

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Published on March 20, 2022 02:32 • Tags: zimler

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Series by Richard Zimler

The Sephardic Cycle (4 books)
by

Richard Zimler (Goodreads Author)

3.99 avg rating — 5,927 ratings

A Aldeia das Almas Desaparecidas (2 books)
by

Richard Zimler (Goodreads Author)

4.43 avg rating — 210 ratings

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Richard’s Recent Updates

Richard answered Liam Ostermann's question: Why has there never been another English language edition of the first book of yours published in English Unholy Ghosts? Copies are hard to find and only second hand. Thank you The book didn't sell well enough to interest another publisher once the first edition was sold. I wish another publisher would be interested but so far no one has contacted me. THANK YOU for your enquiry.
Jul 04, 2023 03:18AM · like
Richard rated a book did not like it Outline by Rachel Cusk	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I found this novel EXTREMELY BORING and INCOMPETENTLY WRITTEN- full of clichés, poorly chosen metaphors, overly detailed descriptions and characters that read as if they were cast in a soap opera. It seems to be written for very inexperienced young p ...more
Oct 26, 2022 07:34AM · 3 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Outline by Rachel Cusk. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Outline by Rachel Cusk <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Richard and 3 other people liked Anwen Hayward's review of The Incandescent Threads:
Sep 21, 2022 01:28AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Incandescent Threads by Richard Zimler. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Incandescent Threads by Richard Zimler <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Richard answered Goodreads's question: What books are on your summer reading list this year? I am currently reading The Vagabond by Collette. The translation is terrible but I'm enjoying it anyway.
Jan 11, 2022 03:44AM · like

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Quotes by Richard Zimler (?)

“God comes to each of us in the form we can best perceive Him. To you, just now, He was a heron. To someone else, He might come as a flower or even a breeze.”
― Richard Zimler, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon

tags: inspirational-religious

10 likes

“Bruheem kol dumuyay eloha! Blessed are all God's self-portraits.”
― Richard Zimler, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon

tags: judaism

6 likes

“Por vezes, penso que a esperança não pertence unicamente a cada um, que existe como um éter que se infiltra dentro de nós no momento do nascimento." in Meia-Noite ou O Princípio do Mundo.”
― Richard Zimler

4 likes

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Richard’s Quotes

“We owe uniqueness to our dead at the very least”
― Richard Zimler, The Warsaw Anagrams

tags: holocaust

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“Blessed are all of God's self-portraits.”
― Richard Zimler, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon

tags: jewish-history, kabbalah, lisbon

2 likes

“Se descermos até à cave, se descermos até às profundezas, encontramos velhos amigos de quem nos esquecemos, que nos abraçam. Por uns breves momentos tudo é como deveria ter sido.”
― Richard Zimler, Os Dez Espelhos de Benjamin Zarco

tags: holocaust-shoah-zimler

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“A history made of 'ifs' - such is the life of mortal men" The Gospel According to Lzarus”
― Richard Zimler, The Gospel According to Lazarus

tags: historical-jesus, jesus-christ, lazarus

0 likes

“I squat on my heels by his side and move my palm over him - a finger's-width distant - so that I might feel my ache of longing for him as a deep and essential part of me before I let it go”
― Richard Zimler, The Gospel According to Lazarus

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