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I found this book to be an extreme struggle to read and was hoping for some reviews to point out what I was missing. Some of the chapters were interesting, but it was still difficult to read and I know I don't fully understand what I've read. This book has received wonderful reviews and awards. Any guidance or suggestions?

Darkemeralds Well, it's not a book for everyone. I loved it--I was surprised by how much I loved it, in fact--but I think it's because I approached it a certain wa…moreWell, it's not a book for everyone. I loved it--I was surprised by how much I loved it, in fact--but I think it's because I approached it a certain way.

First, there IS a narrative structure, but it's very subtle. It's the life story of a man who survived the concentration camps of World War II, and I think it helps to know that going in.

Second, I found I could appreciate it just on the level of purely beautiful writing (and translation). The lightness and leanness of his prose and the freedom he felt in constructing his autobiography in this peculiar series of essays--it's clever, but it's more than that. It doesn't alienate the reader who is non-clever (at least, it didn't alienate me) because each little story is a story.

Third, each little story IS a story. I didn't struggle super hard to make big overarching sense of the whole thing. I found lots of humor and irony, even in the sections where he's actually in the concentration camp.

Finally, the book came recommended by someone who said she re-read parts of it over and over again--returned to it a lot--so I knew it was something I wouldn't fully absorb in a single reading. I was aware of taking only a fraction of it away with me in a first reading. I let myself be satisfied with the tiny bit I did "get", and it wouldn't surprise me if I opened the book back up again randomly from time to time. I had a favorite chapter, "Iron", which I found very moving, and which I felt I understood clearly.

Oh, and it helped me a lot to read portions of it aloud. Maybe that's just me. My attention span is terrible, and I find that reading aloud helps me focus, especially when the prose is so beautiful.

I don't know if this helps you, but writing it helped me! I'm glad you asked.(less)

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