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Losing Beck
Losing Beck is the story of Jennie Silver, who is trying to get over a man who was greatly influenced by the renowned Hungarian emigré novelist Avigdor Element. Spanning 100 years of history from when Nijinsky danced “The Afternoon of the Faun” in Paris in 1912, through World Wars I and II, to very close to the present, Jennie keeps a diary, writes a play and a novella in her attempt to control her desperate, high-pitched emotions focused on a man she is uncontrollably drawn to and at the same time finds repugnant. A man who is one of the keepers and part of the legacy of Element’s bad behavior.
325 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 28, 2019
Just came across this book from late last year -- thank you Goodreads! Anyway, this book is fabulous. It is the story of Jennie Silver, who is trying to rid her mind of a man, Beck, who has infiltrated her life. First she writes a diary - a day to day journal of her thoughts and her various attempts to accomplish her goal, including some very funny experiences with multiple therapists. Second, she writes a play, incorporating Nijinsky, World War II and her mother's illness, but nonetheless an attempt to "lose Beck." Third, she writes a novella involving similar themes of male pressures on more or less naïve women, but also intended to accomplish her goal. This book is original, extremely well written, and worth every one of the five stars I have given it!
January 8, 2019
This is one of the most original books I have ever read. It tells the story of the narrator's attempt to disengage her mind from the long-standing hold of a charismatic but narcissistic man through her writing --of a diary, a play and a novella. I have read novels telling the same story from the points of view of several participants but I do not recall ever reading one which involved a story told through different genres. Although each of the three can stand alone, their characters, or close facsimiles, appear in each, surrounded by others (for example, Nijinsky!) and in varying historical contexts - from World War I, through the Holocaust to modern academia. Extraordinary.
February 9, 2019
Original and sensational! This is the story of a woman trying to escape the hold of a selfish, narcissistic man through writing about him, them, and related subjects. She starts with a diary revealing day by day her struggle to rid her mind of him, goes on to an extraordinary play invoking the holocaust and Nijinsky, and finally to a novella centered upon misbehavior in academia. The three genres stand by themselves yet tie together around the original story in brilliant fashion. And, the writing is superb. Highly recommend!
November 28, 2018
If I could write as beautifully as Susan Hahn, I would have written this book as in a way it tells my story of trying to rid my mind and life of a truly horrible man with whom I had become involved. Hahn's character writes a diary, in which she details the daily struggle to fight the addiction to the man (Beck), a play which presents a different approach, and a novella, presenting yet a third--all three interacting and describing the history of the involvement, the effect on her life and the struggle she has undergone. This is a very relevant and compelling book.
December 8, 2018
Jennie Silver, a writer, tries desperately to escape the power of Beck, who has imprisoned her mind with the force of his personality and his dogged pursuit. She keeps a diary of the ebbs and flows of her feelings and pens a play and a novella, translating her struggle into the words and deeds of her characters. The result is a brilliantly written novel, which will strike a cord with many facing their own struggles to free themselves from similar unpleasant and even dangerous situations. Highly recommend.
December 13, 2018
Just out and fabulous! Recommended to me by a friend who works at a bookstore as one of the most original works in years. The book combines a diary, a play and a novella, all centered around the quest of the narrator to rid her mind of a handsome, seductive, but deceiving man who has pursued her for years. Interesting historical references provide background and insight to the dangerous "Beck" and men like him.
(Hit home a bit to me!)
(Hit home a bit to me!)
December 21, 2018
Just out and recommended by my friend Rachel. Thank you, Rachel; this book is fabulous! Susan Hahn is a brilliant writer and the story she tells -- about a woman's quest to rid her mind and life of a charming but manipulative and insincere (and worse) man -- struck home with me and, I'll bet, with many other readers. The narrator tells the story through her diary, a play she has written and a novella, but they intertwine in a highly original way.
December 22, 2018
Truly gorgeous writing, but even more special than that was the genius construction of the book--interweaving the story of the narrator's struggle to clear her mind and live of the presence of an imposing and addictive, but highly flawed, suitor through a diary, a play and a novella. Although each of the three would stand on its own, the author brilliantly interconnects them. A stunning post-modern novel.
January 6, 2019
This book just came out - too late for the best books of the year lists, but clearly belonging on them. It is highly original, extraordinarily well-written and relevant to today's climate of women struggling to take charge of their lives. The novel consists of a diary, a play and a novella, each written by the narrator as she attempts to use her art to rid her mind and life of a charming but manipulative man. The three parts of the book smartly intertwine. Well done!
January 16, 2019
I read this after "Asymmetry." Both inventive but, if forced to choose, I go with "Losing Beck." Truly a virtuoso performance in the way it tells the story of one women's attempt to free herself from the psychological hold of Beck - a charismatic but narcissistic man - by way of a diary, a play and a novella, each different but clearly intertwined and adding to the whole so brilliantly. Great story, great book!
September 21, 2019
A sensational and highly original novel, telling the story of a women going through withdrawal from a charismatic but unworthy man utilizing a diary, a play and a novella. I was in awe of the writing and of the way the author intertwined the three genre. This book deserved far more recognition than it received - possibly the failure of the small press which published it. A friend recommended it to me and I recommend it to all.
November 25, 2018
I was in The Book Cellar in Chicago when Susan Hahn began to read from an advance copy of her about to be published book, Losing Beck, and I became transfixed. I bought the book and have to say it is absolutely brilliant. As David Kirby stated on the book cover, "It is one of the most original works of our time." See for yourself.
March 6, 2019
Original and superb -- in concept and writing. The narrator is trying to get a certain man out of her head and attempts to do so by keeping a detailed diary of her struggle and her progress and by writing a play and novella dealing with alternative approaches to freeing one's mind of hard to get rid of men. Very timely!
March 16, 2019
This book IS amazing--the writing is exquisite, the story is compelling and the use of a diary, a play and a novella to tell the story--in different but related ways-- of the narrator's quest to rid her mind and life of a dangerous, narcissistic man is highly original. I love reading books by woman about woman and this is one of the best I have ever read.
November 26, 2018
The most inventive, compelling book I have read in years--a diary, a play and a novella, each standing on its own feet and yet brilliantly intertwined to tell a fascinating story. The writing is gorgeous!
November 27, 2018
Actually a combination of a diary, a play and a novella, all tied together interestingly and brilliantly!
Hahn is a fabulous writer and Losing Beck tells the timely story of a woman trying to be emotionally rid of a man who has damaged her greatly. Highly recommend.
Hahn is a fabulous writer and Losing Beck tells the timely story of a woman trying to be emotionally rid of a man who has damaged her greatly. Highly recommend.
December 28, 2018
One of the best of the year. Highly original-combining a diary, a play and a novella each involving one woman's attempt to rid her mind and life of a charismatic but dangerous man. My wife was enthralled--and, after she suggested I read it, I agreed!
January 12, 2019
Hahn's telling of the story (of a woman's desperate attempt to escape the psychological hold that a narcissistic man has on her) in different genres (diary, play and novella) is not only bold but adds to the emotional power of the narrative. Genius!
January 23, 2019
Totally original and highly relevant in today's world as women seek to free themselves from controlling men--in this case "Beck." If you like Asymmetry, as I did, you will really like Losing Beck as it brilliantly tells its story in three different, interesting, genres.
January 26, 2019
Great! Original! My women's book club found this recently and 1) we all loved it and 2) most of us identified with the narrator and her struggle to rid herself of the specter of a charismatic but dangerous man who had insinuated himself into her life. Actually, brilliant.
February 2, 2019
Totally unique in the use of three genres to tell the story of Jennie Silver, who is working to rid herself of the psychological hold that the very forceful and charming Beck has over her. This book is deftly done and very impressive!!
February 13, 2019
I went through the same difficulties as Jennie Silver did with a charismatic but psychologically abusive man and understood and appreciated the struggle she goes through to rid herself of his hold in this highly original and fascinating book. My favorite for 2018!
February 25, 2019
Highly interesting - utilizing a diary, a play and a novella to chronicle the efforts of Jennie Silver to rid her mind of the charismatic but narcissistic and destructive Beck. I greatly admire the writing and the originality. I've seen nothing like this and highly recommend.
November 30, 2018
Brand new and genius!
December 4, 2018
Original; fascinating; brilliant-a diary, a play and a novella intertwined around a woman's desperate attempt to rid her mind of a skilled, predatory man.
January 28, 2019
Poet Jennie Silver deconstructs and dissects the brutish critic Beck in three genres. This postmodern novel is a masterwork!
February 22, 2019
Hidden Gem -fabulous writing and most original book of the year.
January 18, 2019
A Cocoon of Enigmatic Emotions and Ideas
Skillfully scripted, woven with writhing, woundingly wonderful poetry, displayed sometimes as a diary, sometimes a play and , finally, a novella. Ms Hahn shows she is a master of words by weaving the words and thoughts of a wounded woman into a triptych sure to engage, enrage and illuminate.
Skillfully scripted, woven with writhing, woundingly wonderful poetry, displayed sometimes as a diary, sometimes a play and , finally, a novella. Ms Hahn shows she is a master of words by weaving the words and thoughts of a wounded woman into a triptych sure to engage, enrage and illuminate.
January 10, 2019
Original and brilliant! Touching and intense story of a woman trying to get out from under the psychological hold that a near sociopath has over her.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews