Jewish Book Club discussion
This topic is about
The Ministry of Special Cases
2022 Poll Winners
>
2022/5&6 Discussion for Nathan Englander's The Ministry of Special Cases
date
newest »
newest »
I actually read this book twice- the second time for a book club. I think the touches of magical realism, the echoes of Yiddish characterizations and the historical facts blend together very well to make a story that has humor and tears. I had the opportunity to visit Argentina and the scenes of the mothers became painfully real.
Mod
Love this author!!
Jna -- Thought we selected this some months ago. I know I read and posted a review. Just wondr'n
Mod
You rated it 4 stars See below
Mel Laytner
At its heart, this book is about the 'disappeared' by Argentina's military junta in the 1970's. Some estimates say 30,000 men and women were seized from their homes by the junta's secret police never to be seen or heard from again. They simply vanished, disappeared like they never existed.
The protagonist here is Kaddish, born to a Jewish prostitute and unknown father. He lives as an outcast within Buenos Aires' successful, albeit insecure, Jewish community. (After all, this is country that Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann chose as his haven.)
Kaddish has turned his outcast status into a living of sorts. He 'disappears' the final identities of the dead: Lest family history tarnish their reputations, the upwardly mobile, wealthy Jews of Buenos Aires pay Kaddish to chisel off the names from the headstones of their parents and grandparents, who are buried in a walled-off section of the Jewish cemetery reserved for the community's criminal class and ne'er do wells.
Nathan Englander's writing had me by the first two sentences. "Jews bury themselves the way they live, crowded together, encroaching on one another's space. The headstones were packed tight, the bodies underneath elbow to elbow and head to toe."
Englander's writing and Kaddish's contrarian personality, misadventures, and futile machinations at self-improvement make for a dark, amusing read. However, the book becomes much darker, and its real intent comes into focus, after Kaddish's adult son is seized from home and is "disappeared."
My review - I gave it 5 starsThe opening scene is a sinister metaphor for a dark period in Argentina’s history – the fearsome junta of the 70ies. Kaddish, under the cover of darkness is removing Jewish names from headstones in a forgotten cemetery in Buenos Aires. The ‘erasing’ – the ‘disappearing’ continues as a growing evil in a government that breeds corruption.
The author, Nathan Englander demands patience as he often, cleverly creates confusion, only to suddenly adjust the focus, revealing clarity that creates maximum impact on the reader.
His black humour provides relief for the growing despair Kaddish, his family and a nation suffer, attempting to survive a ruthless dictatorship. The author’s wit and love for the absurd flavours his narrative so it reads like a fable, possibly softening the horror hidden deeper in Argentina’s Dirty War. I fell under Englander’s spell, who kept me on edge until the last page.
Mod
I read two outside reviews on this book, one written by the NYT's that made my head spin with confusion; the other by Allegra Goodman for Publishers Weekly that was calming and made each point and issues cogent.
But I didn't know this book was Englander's first stand alone novel.
I really thought it was "For the Relief of Unbearable Urges" until I was corrected about collections of short stories.
Regardless, they were both good
Mod
We did read one of his collections of short stories, Mel, but this one is newly added to our shelves. You beat us to the punch. 😊
Mod
Enjoy!