Great House – Nicole Krauss
W. W. Norton & Company, 2010
My plans to read the Orange Longlist of 2011 provided the best excuse to buy this book. I had wanted to read the new Nicole Krauss ever since I first heard people mentioning the ARCs they received of this book at BEA. I was so jealous. Last year, before blogging, I read The History of Love and it made such an impression on me. Where Jonathan Safran Foer’s Everything is Illuminated was one of the best books I had read in years, The History of Love felt to me to accomplish the same, with a less complicated feel to it, making me like it even more. And so, yes, my expectations were high when I started reading Great House. Even if I had been warned beforehand that most bloggers did not seem to love this as they did The History of Love.
I am going to give you the plot-summary as it is given by the publisher, because I really do not know a better way to summarize the story. Except maybe: “It is all about this one desk that connects the life stories of several people”
For twenty-five years, a reclusive American novelist has been writing at the desk she inherited from a young Chilean poet who disappeared at the hands of Pinochet’s secret police; one day a girl claiming to be the poet’s daughter arrives to take it away, sending the writer’s life reeling. Across the ocean, in the leafy suburbs of London, a man caring for his dying wife discovers, among her papers, a lock of hair that unravels a terrible secret. In Jerusalem, an antiques dealer slowly reassembles his father’s study, plundered by the Nazis in Budapest in 1944.
Connecting these stories is a desk of many drawers that exerts a power over those who possess it or have given it away. As the narrators of Great House make their confessions, the desk takes on more and more meaning, and comes finally to stand for all that has been taken from them, and all that binds them to what has disappeared.
Had you asked me what I thought about the book when I was 50 pages in, I would have told you: “This is definitely the best book I have read this year. And I am almost certain I have found my favourite for the rest of the year”. The writing was simply that captivating and beautiful. There is just something about Nicole Krauss’ style. It makes me feel comforted, at home. I would love to be able to wrap myself in a blanket of her words.
But then, something happened. The stories started to drag a little. I was still interested & definitely still felt the joy of her writing style, but something was missing. Something that I had felt while reading The History of Love. There is an emotional attachment lacking in this book, a feeling that you know and care for the characters, that makes it harder to love. Is it because a desk is at the centre of the story? [Is it because we never find out what actually happens to the desk? That we never find out what is in those locked drawers mentioned in the beginning of the book? (or do we? And have I forgotten, because I couldn't focus as much anymore?)]. I know the last part of the book should have been the clue to connecting all the stories, to bringing them together in a grand manner. But I felt I was missing out. As if I did not thoroughly understand what was meant. Or maybe it was more that I did not know how to connect this idea of Israel or Jerusalem. What exactly does Krauss mean? I do not want to connect it to anything political, so I didn’t. But it left me feeling like I didn’t understand. And so, yes, there was something lacking in the book for me. And I know it could have been just my limited understanding, maybe I in fact missed something? I don’t know.
And yet, this is not to say I disliked the book. I did not. The style made up enough for me to say that I did enjoy reading it. I just wasn’t touched as I had anticipated, or hoped for, before hand. I end up feeling melancholy every time I think about it, because those first 50 pages. Just. Wow.
How funny that you do a review of this book on the same day as Cinoiseries (chinoiseries.net)! She didn’t like it one bit. I’m not sure I’d like it.
It’s good that you had 50 great pages, but what a pity the rest didn’t appeal. At least you can now give your opinion on one of the Orange books!
I blame The History of Love. It may have been too perfect. Maar ik begrijp heel goed hoe je je voelt. Hoewel ik het boek wel mooi vond had ik meer verwacht, en op de een of andere manier is het ook best een donker boek. Niet een die je zo weer even herleest. Maar wél de moeite waard. Vind ik. Gek hoe zo’n boek zoveel gevoelens omhoog werkt.
I keep hearing different opinions on this book which is putting me off wanting to read it. It’s a shame as I do love beautiful writing, but I’m afraid that I prefer a strong plot. Glad you loved the first 50 pages at least
I want to read this SO badly, but I need to clear the backlog of unwritten posts & half-finished books first. I’m reading mixed reviews about it, so I’m intrigued.
I have certainly added The History of Love to my TBR list now. I think your opinions on this one seem to reflect what most other bloggers have made of it. Ah well I look forward to reading the history of love anyway
I’ve not read any of her books, but I don’t think you are alone in your feelings for this book. I really don’t like it when I don’t feel smart enough to get the point of a book. It shouldn’t be that way! Certainly says alot when you still fell in love with it for the writing though.
I had trouble with this one. I sort of felt like the desk being connected to everything wasn’t really a part of the story at all and they made it out to be a huge thing… unless I just didn’t get it!
This is one of those books that are going to divide people , not read it myself but am curious due to its ability to create passionate & contradictory opinions in individual.
Like your comparison of The History of Love to her husband’s work – so agree with that. His prose always feels over-written in comparison to me.
I actually really enjoyed this one and steered myself away from a political reading a bit too. Really a story about writing in many ways, and the desk just serves not as a piece of grand mystery or significance but the bulky and unwieldy that hampers us by its very presence. Made me question myself as to what is my desk, what do I allow to remain in my life for fear of its loss rather than an actual need of it??
You have summed it up perfectly. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. Then, loved the first part. Then began to lose interest. Then just wondered why the end wasn’t , well, a real end. She lost me. Disappointed.
I was totally excited to get an ARC of this one, but it stalled out for me in a BIG WAY. Sadly, I never finished it, but I will definitely try The History of Love.
I had a very similar reaction. I loved the first part. I am planning to re-read it in conjunction with the Orange Prize shortlist to see how it fares the second time around.
I am still on the fence about whether or not to read this one.
I just started reading this yesterday and so far I’m enjoying it, but it’ll be interesting to see if my opinion changes as I get further into it. You’ve convinced me to try The History of Love too, though!
I m still in two minds about reading this as it was one few orange books that on paper I like sound of ,got lot on my tbr pile at moment but if I see this 2nd hand I may just try it myself ,all the best stu
I didn’t read History of Love even when everyone loved it so so much a few years ago, but I have heard from some people that Great House is riveting. I’m thinking I don’t want to read it by myself, so I want to maybe propose it as a book club read. It sounds like the kind of book where it would help to have several different people’s opinions on it.
I think that every review of this book has been the same as yours. Starts of great and then gets boring. Its such a shame because the story seems like it has great potential. My family-in-law are originally from Chile and has family that were tortured under Pinochet’s regime and so books that touch on these issues do call to me, but I don’t know if i can read it given everyone’s ‘ho-hum’ reviews
I completely understand what you mean about this book. History of Love is one of those books that within 10 pages of reading it, made my heart break because of the powerful emotions it evoked in me. While Great House has stunning writing and interesting character studies, I never felt the same swell of emotions reading it as I did with HoL. It’s a wonderful book, but I did want more from it!
You summed up my feelings perfectly. I was disappointed it wasn’t as brilliant as The History of Love, but I still loved the writing so much. It started to drag and became convulted in the second half.
I recently read this book and like you, I was definitely torn on it. The writing is stellar and kept me reading but the stories dragged on. I also found it a little hard to connect and keep track of the pieces of the story.
This book has certainly divided readers, hasn’t it? I really loved it and, dare I say it, it had more of an impact on me that The History of Love. It could just be because of time and place or the mood I was in when reading. I agree that Krauss didn’t tie everything up neatly at the end and I was left with lots of questions, but it didn’t really bother me. But her writing style is beautiful and make me want to go and revisit The History of Love again. You’ve also mentioned Foer’s Everything is Illuminated which I haven’t read yet but have heard so much about. Must get that soon.
I had trouble connecting with this one, too. The writing was beautiful but I just wasn’t enjoying the book most of the time.
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I am again relieved to see that I was not the only one that had the feeling something was missing… something that was just out of reach. The first fifty pages were pretty good and I also liked the chapter about the father talking to his son, without talking to him face to face, it was just laced with sadness, but that’s how real-life relationships can be.
Yeah I felt something was missing too, sadly!
For some reason, I’ve been hesitant about reading this one. I borrowed it from the library once and returned it back without a peek. Maybe I should put in a better effort now, if at least for that firs 50 pages.
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Martha, Nov. 16, 1912 Thank you so much. I was dashing through the book to find out how it all going to make sense in the end. It didn’t. I then thought that maybe if I reread it, it would. I considered that I had the early stages of dementia. I went online so someone way smarter could explain it to me. You came the closest! There was nothing more to understand.
It is unfortunate that you, like me, could not take this book to our hearts. I would have loved to get more out of it, but it didn’t work for me. I still feel that perhaps I have missed a major clue. I don’t know. I’m glad you found my post helpful though!
I finished Great House this morning and have been trying to figure out how it all related in the end. I thought I was just not smart enough to see the connections – until I read these reviews. This was a frustrating book to follow. However I loved The history of Love.
I absolutely adored The History of Love, which made it extra sad that this one did not live up to my expectations (although they were definitely ridiculously high to begin with!) Perhaps I will try rereading this one in a few years? I still felt it was beautiful in places, it’s just that the pieces didn’t entirely connect in the end, for me.