Great House

Hey all! It's been a while, but I'm back, and here with a review.

This book is officially the first from the new Powell's list, and it's Great House by Nicole Krauss. Incidentally, we also read it for book club, so it was win-win.

Now, I would love to give a clear definition of what the book was about, but there's no good way to explain it. Essentially, the book was about lives with common themes, including Judaism, family relationships, and possessions. These lives intersect, and... don't.

So, the good things. The writing is absolutely wonderful. Krauss transitions between perspectives cleanly and is engaging and real. I found many of the characters to be extremely relatable, and touching.

Now for the bad news. It was quite... confusing. One thing we discussed was the existential trend in literature right now, and that so many books seem to begin halfway through and end without really ending. This book was a great example- it seemed to meander through several stories, with no real plot or ending.

So, if that doesn't bother you or if you like books that are more of a social commentary than a story, then go for it. I actually enjoyed it, though I know it doesn't sound like it.

Happy Reading!