New York, New York, U.S.A.: Bloomsbury Pub Plc USA, 2010. First US Edition/First Printing Softcover. Fine condition, appears unread. Ships in a box.. 1st. U.S.Edition. Soft Cover. Fine.

Synopsis

Howard Jacobson is a British journalist and author. He is best known for writing comic novels that often revolve around the dilemmas of British Jewish characters. He is the 2010 winner of the Man Booker prize for The Finkler Question. This novel takes on the challenges of love, male friendship and loss as it explores the relationship between a radio producer and philosopher, while questioning what it means to be Jewish today. It’s described as a bright, witty novel with some of the most sharply intelligent writing to date. The book follows the character of Julian Treslove, once of the BBC and now earning a living as a celebrity lookalike. Treslove is not Jewish but, in simple terms, the narrative details his love affair with an intense inquiry into what Jewishness means – politically, socially, economically, romantically, intellectually, emotionally, culturally, musically and so on. He wants to be part of something vast and ageless, something abounding and intense. In short, he is trying to become Jewish.

Reviews

On Nov 20 2013, CloggieDownunder said:

The Finkler Question is the fourteenth book by Howard Jacobson, and winner of the 2010 Man Booker Prize. There are three main characters: Julian Treslove, who wants to be a Jew; Sam Finkler, a Jew who is ashamed of Jews; and Libor Sevcik, a Czech Jew who is grieving the loss of his wife. This unlikely trio have known one another for many years, and in the first part, each looks back on events in their lives. The second part concerns the events after Julian is mugged, he believes, for being a Jew, and introduces a new love interest for him, a Jewess names Hephzibah, someone he feels is his destiny. This novel is very slow-moving, there is very little in the way of plot and while some of the dialogue is clever, amusing or even thought-provoking, many of the characters are difficult to relate to. Perhaps to fully appreciate this book, one would need to be a Jewish intellectual, preferably a British one. Lots of Jewish angst, talk of foreskins, anti-Semitic violence and Holocaust denial. This Man Booker Prizewinner fails to impress.

(Log in or Create an Account first!)

Details

Bookseller: Catch and Release Books (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 003947
Title: The Finkler Question
Author: Jacobson, Howard
Format/Binding: Paperback
Book Condition: Used - Fine
Edition: 1st. U.S.Edition
ISBN 10: 1608196119
ISBN 13: 9781608196111
Publisher: Bloomsbury Pub Plc USA
Place of Publication: New York, New York, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2010

Terms of Sale

Catch and Release Books

full refund of purchase price within 14 days of receipt

About the Seller

Catch and Release Books

This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.

Biblio member since 2008

Grottoes, Virginia

Ask Seller a Question

About Catch and Release Books

Hunter S Thompson/beatsPolitics/governmentmodern first editionsnon-fiction first editionsigned first editionfishing

Glossary
Frequently asked questions

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Fine: A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
PUB: Common abbreviation for 'published'