Comments on: Imre Kertész: Fatelessness

By: Imre Kertész’s The Pathseeker « The Mookse and the Gripes

Imre Kertész’s The Pathseeker « The Mookse and the Gripes — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:48:19 +0000

[...] Kertész’s Auschwitz trilogy (tetralogy if you don’t rely on English translations): Fatelessness, Kaddish for an Unborn Child, and Liquidation. However, the first Kertész book I bought was The [...]

By: Trevor Berrett

Trevor Berrett — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:17:25 +0000

I remember feeling a bit that way at the beginning too. It wasn’t until, well, maybe halfway through that I started to enjoy it as more than just a project.

Then again, my positive impressions of this book might be due to the fact that I read it after Liquidation. I’m anxious to see your final thoughts, John!

By: John Self

John Self — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:41:40 +0000

I’m halfway through this book (on my new Sony Reader!) and thought I would sneak a look at your comments, Trevor, as I’m feeling a little underwhelmed by it so far, about halfway through.

I see the point you’re making though about the power of the unsaid and the understated, and I will keep that in mind as I go through the remainder of the book. At present though one of the thoughts in mind is that the book doesn’t seem particularly to justify its categorization as a novel – although Kertész insists it is, we know it reflects his own experiences and for me, it stands comparison to Primo Levi’s memoir If this is a Man (published in the US, I think, as Survival in Auschwitz or something like that) – and so far, comes off worse.

By: Trevor Berrett

Trevor Berrett — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:39:11 +0000

I wondered where my review of Fatelessness had gone wrong if you thought I didn’t like it. But now I understand! And it’s true, Asylum didn’t like the book either. Maybe you’ll have a different experience though. Perhaps these negative reviews will be the opposite of hype, so you will find it so much more pleasing than you thought. Please let me know!

By: redheadrambles

redheadrambles — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:39:25 +0000

Whoops that comment was suppose to go with The Conservationist – obviously…

By: redheadrambles

redheadrambles — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:37:15 +0000

Oh no – this is the second fairly negative review of this book I have read recently – I think the other was on Asylum. I can’t remember if Sam Jordison has reviewed it yet on the Guardian Booker blog…but all in all it is shaping up to be the “dud” on the list … I am determined to read it and have my own opinion – but I am not looking forward to it…!