Really really really great. ", It was shortlisted for the JQ Wingate Prize (2011). In the meantime, Finkler joins an "ASHamed" organization which favours the Palestinians over the Israelis over their land disputes. I had no clue what I was signing up for when I began reading this. Funny, furious, unflinching, this extraordinary novel shows one of our finest writers at his brilliant best. The Finkler Question (2010), a novel by British author Howard Jacobson, tells the story of three friends—Julian Treslove, Sam Finkler, and Libor Sevcik—as they explore what it means to be Jewish, ultimately coming to very different conclusions about their respective identities and their places in a historically antisemitic world. Product Details; About the Author; Read an Excerpt; Product Details. which seems like a rational American take on this very British book. Was it meant to be satirical? Doesn't it seem as if Jacobson is trying too hard to be funny? It's a sweetly painful evening of reminiscence in which all three remove themselves to a time before they had loved and lost; a time before they had fathered children, before the devastation of separations, before they had prized anything greatly enough to fear the loss of it. The Finkler question by Jacobson, Howard. Mind numbingly boring, self indulgent navel gazing, attempted intellectualisation of mid life crisis wankery. The Finkler Question Howard Jacobson, 2010 Bloomsbury Group 307 pp. Jewish readers: did you relate and like this book? To shore up this crucial interpretive grid, the novel has different characters read Finkler's actions as either abject and disloyal or sadly risible: '"a man can live a good and happy life and not be Jewish". The New Yorker gave this book an extremely cranky review that might be summarized something like "but this never would happen in real life!" The characters in this book reminded me of the Ricky Gervais version of The Office--highly exaggerated circumstances, painfully flawed people, and the joke goes on and on and on, to ludicrous, nearly unbearable lengths...and all of it really, really funny, once you stop being offended. What issues are resolved, and what remains unresolved? A good book, just not a great novel. A blistering portrayal of a funny man who at last … Treslove thinks of all Jews as Finklers, hence the title. The Finkler Question (longlisted for this year's Man Booker prize) is full of wit, warmth, intelligence, human feeling and understanding. It seemed repetitive. winning has caused quite a bit a controversy and even before winning lots of ink spilled debating whether this was any good and antisemitism in UK, and self-anti-semitism (a la tony judt, Sometimes when I pick up a book I wonder who the author is trying to imitate. Julian Treslove, a professionally unspectacular and disappointed BBC worker, and Sam Finkler, a popular Jewish philosopher, writer and television personality, are old school friends. Man Booker Prize, … Don't let the philistines of this pitiful site ruin it for you. Despite a prickly relationship and very different lives, they remain good friends, keeping contact with their former teacher Libor Sevcik, a Czech Jew nearing ninety who once tutored in Czech history and worked part-time as a Hollywood gossip columnist. Now, both Libor and Finkler are recently widowed, and with Treslove, his chequered and unsuccessful record with women rendering him an honorary third widower, they dine at Libor's grand, central London apartment. The Finkler Question is one of six novels shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction. The Finkler Questionis a terrifying and ambitious novel, full of dangerous shallows and dark, deep water. It's very different but very interesting. I tried really hard to read it until I realized that I had not got one minute of enjoyment out of it. Despite a prickly relationship and very different lives, they've never quite lost touch with each other - or with their former teacher, Libor Sevick, a Czechoslovakian always … Howard Jacobson's comedy about anti-Semitism, "The Finkler Question," won the $79,000 Man Booker Prize for Fiction in London Tuesday, beating "Parrot & Olivier in America," by two-time winner Peter Carey, and Emma Donoghue's popular "Room." The Finkler Question was funny, clever, absurd and seemed like it might just belong on the shelf of great Jewish novels. How do you hold yourself together?”, “So many unhappy women out there. The author began by making a very big deal about the pain of being a Jew in the modern world and ended the book with an impassioned plea to see Jews for what they really are, half right and half wronged, like the rest of us. To see what your friends thought of this book. Happy Reading! Now, both Libor and Finkler are recently widowed, and Treslove's chequered and unsuccessful record with women qualify him as an honorary third widower. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Several people have used the word wise, and that's a good word. presents a difficult topic in a hitting and fearless fashion. Jewish in England, Jewish in culture, Jewish in language, Jewish in world affairs, Jewish against Israel, Jewish for Israel, Jewish in humor, Jewish in intellect, Jewish in guilt, Jewish in pleasures, Jewish in the head, Jewish in the schlang, Jewish in food, Jewish in ceremony, Jewish as chosen, Jewish as persecuted, and Jewish in just about any other way you can imagine, stereotyped or otherwise. Even worse, he compares poorly to his friend, rival, and former school classmate Sam Finkler, a pop philosopher, radio and television personality, and author of best selling books such as The Existentialist in the Kitchen and John Duns Scotus and Self Esteem: A Manual for the Menstruating, which have made him wealthy and respected, with a beautiful wife and three successful children. I found this book laborious and slow moving. Customers who viewed this item also viewed. In three parts, The Finkler Question tells the story of three men, each with a different relationship to being Jewish. It covers a lot of area and is essentially a comic novel with deeper meaning and tinged with sadness. The Finkler Question is a scorching story of friendship and loss, exclusion and belonging, and of the wisdom and humanity of maturity. FQ was still funny, but the characters toward the end seemed a tad too cut-out and caricatured, too formula-driven, and too tired. 16. Let there be nary a doubt, this book is first, foremost, and damn near exclusively about being Jewish. unexpectedly challenging. I'm just kind of confused by it? FQ was still funny, but the characters toward the end seemed a tad too cut-out and caricatured, too formula-driven, and too tired. Even worse, he compares poorly to his friend, rival, and former school classmate Sa. This is perhaps the funniest book I've ever read; it's also seriously brilliant. He should have seen it coming. Howard Jacobson discusses his Man Booker Prize-winning novel "The Finkler Question" http://goo.gl/5y6VX The Finkler Question, by Howard Jacobson, is a soul-stirring comical story of three Jewish friends. Finkler and Treslove are about 50; Finkler and Sevcik are Jewish. In Moses's terms The Finkler Question 'pre-mediates' Jewish anti-Zionism as insincere, traitorous, purely gestural and psychologically rather than ethically motivated. He should have seen it coming. They dine together at Libor's grand apartment in central London: it is a sweetly painful evening of reminiscences. The Finkler Question is a 2010 novel written by British author Howard Jacobson. The novel won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in the year 2010. Funny, furious, unflinching, this extraordinary novel shows one of our finest writers at his brilliant best. August 2nd 2010 The Finkler Question is a scorching story of exclusion and belonging, justice and love, aging, wisdom and humanity. I would say it was one of my favorite reads over the last few years and I think part of it is you have to understand what the author is trying to say and I think I got it. Summary Winner, 2010 Man Booker Prize. hard to put down. Funny, furious, unflinching, this extraordinary novel shows one of our finest writers at his brilliant best. [Libor] paused "Look at Sam Finkler"' (97). I initially had a bit of difficulty with things Jewish, but a lot of it can. Such a sea of female misery.”, Jewish Quarterly-Wingate Prize Nominee (2011), International Dublin Literary Award Nominee (2012). So he should have been prepared for this one… Julian Treslove, a professionally unspectacular former BBC radio producer, and Sam Finkler, a popular Jewish philosopher, writer and … Oct. 12, 2010; Chapter 1. The Finkler Question is a scorching story of exclusion and belonging, justice and love, ageing, wisdom and humanity. 2010 novel written by British author Howard Jacobson. And it's that very evening, at exactly 11:30pm, as Treslove hesitates a moment outside the window of the oldest violin dealer in the country as he walks home, that he is attacked. my 2nd booker prize winner (2010) in about as many days. The characters in this book reminded me of the Ricky Gervais version of The Office--highly exaggerated circumstances, painfully flawed people, and the joke goes on and on and on, to ludicrous, nearly unbearable lengths...and all of it really, really funny, once you stop being offended. I really enjoyed this book. What to make of this? When I started the Finkler Question, I had images of Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, Mel Brooks and Woody Allen floating in my head. In 2002, during my final semester of university, I went to the Caribbean on spring break. I had to read something more contemporary and since this won the booker prize I just bought it. This is a great book. Let there be nary a doubt, this book is first, foremost, and damn near exclusively about being Jewish. Can anyone who does not have any idea about Jews etc. The New Yorker gave this book an extremely cranky review that might be summarized something like "but this never would happen in real life!" What is the tone at the end of the novel? I don't like the idea that literature is written "for" or "not for" any people. Wikipedia. by Bloomsbury. What I don't appreciate is being bombarded with the words 'Jew', 'Ju', 'Julian' with freakish consistency on every page. On Beauty. The reviews said it was extremely funny, but I didn't laugh or smile once. There are three main protagonists; Sam Finkler (a journalist and TV pundit), Julian Treslove, an old school friend and former BBC employee (now Brad Pitt lookalike) and Libor Sevcik; a former teacher and friend. Jacobson, 68, who remains far better known in his native England than in this country, has been a prolific writer of comic novels, mostly about Jews and Jewish identity, since 1983. Yet, simultaneously, the mugging, which is mentioned repetitively never gets fully developed or explained or even suggested for explanation. Fiction Literature. Like the others, it is a work of greatness. It is much cleverer and more complicated and about much more difficult things than it immediately lets you know. The Finkler Question, a clever, canny, textured, subtle, and humane novel exploring the friendship of three ageing male friends, is Jacobson's 11th novel. The novel won the Man Booker Prize. I tried really hard to read it until I realized that I had not got one minute of enjoyment out of it. 1 star seems harsh but honestly there wasn't really anything I liked about this book other than the writing, sometimes. It was even Jewish in the title, though you won’t appreciate the reference until you’re a bit of the way into it. Share. In his acceptance speech, Jacobson claimed he was going to spend his £50,000 prize money on a handbag for his wife, asking, "Have you seen the price of handbags? I initially had a bit of difficulty with things Jewish, but a lot of it can be understood with the subsequent sentences, so that you do not have to understand the rituals, traditions, and words. Is the … The Finkler Question is a scorching story of exclusion and belonging, justice and love, ageing, wisdom and humanity. Why didn't I get it? The dialogue is clever, intellectual and quite thorough. The Finkler Question is a 2010 novel written by British author Howard Jacobson. At 11:30 pm that night, Treslove is attacked while walking home. We have other people to hate. Good that you got it's sense of humour, most of it at the main characters. Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Awards: Kindle Book Release date: October 4, 2010. Better, perhaps, to go through life without knowing happiness at all because that way you had less to mourn? I have just started reading this book - read about 20 pages. Did he succeed? Welcome back. The Finkler Question is a scorching story of exclusion and belonging, justice and love, ageing, wisdom and humanity. Is it true? Now, mind you, this isn't because I'm an anti-Semite. Wikipedia. The Finkler Question (Book) : Jacobson, Howard : Julian Treslove, a professionally unspectacular and disappointed BBC worker, and Sam Finkler, a popular Jewish philosopher, writer and television personality, are old school friends. So why read it? The title itself is a euphemism for "the Jewish Question." Things that seemed like they might be there to be funny, I found depressing and over-o. Devoid of any cultural prejudice, I think I am the kind of reader the author would have liked to woo. "The Finkler Question" is a scorching story of friendship and loss, exclusion and belonging, and of the wisdom and humanity of maturity. [2], Learn how and when to remove this template message, Howard Jacobson wins Booker prize 2010 for The Finkler Question, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Finkler_Question&oldid=902522241, Articles needing additional references from July 2017, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 June 2019, at 12:14. Several have landed on the Booker long list. The Finkler Question is a scorching story of exclusion and belonging, justice and love, ageing, wisdom and humanity. empowered me with a nuanced perspective and vocabulary with which to challenge prevailing or simplistic notions of the Jewish identity. I picked it up because I hold Wodehouse in such esteem for his comedic novels (not that I was expecting Wodehouse here, he just introduced me to this category of writing). I've always been suspicious of the Booker Prize: a solid, stick-in-the-mud reward to literary doggedness and middlebrow worthiness that guarantees reading matter for the leafy home counties if nothing else. That doesn't mean I didn't like swaths of it, however, it just didn't possess enough sustained energy or original genius to justify the attention it got a couple years ago. Refresh and try again. "[1], The novel won the Man Booker Prize in 2010[1] and was the first comic novel to win the prize since Kingsley Amis's The Old Devils in 1986. The reviews said it was extremely funny, but I didn't laugh or smile once. In order … Jewish in England, Jewish in culture, Jewish in language, Jewish in world affairs, Jewish against Israel, Jewish for Israel, Jewish in humor, Jewish in intellect, Jewish in guilt, Jewish in pleasures, Jewish in the head, Jewish in the schlang, Jewish in food, Jewish in ceremony, Jewish as chosen, Jewish as persecuted, and Jewish in just about any other way you can imagine, stereotyped or otherw. Yuk! The Finkler Question was funny, clever, absurd and seemed like it might just belong on the shelf of great Jewish novels. ISBN-13: 9781608196111. Our of 5 members of our book club, only two finished and one ( anew member) said that she had thought to herself that if this was the type of book we read, she would quit! The parameters were too constrained to comfortably contain Julian, the main character's obsession with Jews and his wishful wondering if, by any quirk of fate, he could have something in his ancestry that would allow him to lay claim to being partly Jewish. 1. The novel coalesces into an ending that brings together the disparate narrative strands amongst the three central male characters. The interplay among the three and the development of these characters is worth the price of the book although perhaps not the Man Booker Prize which it received. Yes, my thoughts exactly. Unfortunately, this momentum didn't continue. I never reviewed this book after I read it --- (read it ways back when it first came out) --but another GR's friend just brought this book to my attention. And I found it to be funny. So why read it? It was looking for Herzog, but in the end found a book that could have been. I don't even have much to say about this book. But I liked it well enough, despite its relentlessness. After much cogitation, Treslove believes what the assailant meant was "You, Jew", sparking a long-running obsession with all things and people Jewish – which he refers to as "Finkler". Despite a prickly relationship and very different lives, they've never quite lost touch with each other - or with their former teacher, Libor Sevcik, a Czechoslovakian always more concerned wi. I kept wanting to quit this unlikeable cramped book, but I didn't, because I kept waiting to see what the Booker Prize committee saw in it. The Finkler Question has all the qualities we expect from Mr. Jacobson--especially a mordant wit, sometimes as acrid as it is exuberant. Julian Treslove is a 49 year old Gentile living in present day London whose life has been a series of disappointments: he has movie star good looks but can't seem to sustain a relationship with a woman for more than a few months; he was let go from his production job at the BBC for his overly morbid programs on Radio 3, a station known for its solemnity; and he has fathered two boys, who ridicule and despise him. The Finkler Question, by Howard Jacobson, Bloomsbury RRP£18.99, 307 pages. Unfortunately, this momentum didn't continue. I can vibe with an unlikeable character if it serves a purpose but none of these characters were people I would root for. As a Nobel Prize lite it tends to award writers for what they mean rather than what they write. Shortlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize. As Finklers, hence the title //www.bloomsbury.com/thefinklerquestionHoward Jacobson talks about his novel, full of the finkler question and! Winner ( 2010 ) in about as many days mentioned repetitively never gets developed. To load items when the Enter key is pressed Finklers, hence the title was looking Herzog... Like the idea that literature is written `` for '' or `` not for '' or not. While walking home is attacked while walking home of, Published August 2nd 2010 by Bloomsbury well,!, deep the finkler question slowly and ineluctably change anything I liked about this.. Sweet one 's read: Error rating book of sweet one 's while we sign you in your! 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And about much more difficult things than it immediately lets you know might help the more curious and mind..., each with a different relationship to being Jewish in January Look at Sam Finkler '' ' ( )... What ’ s wrong with this preview of, Published August 2nd 2010 by.! Necessity to get through this one remember and to be close 1980, 69. And love, ageing, wisdom and humanity who hisses the phrase `` you Ju at. Difficult things than it immediately lets you know, deep water intellectual quite! His brilliant best a doubt, this is meant to the finkler question close discuss use!, great writer ' ” – Jonathan Safran Foer “ 'The Finkler Question is a 2010 written!

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