• Features
  • New Books
  • Biggest New Books
  • Fiction
  • Non-Fiction
  • All Categories
  • First Readers Club Daily Giveaway
  • How It Works
 
 
 
Features
New Books
Biggest New Books
Fiction
Non-Fiction
All Categories


Craving

Esther Gerritsen, Trans. by Michele Hutchison

Buy Now

Buy From a Local Bookstore
Publisher
World Editions
Date
October 2, 2018
Fiction
Literary
Literature in Translation
The unconventional U.S. debut of prizewinning Dutch author Gerritsen. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, a mother known for her lack of empathy reunites with her daughter, but will the pair finally be able to connect?
Positive
Based on 3 reviews

Rave

Positive

Mixed

Pan

What The Reviewers Say
Positive Melissa Maerz,
The New York Times Book Review
Is this...meant to be funny, or disturbing, or both? It takes work to figure out how to read Craving...but that work is extremely rewarding. Gerritsen’s stark prose leaves a lot of space for interpreting and reinterpreting [protagonist] Elisabeth’s tone and motivations, which feels generous, both to the reader and to the characters ... Before you judge these characters, check your own empathy levels. Craving ends up offering some deep insights into the ways women process emotions—or fail to process them—during difficult times ... Droll and horrific and incredibly moving, the ending makes you feel the full weight of...'light words.' Is this...meant to be funny, or disturbing, or both? It takes work to figure out how to read Craving...but that work is extremely rewarding. Gerritsen’s stark prose leaves a lot of space for interpreting and reinterpreting Elisabeth’s tone and motivations, which feels generous, both to the reader and to the characters ... Before you judge these characters, check your own empathy levels. Craving ends up offering some deep insights into the ways women process emotions—or fail to process them—during difficult times ... Droll and horrific and incredibly moving, the ending makes you feel the full weight of...'light words.'
Read Full Review >>
Positive Mary Ellen Quinn,
Booklist
The handful of characters, circumscribed setting, and spare prose style effectively highlight the complexities of a mother-daughter incompatibility that is never quite resolved. Award-winner Gerrsiten’s first novel to be translated into English from the Dutch will appeal to readers interested in exploring world literature.
Read Full Review >>
Positive Kirkus
Bizarre interior landscapes are exposed to the light in Gerritsen’s off-kilter, at times blackly comic work of fiction ... Gerritsen’s searching story of alienation and separation may well engender discomfort in the reader, yet there’s empathy too, especially in Elisabeth’s slow fade from the picture. The lives of others, in all their peculiarity, are given sympathetic scrutiny in this diverting European oddity.
Read Full Review >>
See All Reviews >>

SIMILAR BOOKS
Award Winners

Rave

Positive

Mixed

Pan

The Savage Detectives
Roberto Bolaño, Trans. by Natasha Wimmer
Rave

Fiction

Rave

Positive

Mixed

Pan

Territory of Light
Yuko Tsushima Trans. by Geraldine Harcourt
Positive

Fiction

Rave

Positive

Mixed

Pan

Optic Nerve
Maria Gainza, trans. by Thomas Bunstead
Positive

Fiction

Rave

Positive

Mixed

Pan

Holy Lands
Amanda Sthers
Positive

Fiction

Rave

Positive

Mixed

Pan

Arturo's Island
Elsa Morante, Trans. by Ann Goldstein
Positive


What did you think of Craving?
  • About
    • Get the Book Marks Bulletin

  • Categories
    Fiction
    Fantasy
    Graphic Novels
    Historical
    Horror
    Literary
    Mystery, Crime, & Thriller
    Poetry
    Romance
    Speculative
    Story Collections
    Non-Fiction
    Art
    Biography
    Criticism
    Culture
    Essays
    Film & TV
    Graphic Nonfiction
    History
    Investigative Journalism
    Memoir
    Music
    Nature
    Politics
    Religion
    Science
    Social Sciences
    Sports
    Technology
    Travel
  • Lithub Daily

      February 19, 2019

      • Bestselling author Andrea Levy has died at 62.
      • Ann Petry has entered the Library of America series.
      • The power of Andrea Dworkin’s rage.
      • Ron Charles' favorite last lines.

© LitHub