Description
Book SynopsisAmir and Effi collected relatives. With Holocaust survivors for parents and few other “real” relatives alive, relationships operated under a “Law of Compression” in which tenuous connections turned friends into uncles, cousins, and grandparents. Life was framed by Grandpa Lolek, the parsimonious and eccentric old rogue who put his tea bags through Selektion, and Grandpa Yosef, the neighborhood saint, who knew everything about everything, but refused to talk of his own past. Amir and Effi also collected information about what happened Over There. This was more difficult than collecting relatives; nobody would tell them any details because they weren’t yet Old Enough. The intrepid pair won’t let this stop them, and their quest for knowledge results in adventures both funny and alarming, as they try to unearth their neighbors’ stories. As Amir grows up, his obsession with understanding the Holocaust remains with him, and finally Old Enough to know, the unforgettable cast of characters that populate his world open their hearts, souls, and pasts to him. Translated by Jessica Cohen from the Hebrew Shoah Shelanu.
Trade Review“Amir Gutfreund has written a wonderful book. He has a keen eye for observation, elegance of language, and a captivating sense of humor. I can’t wait for his next book!” —Meir Shalev “A remarkable book, an impressive achievement as a literary creation and in its dealing with the subject matter—without clichés and condescension, with psychological and social insights, black humor and a rare ability to tell a story. I read this book in one sitting.” —Ha’aretz
