Description
Book SynopsisLinked stories expose generational conflicts, broken relationships and Jewish insecurity post-Holocaust. Darkly humorous, absurd, sometimes tragic and erotic.
Trade ReviewA longtime journalist and politician, Sichrovsky writes with a crisp prose that makes his everyday characters real, with a touch of humor and subtle points about what being Jewish means today. This is a strong collection. … The pieces here are memorable and diverse, making Verklempt an excellent English-language introduction to the author’s fiction.
– Foreword ReviewsMoving and engaging…. [Sichrovsky] set[s] up … intriguing narratives and metaphors.
– Asymptote JournalA touching, thoughtful, and powerful read; Sichrovsky’s insights into people’s secrets, regrets, and consciences are artfully divulged.
Verklempt certainly lives up to its title.
– Jewish Book WorldJohn Howard’s translation is clear, clean, and straightforward. His word choices are simple and direct, resisting the temptation for sentimentality that such subject matter holds. I was especially impressed by the way he conveyed the different patterns of speech that characterize people of different ages and geographical descents. There is no confusing his elderly Austrian aunt with his Brooklynite Jewish mother.
– Yardenne Greenspan, Asymptote JournalIntense existential stories with uplifting conclusions about people, torn by past conflicts and histories, who are coming to terms with the flow of everyday life through fulfillment of their desires.
– Ivan Margolius, author of Reflections of Prague: Journeys Through the 20th Century
