The History of Love

By: Nicole Krauss

Narrated by: George Guidall, Barbara Caruso, Julia Gibson, Andy Paris

Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

Nicole Krauss' first novel, Man Walks Into a Room, was shortlisted for the Los Angeles Times Book Award and her short fiction has been collected in Best American Short Stories. Now The History of Love proves Krauss is among our finest and freshest literary voices.

It has been decades since Leo Gursky first surrendered his heart, then wrote a book about it, at the tender age of 10, and he's been in love with the same person ever since. Leo believes his book is lost to time, but what he doesn't know is, not only has it survived 60 years without him, it has also been an inspiration to others. Fourteen-year-old Alma was even named for a character from the book. When she realizes how deeply the story touched her lonely mother, she embarks on a search for answers.

The History of Love is an imaginative tale of love and loss that is at once funny, mysterious, and deeply passionate.

Don't miss Nicole Krauss and Salman Rushdie at The New Yorker Festival.

©2005 Nicole Krauss (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews

"An intriguing books-within-a-book narrative....Venturing into Paul Auster territory in her graceful inquiry into the interplay between life and literature, Krauss is winsome, funny, and affecting." (Booklist)
"Writing with tenderness about eccentric characters, [Krauss] uses earthy humor to mask pain and to question the universe. Her distinctive voice is both plangent and wry, and her imagination encompasses many worlds." (Publishers Weekly)
"If for no other reason than the range of voices she has persuasively created, Ms. Krauss would stand out as a prodigious talent....Ms. Krauss's work is illuminated by the warmth and delicacy of her prose." (The New York Times)

George Guidall awesome, rest pale

I so wanted to love this book because the character narrated by George Guidall is relatable, lovable, interesting, compelling. BUT the female character is utterly dull, monotonous, like a 4th grader reading their own essay out loud, deliberately pedantic. I am 3/4 through the book, after determined effort, and can't slog it out anymore. The subject matter (post-WWII) intrigued me, a topic I tend to enjoy for its real complexity, but I could not endure anymore. I don't easily put down books I'm >1/2 through, but this was too painful.

Like Garcia-Marquez on Anti-Pschyotics

What a surprise, a divine revelation to find this treasure buried among the cast offs in Audible's last sale. How is it possible that the title "A History of Love" is not shouted from the roof-tops, bill-boarded along reader's highways and passed around slyly like a rumor between friends-in-the-know.
Or perhaps it is, and I am just out of the loop, confused by the lack of awards notices on a book that is so far superior to the NY Book Review, Pulitzer, Oprah and Best Seller marks plastered on less-deserving works.
Though mysterious and filled with shadings of poetry, magical realism and literary allusion this book is nonetheless well grounded in the here-and-now, and straight forward in narrative.
Of note, the audio version may be superior to the printed in that the listener is spared the work of guessing when voices change, and who is narrating. Also, because the four actors in this recording give outstanding, lyrical and pitch-perfect performances.
PS: Please save discovery of the narrative for your own pleasure, and avoid pre-reading the plethora of (mostly favorable) reviews about this book. I went through a few after listening, and felt the destructive weight of the spoilers among the praises, even for a book I had already read. Don't let someone else trample through this garden before you've had your joy of it.

Why Did it Take Me So Long to Find This?

I loved this book. It was written in 2005 and spans about 1930 to the new century. Starts in Poland when Nazi's are taking over. Two very young lovers get separated. The girl's father is able to send her to America. The boy survives the atrocities by hiding and living off the earth. Eventually he gets to America, too. Most of the book takes place in present time in NYC. It is about how writing keeps our memory alive, about how war impacts people generations later and, as another reviewer said, how and why we love. It is easy to give up on this book because of the four different voices and the connections aren't always clear. I was confused and thought I was missing things. I wasn't. You have to hang in there and things start to come together. Beautifully written. Perfect voices for audio. Five stars for me. (An aside - the author is married to Jonathan Safran Foer, the author of "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" with some similarities. I, also, loved that audiobook.)

Long and slow

This book got great reviews but I didn't really enjoy it. It moves very slowly. At first I didn't like any of the characters but they did grow on me. There are three people with separate stories that don't come together till close to the end. The first is a very old man with a very sad life. The second is an unusual young teenage girl. I didn't like her voice. The third was a narrator. The end is good and I'm glad I stuck with it but I wouldn't suggest it to a friend.

Even George Guidall couldn't save this one

What would have made The History of Love better?

I don't get it. I read the reviews and it sounded like this book would be worth the point (not to mention the time). But it wasn't worth it -- I found myself wanting it to be over. The character that was read by George Guidall was good; the other characters droned on and it was boring.

Beautiful story, beautifully written.

I've been listening to Audiobooks for over a year, and this is the first time I've felt compelled to write a review. I listened to this back in May. The story is still with me. Leo Gursky is a character that will not soon leave you, and the narrator of his voice makes him come alive. Download now -- you won't be disappointed.

Wonderful-Yes it was over too soon

In a world of fast paced, too-quickly written fiction, this beautiful work of art is slow and lush. The language is simple and strong. The images evoke a tangible reality. The characters (specifically Leo Gursky) are developed from youth through senility with a careful, respectful hand. "The History" could have been written by an older writer, but Nicole Krauss' youth is filled with promise.

Historical iterary references are beautifully and realistically incorporated into fiction.

But the most amazing aspect of the book (which is a story about a book) is the voice, the language. Leo Gursky, one of the primary narrators, speaks in the first person of his past and present, his fears, longings, regrets. What might be called "digression" in another writer, here is done so naturally that the reader/listener travels with Leo from Poland to New York and back without disruption. Switching between a young narrator and Leo is equally smooth and credible. I longed to finish it, regretting it was over.

I too want to find Alma (all the Almas). I suffered to learn Issac may have (ultimately did) know of his father for a time when his father knew of him. Young Alma, the child in all of us, the seeker, the caretaker, the lover of life sought her father in every way she could.

The end, a little confusing for me. Did it happen this way? Did young Alma fill for Leo the void he carried those many years? Or had he, as he suggested, lost his mind?

And the surprising ascension of *Bird* to secretly help his sister's search, earning himself the title of *lamed vovnik,* added even more depth and parallelism.

I admit I borrowed the book from the library. Between listens, I went back and read from the book to clarify some of the plot that I feared I had missed.

The last 30 minutes (30 pp or so) were satisfying and explanatory and moving and wonderful.

Did I cry? Yes. A bit, at the end, from happiness. Did I laugh? Yes. Many, many times.

Inventive style, engaging novel

I think the title drew me to the novel, but I wouldn't have expected to enjoy it as much as I have. The voices that the narrators give to the voices that Nicole Krauss created are perfect. Though I found the voice of Alma irritating at times, it is the right voice for the character. Leo Gursky's humor is priceless and his pain is palpable. The manner with which all the novel's characters are connected seems extraordinary and improbable and yet completely plausible at the same time.

History of Love and G. Guidall: The Perfect Match

Not a book to read when you are down, The History of Love explores the ups, the downs, and the challenges of growing old, with a sideshow of serendipity thrown in. I can not say enough about George Guidall. A true master of narration, Guidall brings Krauss's protagonist to life, and stands him in front of us, holding a mirror to our face so we can clearly see what the future holds for all of us... if we are lucky enough to get that far. Read it. On a good day.

A let down

After looking at the reviews, I was expecting a wonderful listen. For the most part, the reader's reviews are on the money for me. To be honest, though, I had a miserable time trying to stick with it. The only time I tuned in without effort was when Leopold Gursky was narrating. I would have enjoyed the book greatly if it had remained in his narration. I forced myself to finish it to the end and then questioned my decision.