Address Unknown
by Kathrine Kressmann TaylorFiction - Epistolary
1938 Washington Square Press
Finished on 12/29/08
Rating: 3.5/5 (Good)
Product Description
When it first appeared in Story magazine in 1938, Address Unknown became an immediate social phenomenon and literary sensation. Published in book form a year later and banned in Nazi Germany, it garnered high praise in the United States and much of Europe.
A series of fictional letters between a Jewish art dealer living in San Francisco and his former business partner, who has returned to Germany, Address Unknown is a haunting tale of enormous and enduring impact.
I finished this book in one sitting -- well under an hour. I first read about it on Nan's blog and she later reminded me of it when I was getting my epistolary endcap together for work. While brief, this book packs a powerful punch. The ending caused me to sit up and flip back through the pages, re-reading a few of the letters.
Nan has written a lovely review that shouldn't be missed!
A powerful punch indeed!
ReplyDeleteKim
Kim - Ah, so you've read it, too. I need to pop over and read your review!
ReplyDeleteI've heard of this book somewhere before but can't remember. It sounds quite good though.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the nice words, Les! I don't remember the very first place I heard of it, but it was certainly Cath's review that made me read it:
ReplyDeletehttp://read-warbler.blogspot.com/2007/11/two-short-books.html
And Tara also wrote about it:
http://booksandcooks.blogspot.com/2008/04/dipping-my-toe-back-into-waters.html
I hope people bought it from your endcap display.
Great review! Thanks for reviewing this. I've not heard of it before and will definitely look for a copy. I am a huge fan of epistolary novels.
ReplyDeleteLesley - It is. And, it's a very quick read.
ReplyDeleteNan - You're welcome! I'm off to read Cath and Tara's reviews. Oh, and I looked at my endcap report and it looks like 2 copies were sold. Not bad, but not great either. Wonder how many customers just read it in the store?!
Red lady-Bonnie - Thank you and thanks for visiting my blog. Be sure to check out my post about epistolary novels here.