The average user rating for this Book is 7.3 out of 10 (based on 25 Votes).
Herbert H gave it a1: It starts very good but gets more and more confused. I often didn't know who is the "I" currenctly speaking; am I reading Krauss' novel or "The History of Love" novel in the novel or even a story within the novel in the novel.
Valerie J gave it a5: Confusing. Interesting. Grabbed me about two thirds the way through. Will have to go back and read the start again to really get it I think. Probably great as a straight-through read - but how many authors have to rely on that?
Rebecca S. gave it a10: This was the most engaging, provoking, moving, novel I have read in years. Krauss is a prodigious writer; History of love is the Beethoven Vionin Concierto of novels. I recommend it to deep thinkers and feelers who are on the hunt for something stunning and orginal. I am not sure why some people were confused by the plot. Perhaps the trick is to read it straight through. Five of my friends (male and female) were overwhelmed by the story's fluidity and intensity. My father, on the other hand, was absolutely confused throughout the whole thing. I don't understand why. But one or two reviewers felt the same. And yet. It's genius. Thank you Ms. Krauss!
TheKate M gave it a10: I liked it. Alot. I am sure that there are many things people will find to complain about, but I am impervious to all of them when reading this book. I remember the most obscure asides from this book and have almost adopted them into my own history. This book is good. Nicole Krauss is good. It would be a travesty for her work to remain in obscurity while lesser authors like Anita Shreve are well-known and read.
Judy S gave it a2: Too convoluted, made no sense, no understandable denoument. Should not have to read a book twice inorder "to get it".
Barbara B gave it a5: Leo, Bruno and 14-year-old Alma are enjoyable characters, but overall the story was just too sweet to seem genuine, and the twists, turns and intersections of the plot just too neatly contrived to have any real drama.
Rebecca P gave it a10: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are real and interesting, and the story line is creative yet believable.
Judi G gave it a10: Loved it! Found it compelling reading. Loved the characters, loved the "excerpts" from the book within the book and the suspense. Can't wait to read it second time...
Brian G gave it a10: One novel has made me cry when I arrived at its last page, and that novel was Charming Billy. This is the second novel to do so. Structurally innovative and compelling, this novel is, above all, an emotional and human tour de force. May Alma continue to write!
Joyce H gave it a9: I loved this book from the 1st page to the last! It's poetic and shifts between the voices amazingly well. I couldn't wait to find out how it all came together. The mother and brother were a bit too odd, but I forgave her for that.
hank t gave it a10: amazingly moving .level of nabokov ,oz and marai as to style.read it twice in excellent dutch translation.
Irene L gave it a10: What a beautiful, poignant novel. The characters are so well drawn, and the twists of fate that set Leo Gursky's destinypeel away one layer at a time until we fully understand the tragedy of his life. And yet....it is an uplifting story, one that remains with me still -- long after I've read it.
Kathy J gave it a9: Enjoyed it but got lost with the narrative twists and turns. So read it again to find out how the strings all knitted together. Loved the second reading that had the advantage of insight.
Lindsay H gave it a10: This was an amazing book.
A Pickett gave it an8: I guess I'm with Susan, altho a little more enthusiastically. I don't recall seeing any comparisons in other reviews, but I found the reading experience similar to THE SHIPPING NEWS of a few years ago. Never quite sure where the author is going, and following hopefully until the effort finally pays off in the last 20 pages or so.
Susan C gave it a5: Well, it's not THAT bad! The characters are well depicted. But it does resort to needless tricks, and an undeveloped ending makes it feel underwritten to me. Needs about 6 more revisions.
Lydia V gave it a1: Unoriginal, over-hyped, like a poor pastiche of so many good writers (Schultz, Bellow, Nabokov), riddled with basic historical errors and misunderstandings, really not worth bothering with.
Samantha F gave it a1: Overwritten, mediocre, sappy, derivative. Yawn.
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