The Finkler Question
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Review
'How is it possible to read Howard Jacobson and not lose oneself in admiration for the music of his language, the power of his characterisation and the penetration of his insight? ... The Finkler Question is further proof, if any was needed, of Jacobson's mastery of humour' The Times Wonderful ... Jacobson is seriously on form' Evening Standard 'There are few writers who exhibit the same unawed respect for language or such a relentless commitment to re-examining even the most seemingly unobjectionable of received wisdoms' Daily Telegraph 'Full of wit, warmth, intelligence, human feeling and understanding. It is also beautifully written with that sophisticated and near invisible skill of the authentic writer' Observer
Review
'How is it possible to read Howard Jacobson and not lose oneself in admiration for the music of his language, the power of his characterisation and the penetration of his insight? ... The Finkler Question is further proof, if any was needed, of Jacobson's mastery of humour' The Times Wonderful ... Jacobson is seriously on form' Evening Standard 'There are few writers who exhibit the same unawed respect for language or such a relentless commitment to re-examining even the most seemingly unobjectionable of received wisdoms' Daily Telegraph 'Full of wit, warmth, intelligence, human feeling and understanding. It is also beautifully written with that sophisticated and near invisible skill of the authentic writer' Observer
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
179 of 192 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Julian Treslove is a middle aged former BBC radio producer now working as a professional look alike but quite who he looks like varies. Although never married, he has fathered two sons, neither of whom he sees regularly. Dismissed from the BBC for being too morbid on his late night Radio 3 programme, he is given to depressing levels of self-analysis in his small flat that's not quite in Hampstead. What Treslove lacks is a sense of belonging and this, he notes his Jewish friends have in spades, particularly his old school friend and rival, the best-selling philosopher and TV personality, Sam Finkler. Treslove, by contrast, always feels on the outside of life.
When the book starts Treslove is again excluded as Finkler and their mutual friend and former teacher, Libor Sevcik, an elderly Jewish Czech, have both been widowed. Although the two Jewish friends have differing political views on Zionism, Treslove sees them united in their Jewishness and their sense of mutual loss. So much does Treslove want to be like his friend Finkler, a term he uses to describe all Jewish people, and for a range of other amusing reasons, when he is attacked on the way home from Libor's flat one night, he is convinced that it is an anti-Semitic attack and that Treslove is, in fact, a Finkler himself and pursues the task of answering `The Finkler Question': what does it mean to be Jewish in the 21st century?
It's not hard to see why this book has caught the attention of this year's Man Booker judges who have short-listed it for the prize. It touches on a number of compelling subjects including middle age insecurity, male competition and friendship, death, infidelity, multiculturalism and of course religious faith and the implications of this on nation states. On top of that, it is beautifully written and often very funny both in a gentle way and at times in an angry and urgent manner. It reads very much like some of the works of the great American novelist Philip Roth, but with a more British dark humour to it, and that is high praise indeed in my book.
And yet, and yet.....
The problem I had with it is that it's a very difficult book to love because the central characters are so loathsome. The most sympathetic is the wise Libor, although arguably he is the most caricature-like of characters in the book. His story though is sad and wholly believable. Finkler himself is ambitious and craves the limelight to a detestable degree and as for Treslove, you just want to shake him into action. Given Finkler's character, I find it difficult to believe that he would have any truck with the pathetic Treslove who has taken self-analysis to a level of self-paralysis. Far from wanting to find out how his Jewish conversion was progressing, I found myself thinking more along the lines of `oi vey, he's off again. Enough with the navel gazing already'.
There's an inherent contradiction in arguing that you cannot stereotype a faith and then suggesting that this weight of self-analysis is a `Jewish thing'. Finkler himself joins a movement of ASHamed Jews, against Zionism, and yet while this is an important issue, little is made of the UN's judgements on Israel's actions.
I was left in two minds about it as a book. There's no denying the quality of the writing or the urgency of the subject, but for all the humour, the characters themselves are so dark and unlikeable, that it loses force and the net impact is a very dour read for such a book filled with so much genuine humour. How can this be? Well perhaps that's `The Finkler Question' question.
When the book starts Treslove is again excluded as Finkler and their mutual friend and former teacher, Libor Sevcik, an elderly Jewish Czech, have both been widowed. Although the two Jewish friends have differing political views on Zionism, Treslove sees them united in their Jewishness and their sense of mutual loss. So much does Treslove want to be like his friend Finkler, a term he uses to describe all Jewish people, and for a range of other amusing reasons, when he is attacked on the way home from Libor's flat one night, he is convinced that it is an anti-Semitic attack and that Treslove is, in fact, a Finkler himself and pursues the task of answering `The Finkler Question': what does it mean to be Jewish in the 21st century?
It's not hard to see why this book has caught the attention of this year's Man Booker judges who have short-listed it for the prize. It touches on a number of compelling subjects including middle age insecurity, male competition and friendship, death, infidelity, multiculturalism and of course religious faith and the implications of this on nation states. On top of that, it is beautifully written and often very funny both in a gentle way and at times in an angry and urgent manner. It reads very much like some of the works of the great American novelist Philip Roth, but with a more British dark humour to it, and that is high praise indeed in my book.
And yet, and yet.....
The problem I had with it is that it's a very difficult book to love because the central characters are so loathsome. The most sympathetic is the wise Libor, although arguably he is the most caricature-like of characters in the book. His story though is sad and wholly believable. Finkler himself is ambitious and craves the limelight to a detestable degree and as for Treslove, you just want to shake him into action. Given Finkler's character, I find it difficult to believe that he would have any truck with the pathetic Treslove who has taken self-analysis to a level of self-paralysis. Far from wanting to find out how his Jewish conversion was progressing, I found myself thinking more along the lines of `oi vey, he's off again. Enough with the navel gazing already'.
There's an inherent contradiction in arguing that you cannot stereotype a faith and then suggesting that this weight of self-analysis is a `Jewish thing'. Finkler himself joins a movement of ASHamed Jews, against Zionism, and yet while this is an important issue, little is made of the UN's judgements on Israel's actions.
I was left in two minds about it as a book. There's no denying the quality of the writing or the urgency of the subject, but for all the humour, the characters themselves are so dark and unlikeable, that it loses force and the net impact is a very dour read for such a book filled with so much genuine humour. How can this be? Well perhaps that's `The Finkler Question' question.
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
so I'm relieved to see that most Amazon reviewers didn't like it either. I needn't have struggled on till page 224 in the belief that I was missing the point of the book before giving it up.
The gushing reviews listed at the front of the book must have been written by litterati still befuddled by Man Booker hospitality. The book is plotless (up to page 224), the characters boring and unappealing and as for the much-acclaimed humour, where is it?
I'm going to pull out a David Lodge to remind myself of how a humorous yet meaningful novel should be written.
And perhaps skim through 'Jewish Jokes for the John' again.
The gushing reviews listed at the front of the book must have been written by litterati still befuddled by Man Booker hospitality. The book is plotless (up to page 224), the characters boring and unappealing and as for the much-acclaimed humour, where is it?
I'm going to pull out a David Lodge to remind myself of how a humorous yet meaningful novel should be written.
And perhaps skim through 'Jewish Jokes for the John' again.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Finkler Question: this is quite simply the most over-wrought, over-written, over-hyped and under-criticised book I have really ever read. Honest! I would strongly recommend not reading this book. Even if you get it for free, gratis and nothing. I did and to paraphrase Jacobson, 'Who's sorry now...? I am."
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Just didn't get it
I've ploughed through part one of this book (137 pages) for my book group this month, and it's got to the stage where the deadline is pretty much here and I can't face reading any... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Marie
Ignore the bad reviews!
I can't believe this has garnered so much bile. 2/5? You gotta be kidding me?
This book is wise, emotional and more responsible for making me belly laugh like an idiot... Read more
This book is wise, emotional and more responsible for making me belly laugh like an idiot... Read more
Published 16 days ago by O. Brown
Tedious!!
OK if you ARE Jewish, this book will probably be a real hoot. I'm not & much as I enjoy moderate doses of the type of Jewish angst you find in Woody Allen movies, this proved too... Read more
Published 26 days ago by P. A. Tonkin
Fooled by an attractive cover!
I bought this book in hardcover as it was chosen by our book club on the basis of the quotes in the blurb...and let's be honest - an attractive cover and intriguing title. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rosemary Hayes
Couldn't even make it to the 4th chapter!
On starting the book I was confused by the character Treslove (and not in a good way). I was not gripped by the book - in fact I found it difficult to muster any enthusiasm to... Read more
Published 1 month ago by G o' 'fax
Finkler Question
Didn't like the book. I didn't find it funny at all which is what most people do. It might be as a result of my personal antipathy to Howeard Jacobson who I find arrogant and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. E. A. Carlin
Couldn't finish it.
I'm not usually one to give up on a book and this might actually be a first.
I really wanted to like the book and was looking forward to reading it but it seemed to go... Read more
I really wanted to like the book and was looking forward to reading it but it seemed to go... Read more
Published 1 month ago by B. Robinson
Buyer beware!
I had to read this for my book club, otherwise I would not have carried on until the bitter end. At about page 267 I decided to look up the reviews to see if anyone else had... Read more
Published 2 months ago by lovemykindle
One of My All-Time Favourites
The Finkler Question is an examination of everything Jewish, as told through the lives of gentile Julian Treslove "who looked like everyone and everybody but was in fact no one and... Read more
Published 3 months ago by pabaines
Pretentious - really hated this book!
I cannot believe this book could win any sort of acolaide - least of all the Man Booker Prize. I can honestly say I hated this book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by SARAH G
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