- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Sceptre (29 May 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340897066
- ISBN-13: 978-0340897065
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 14 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 16,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Sorrows of an American
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Review
'It is a rare writer who can both rouse the mind and grip the heart, and all the while provide the sensuous delights of image and language. In her new novel, as in WHAT I LOVED, Siri Hustvedt does that and more . . . a book that's almost impossible to put down, and even harder not to re-read' (Lisa Appignanesi, Independent )
'Beautifully thought through, deeply serious and enormously intelligent' (Jane Smiley, Guardian )
'This passionately conceived, coolly delivered work is almost certainly the best American novel you will read all year . . . not to be missed' (Melissa Katsoulis, Sunday Telegraph )
'A mystery story that develops into a subtle and complex novel . . . sharp, confident, tolerant and civilised' (Tom Deveson, Sunday Times )
'This novel is easily described as wonderful . . . THE SORROWS OF AN AMERICAN feels like a very personal story and is all the more intimate for it . . . her skill lies in convincing the reader that we have seen right inside someone's soul' (Viv Groskop, Observer )
'For all its cerebral riches, this novel is composed with superb artistry, Hustvedt handles the numerous interlocking narratives with immense skill. . . It is proof of Hustvedt's talent that the terrors of this novel feel real' (John de Falbe, Literary Review )
'This satisfying and emotionally rich follow-up to Ms Hustvedt's acclaimed WHAT I LOVED treads some similar themes: love and loss; the limits of perception; the drama of dreams; and the need to craft coherent stories from the unreliable fragments of memory. As with her previous novel, Ms Hustvedt's cerebral characters are tenderly drawn, wise and realistic . . . a beautifully sincere examination of the grim traps of over-active minds' (Economist )
'A novel of deep wisdom and storytelling' (Lucy Beresford in New Statesman )
'Beautifully thought through, deeply serious and enormously intelligent' (Jane Smiley, Guardian )
'This passionately conceived, coolly delivered work is almost certainly the best American novel you will read all year . . . not to be missed' (Melissa Katsoulis, Sunday Telegraph )
'A mystery story that develops into a subtle and complex novel . . . sharp, confident, tolerant and civilised' (Tom Deveson, Sunday Times )
'This novel is easily described as wonderful . . . THE SORROWS OF AN AMERICAN feels like a very personal story and is all the more intimate for it . . . her skill lies in convincing the reader that we have seen right inside someone's soul' (Viv Groskop, Observer )
'For all its cerebral riches, this novel is composed with superb artistry, Hustvedt handles the numerous interlocking narratives with immense skill. . . It is proof of Hustvedt's talent that the terrors of this novel feel real' (John de Falbe, Literary Review )
'This satisfying and emotionally rich follow-up to Ms Hustvedt's acclaimed WHAT I LOVED treads some similar themes: love and loss; the limits of perception; the drama of dreams; and the need to craft coherent stories from the unreliable fragments of memory. As with her previous novel, Ms Hustvedt's cerebral characters are tenderly drawn, wise and realistic . . . a beautifully sincere examination of the grim traps of over-active minds' (Economist )
'A novel of deep wisdom and storytelling' (Lucy Beresford in New Statesman )
Economist
'Satisfying and emotionally rich...her characters are tenderly drawn, wise and realistic'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
granted, it took me about 30 pages to get hooked, there are a lot of stories, a lot of names and not all is laid out as we have grown accustomed to in a novel. but i've enjoyed this extraordinary piece of literature exactly because of its complexity and subtlety. eg, siri hustvedt's sometimes unusual choice of words subtly captures how foreigners feel words differently, more special; how families have their own vocabulary. the way the narrator is observing a gesture instead of stating his interpretation of what that person is feeling leaves room for your own imagination, your involvement with the book. the book does wrap up the stories, it does not leave you hanging, but it could also be continued. i can only recommend it, especially to people who have influences of different cultures in their past or in their families.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I loved this book. It is a haunting narrative about family, immigration and identity. I couldn't disagree more with the other reviewers, who sound envious of Hustvedt's starry intellectual gifts and emotional depth.The way the author moves between the generation of family members who have made apparently successful lives in New York, and the struggles of the first generation who live and in the rural midwest, and who suffered great privation, moved me deeply.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I adored this. I bought it based on the line on the back:
"My sister called it `the year of secrets,' but when I look back on it now, I've come to understand that it was a time not of what was there, but of what wasn't."
& the cover. I judge a book by its cover. Oh yes, I do. I was not disappointed. It is beautifully written. The characters are well thought out & I adored each & everyone of them. This is rare as I usually end up hating many a character.
I found it wonderful how the events of the day where intercepted with excerts from the father's journal & letters. I read at the back that these were taken from the author's own father's writings. I find that very special.
I had never read anything by Suri Hustvedt before, but I will certainly be looking out for more.
"My sister called it `the year of secrets,' but when I look back on it now, I've come to understand that it was a time not of what was there, but of what wasn't."
& the cover. I judge a book by its cover. Oh yes, I do. I was not disappointed. It is beautifully written. The characters are well thought out & I adored each & everyone of them. This is rare as I usually end up hating many a character.
I found it wonderful how the events of the day where intercepted with excerts from the father's journal & letters. I read at the back that these were taken from the author's own father's writings. I find that very special.
I had never read anything by Suri Hustvedt before, but I will certainly be looking out for more.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Emotional, intelligent and beautifully written
The Sorrows of an American is an emotional, intelligent and beautifully written novel that manages to grasp issues of love, loss, family, identity and much more.
Published 5 months ago by Reader
A Wonderful Read
Another hugely enjoyable novel by Siri Hustvedt, this time dealing with the life of a middle-aged Norwegian/American psychologist. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Kate Hopkins
A THOUGHTFUL READ
I enjoyed this book.I found it moving, and it contained many strands.The narrator's work as a psychologist,his sister work as a philosopher, and her married life to a film... Read more
Published 17 months ago by bibliophile
The Sorrows of an American
"My sister called it "the year of secrets", but when I look back on it now, I've come to understand that it was a time not of what was there, but of what wasn't". Read more
Published on 18 May 2010 by Pasquino
disappointing
Like other readers who have enjoyed previous books by the author, I was disappointed by this boring, pretentious and gloomy book. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2010 by Avid Reader
a good read
i was curious as i'm a fan of paul auster. well from now on i'll consider him the husband of siri hustvedt and not vice versa. Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2009 by Maria Salsilli
just plain awful
I really did try to get through this book. Sometimes a novel seems to take place inside the head of the main character; OK, that can be interesting. Read more
Published on 24 July 2009 by dsa10
Absolutely brilliant
It was a book I picked up when i was in Norway by chance after i read the reviews on the back. It is a truly enchanting story which takes you to places far back in history and... Read more
Published on 5 July 2009 by Macky Mack
Curate's egg
This is an intelligent book and contains a deal of interesting insights into the history and day to day lives of a modern and well educated American family. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2009 by Adrenalin Streams
disappointing
i bought this book having enjoyed work by this author before.. but found it deeply disappointing. The characters didn't engage me, apart from little eggy, i found the plot... Read more
Published on 17 April 2009 by maddie blue
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