Introduction to Central Characters

Nadler’s novel intricately weaves the lives of its characters, beginning with Fania, the mother of Sonja. Immigrating to Montreal post-war, Fania works as a masseuse, using her skills to elicit memories from her clients. She reflects, “If I press just slightly in the right spot,” she can “put a patient in mind of the past, of a room, for instance, that has been exploded, or incinerated by bombs, or raided by soldiers.” This imagery of ruined spaces resonates throughout the narrative.

Layers of Time and Memory

The narrative unfolds across multiple timelines, including a poignant depiction of Moses, Fania’s infant son, who tragically lost his life to the Nazis. Fania often hears his cries reverberating “from just beyond the wall of my apartment … but I can’t move through walls to get to him.” This haunting echo exemplifies the novel’s exploration of the inescapable nature of loss.

Another timeline introduces an adult Moses, who navigates life while haunted by a friend’s ghost. Interestingly, Nadler delves into the complexities and bureaucracies of ghost existence, seemingly diminishing the sense of mystery that typically accompanies such spectral encounters.

Interconnected Narratives

The final timeline introduces Arnold, a centenarian reestablishing ties with his long-lost daughter, Sonja. However, the interconnections among the timelines raise questions regarding their fluidity, which may affect the emotional impact of the storytelling.

Stylistic Elements and Themes

Nadler employs a style of formal mysticism that oscillates between poignant and excessively sentimental. Characters often express melancholic musings, with remarks such as, “A secret always needs a strange ear, or else the secret loses its power and it dies” and “When one is waiting desperately for someone to appear to them from a crowd … what one is really waiting for is to jump from one skin to another.” While these reflections may resonate with some, the frequency with which they occur risks diluting their impact.

Emotional Depth and Reader Engagement

Despite criticisms of occasional overwrought sentimentality, the novel contains deeply affecting sections. Fania’s narrative, in particular, invites emotional engagement, notably when she confronts Hermann, her language partner, with playful Yiddish quips, providing a welcomed contrast to the novel’s more somber themes.

The Lasting Impact of Trauma

Even decades after the liberation of Auschwitz, many Holocaust survivors, such as Nadler’s characters, continue to navigate the complex waters of memory and loss. This ongoing struggle for wholeness subtly permeates the narrative, ultimately suggesting that there are no definitive resolutions—only endless variations of sorrow and yearning.