Discussion of the Book for November 2011
Posted by bangkokbookclub on January 9, 2012
“The Finkler Question” by Howard Jacobson
Some of the group thought this was a funny and sad book – with the 3 main characters all wanting things they can never have. Treslove, who desperately wants to be Jewish (but converting to Judaism would not solve the problem); Finkler, who desperately doesn’t want to be Jewish (but has no idea how not to be Jewish and hates this); and Libor, who desperately wants his wife back (but can’t have her as she’s dead). The members that enjoyed this book thought it was at one level at least, a novel about identity, and the struggle to try to define who we are, and once we do (like Libor, who really defines himself as the husband of Malkie).
A number of people really disliked this book, didn’t find it amusing or clever at all, but rather irritating and ridiculous.
