The Pawnbroker

It's an interesting story, and very sad for much of the novel. But this is what Wallant wanted - a real person - not some literary hero larger than life, but a real person who has been pushed to every extent imaginable and merely desires to stay alive and keep moving, nothing else. Wallant, unfortunately, died early, in his mid 30's of a sudden heart attack. Had Wallant lived and continued to write for decades, we - this country - would most certainly have a much deeper respect and appreciation for this man and for his craft. He was a writer of unmatched precision and empathy. Read this book.

This is a rich work whose central theme is the meaning of true humanity. It is the story of a Jew who knows the worst inhumanity in the destruction of his family in the Holocaust( Shoah) and is tested as to the possibility of coming back to life through his meetings in the new world. It is a tightly written and in a way poetic narrative, troubling and moving. A very highly recommended work.

This is not a book I would've picked on my own. It was a selection in a local book club. Wallant is able to describe the undescribable...holocaust, horror, longing, as well as the everyday, "...in the hallucinatory foyer before sleep..." Perfect. I'm glad that the book club has introduced me to this powerful novel, and to an author of this caliber.

This heart-wrenching work is a staple of Holocaust literature. It's truly a shame that this monumental novel is not more widely recognized. I count it among my personal favorites.

Bravo! Beautifully portrays life after the Holocaust