Breathtaking in its suspense and beauty, Carry Me Across the Water is the story of a man’s turbulent journey, with his family, through the central years of the twentieth century. Young August Kleinman escapes from Nazi Germany to America, where his mother’s words—“Take the advice of no one”—fate him to a life of boldness and originality, from the poor streets of New York to the marble mansions of industrial Pittsburgh, from old world Hamburg to the jungle islands of the Pacific. Ultimately, near the end of a long and bountiful life, his resolution of a haunting encounter with a Japanese soldier during World War II finally illuminates, at the deepest levels, the way authentic lives truly unfold.
From the writer hailed as “the most mature and accomplished novelist of his generation” (Alan Cheuse, National Public Radio) comes this “exquisitely modulated short novel” (Los Angeles Times), which “eases its silky-smooth way into a reader’s consciousness even as it plumbs the depths” (Newsday).
Download and start listening now!
"This book is about a man's life. August Kleinman grows up in between the wars Germany as a Jew. His mother sees the handwriting on the wall and manages to escape in 1933 with him, but not his father. Together they make a life for themselves in the new world, settling in New York. He goes off to war. Marries. Starts a very successful business. Gets old. Loses his wife. Rears three children.This is a lovely book about the cycle of life, birth, death, renewal. A quick read too." — Frederick (4 out of 5 stars)
"This book is about a man's life. August Kleinman grows up in between the wars Germany as a Jew. His mother sees the handwriting on the wall and manages to escape in 1933 with him, but not his father. Together they make a life for themselves in the new world, settling in New York. He goes off to war. Marries. Starts a very successful business. Gets old. Loses his wife. Rears three children.This is a lovely book about the cycle of life, birth, death, renewal. A quick read too."
" The book was sound, fundamentally, sustaining and building its mild narrative momentum with an easy, limpid prose. Skilled writing, MFA consistency, but nothing to tickle the cells into any sort of rapturous applause. "
" I enjoyed Carry Me Across the Water. It was a good book and kept my attention. The chapters were short and jerky. They jumped unpredicatably from time and place. I struggle with books that pull me from present to past without any warning. People who do not mind this type of story should definitely read this book. "
" beautiful book. am going to see him at a talk tonight, so i read the whole thing last night. short and sweet, and he has a way with beautiful metaphors. "
" Canin is my favorite fiction writer of the moment; this is a short story that still manages to cover a lot of ground and be emotionally powerful. A delight to read, and makes me glad I came across America, America and Canin. "
" Short and keeps you interested. Neither here nor there, but has the occasional little gem along the way. Not very memorable. "
" This book is about a gentleman who survived World War II. The author does not write in chapters, so this book is easy to pick up where you left off. The story is interesting and I would recommend reading it if you enjoy historical fiction. "
" Very touching account of an elderly man and a life well-lived. "
" This was a good book that's quite well written. However, (and this may be my fault) I admired, but couldn't relate to the central character, an older Jewish man looking back over a long life. It may be that vacation is the wrong time to read a book like this. "
" This is a beautiful book. I need to read more by Canin. "
" Living close to my FIL made me love this book more than I probably would otherwise. The main character is dying and reflects back on his life and the pivotal moments of his life. I kept telling Roland that he should read this book. "
" Though this is not my favorite of his books, his language is so beautiful and raw in this book. I really enjoyed the character development and his sense of place. "
" poignant and sweet. "
" love this book...very lyrical "
" I love this author It's easy to get lost in his beatifully written books. You will see many older people you know in the main character. "
" A well-written story about the life of an American family by way of Nazi Germany, and the ups and downs that make a life. Strong characters and a peaceful ending. "
" This is a touching, extremely well written book. The story: a successful American, now up in years, decides that he will attempt to return letters home written by a Japanese soldier with whom the American had a haunting encounter during WW II. Read it. "
" Ethan Canin is a great American novelist. This book was a highly satisfying read. Big recommendation! "
" one of my favorite writers and this is certainly his best book "
" Fantastic book-- amazingly well written, poetic, compelling, and artfully woven together. Loved this book! "
" Lovely writing style. For a fragmented story style, I expected a larger revelation at the end. Subtle but beautiful. "
Ethan Canin is the author of story collections and novels, including the New York Times bestseller Emperor of the Air. He is on the faculty of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and divides his time between Iowa and northern Michigan. He is also a physician.
Ron Rifkin was born on October 31, 1939 in New York City as Saul M. Rifkin. He is an actor, known for his roles in Alias, L.A. Confidential, and The Negotiator. He has been married to Iva Rifkin since 1966.
Audiobooks Were Restored to Your Cart
[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.