From its unforgettable opening scene in the darkness of a forgotten cemetery in Buenos Aires, The Ministry of Special Cases casts a powerful spell. In the heart of Argentina’s Dirty War, Kaddish Poznan struggles with a son who won’t accept him; strives for a wife who forever saves him; and spends his nights protecting the good name of a community that denies his existence–and denies a checkered history that only Kaddish holds dear. Nathan Englander’s first novel is a timeless story of fathers and sons. In a world turned upside down, where the past and the future, the nature of truth itself, all take shape according to a corrupt government’s whims, one man–one spectacularly hopeless man–fights to overcome his history and his name, and, if for only once in his life, to put things right. The Ministry of Special Cases, like Englander’s stories before it, is a celebration of our humanity, in all its weakness, and–despite that–hope.
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"I read this before I read the book of short stories. I think I had really high expectations for the short stories since there was a lot of fanfare when this was published along the lines of "long-awaited novel" and such. But I thought the novel was quite good." — Sarah (4 out of 5 stars)
"I read this before I read the book of short stories. I think I had really high expectations for the short stories since there was a lot of fanfare when this was published along the lines of "long-awaited novel" and such. But I thought the novel was quite good."
" wow, what a miserable book. "
" Echoes of Catch-22 (one of my favorites) to balance out the tragedy of the storyline. "
" Good writer. Loved this book. If the government is doing bad things that do not have an effect on us then we do not think of them as a bad government. "
" great writing. great story. educational, funny and heart wrenching. "
" Don't cry for me Argentina! "
" Tried really hard to like this book. Wanted to like it. Was tempted to put it down in the middle, but did finish it. Just didn't like it. "
" Better in concept than as a full novel. Still I enjoyed imagining Jewish Buenas Aries. "
" took me a while to get into this one. was worth the persistence for its dark wit in the face of absurd reality. "
" The writing is good (the scenes of bodily mutilation--nose job, accidental cutting off of fingertip--actually turned my stomach), but I just couldn't get through it. "
" i listened to this on my on cd...what a compelling/tragic/well written story of a Jewish Argentinian family whose son gets "disappeared" and how differently the husband and wife handle the situation. "
" Excellent characters; the end is not cheerful "
" Blech. I read this for a Book Club and, given its critical reception, was really looking forward to it. There are no human beings in this novel, only "characters" who all talk the same. The world of the novel is unsatisfyingly rendered. I couldn't wait for it to be over! "
" This book is truly a jewel. Englander's prose evokes Isaac Bashevis Singer, Kundera, and, in places, Kafka. Heartbreaking, poetic, and evocative, this is a book of great depth and of great truth. "
" Well-written, sad, bits of biting humor. "
" An enjoyable read, but a little depressing. Definitely anxiety-inducing. "
" Good read. The characters are bright and engaging, passionate and human. The plot veers into unexpected corners, but stays in control for the most part. Englander's prose is tight and spare at points, but tackles the big ideas of shutting down freedom of speech, expression and opinion. "
" Understanding modern literature & historical fiction seem to be the antitheses of each other this novel offers both. EXCELLENT book, should be read "
" A devastating look at disappeared in Argentina during the Military Rule. Written in a very unique style. "
" The story was decent, but it seemed a bit forced, like the author really wasn't that familiar with the setting. I'm not saying I am, but I know of families from the area who underwent similar circumstances so maybe I'm projecting. It's a good book, but a bit overrated. "
" Since the reviews for this book were so good, I stuck with it however, it was not one of my favorite. I had to force myself to finish it. "
" Audio Book. Horrible. Not one good thing happened in the book. In Argentina, their kid got taken and they didn't get him back. No one would help, the kid was thrown out of an airplane into the river. "
" A very interesting story, a handful of breathtaking sentences. From the reviews, I gather this isn't his best work, so I will try 'Relief of Unbearable Urges' and see.... "
" Felt like a Kafka book to me. "
" Well-written historical fiction based on the sad but real events of Argentina's history. "
" sort of like a less wordy henry james where it is all about developing the characters and not much plot but so well done theres no need for plot. wonderfully done but sad "
Nathan Englander’s short fiction has appeared in the New Yorker, Atlantic, and numerous anthologies, including The Best American Short Stories and The O. Henry Prize Stories. He is the author of the novel The Ministry of Special Cases and the story collection For the Relief of Unbearable Urges, which earned him a PEN/Malamud Award and the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Arthur Morey has won three AudioFile Magazine “Best Of” Awards, and his work has garnered numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed him as a finalist for two Audie Awards. He has acted in a number of productions, both off Broadway in New York and off Loop in Chicago. He graduated from Harvard and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. He has won awards for his fiction and drama, worked as an editor with several book publishers, and taught literature and writing at Northwestern University. His plays and songs have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Milan, where he has also performed.
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