The Far Euphrates

by Aryeh Lev Stollman

Book Overview

Through the story of a lonely boy, "The Far Euphrates" questions how we can find meaning in a post-Holocaust world; how we define the notions of home and family; where the boundaries lie between... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573220752
• ISBN13: 9781573220750
• Release Date: August 1997
• Publisher: Riverhead Books
• Length: 206 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

short, lyrical, well written

I agree with most of the positive comments made about this book (and even some of the negative ones- though the fact that the central character is essentially passive did not make this book any less enjoyable). One difference between this book and many Jewish writers from the past century or so- it is written from within Jewish Diaspora tradition, rather than about the purely secular Jews of a Phillip Roth novel.

rhythmic and enchanting

exquisite rhythmic prose takes one along a journey of a child's growth spiritually and in reality a delicious read

A beautiful example of prose

This book is not reminiscent at all of any other book that I've read. It is wonderfully original in its approach. One does not really feel anything toward the main character. Emotive response only comes when a person whom he loves or is closely related divulges something about themselves. Aryeh Alexander seems to only be a vessel because he does not talk about any thing really emotionally, but his actions and the symbolism in this book draws one to him, and makes people relate to him. His calculated, even cold actions remind one of themself and give this book a magnetic feel to it.

Beautiful and Haunting

This is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel. In Mr. Stollman's hands, the remarkable and original characters living in the small Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario in the 1960's come vividly to life so that after the book's dramatic and lyrical ending, they remain and haunt the reader. I immediately re-read this richly-layered novel a second time and know I will come back to it again.

a remarkable experience

The tempermental disquiet between the mother and son in The Far Euphrates exhibits Mathew Arnold's opposition of Hellenism and Hebewism in a poetic and illuminating manner. The novel is intriguingly set in a small Canadian town, which presents an unusual and useful vantage point on a number of contemporary ethical dilemmas. Stollman's luxuriant prose functions comfortingly and ironically as a cocoon for these very serious concerns. It is a marvelous novel.