Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The History of Love.

I may currently be reading the best book I have ever laid eyes on. Has anyone else read “The History of Love” by Nicole Krauss? Sheesh! I’m only on page 11, and already I’ve exclaimed aloud: “This may be the greatest book I have ever, or will ever read!” on several occasions. An excerpt, if you will:

Once upon a time there was a boy. He lived in a village that no longer exists, in a house that no longer exists, on the edge of a field that no longer exists, where everything was discovered and everything was possible. A stick could be a sword. A pebble could be a diamond. A tree a castle.

Once upon a time there was a boy who lived in a house across the field from a girl who no longer exists. They made up a thousand games. She was Queen and he was King. In the autumn light, her hair shone like a crown. They collected the world in small handfuls. When the sky grew dark they parted with leaves in their hair.

Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering. When they were ten he asked her to marry him. When they were eleven he kissed her for the first time. When they were thirteen they got into a fight and for three weeks they didn’t talk…”

And so it goes…

I can’t say that “it’s wonderful through and through” just yet, but man – those first eleven pages aren’t messing around.

2 comments:

Celeste said...

Both books recently mentioned sound delicious in their own respective ways. Good timing. I need a new book to read and that cookbook sounds right up my pregnant alley. (that sounds kinda dirty,huh?) you could post some recipes here to tide me over!

Just SO said...

I just checked my library and they have this in! I'm heading there right now to check it out!