The first (and so far only) book I’ve ever bought from Skoob
near Russell Square, and one that I got mostly because my dad remembers loving
it but couldn’t recall a single element of the plot.
Sadly enough, this is a Bellow novel that I liked, but
that’s about it. In many ways I didn’t think it was Jewish enough (compared to Mr Sammler’s Planet) or sufficiently
innovative (compared to Herzog).
I found Renata to be hardly believable, and Citrine himself
to be hardly likeable. Again, like the pickpocket in Mr Sammler’s Planet, the criminal Cantabile was for me the most
interesting character in the story (and whenever he is around the book becomes
immediately more interesting).
Or maybe I’m just overcritical because I don’t like how rich
Citrine is and I got upset thinking that in the end everything worked out and
that Humboldt really did leave him a great gift.
