What do you think?
Rate this book
Op. Non. Cit.
A collection of four novellas, each with the theme of the Jew in the non-Jewish world. They move in time through the last four centuries and in space from east to west, sharing a blend of comedy and tragedy.
- GenresFictionShort Stories
215 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1997
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 1, 2024
One of the best books I’ve read in my life so far and my favorite of this year. I’ve found this book in a second hand shop for 1€ and bought all other books of him right afterwards.
*Op Non Cit* by Alan Isler is a profoundly moving and intellectually engaging novel that explores the complexities of identity, memory, and the haunting legacy of the Holocaust. From the perspective of a Jewish reader, the novel resonates deeply with the enduring struggle to reconcile the past with the present, to find meaning in a world irrevocably scarred by unimaginable loss.
Isler masterfully weaves a narrative that is both erudite and accessible, using wit and dark humor to navigate the weighty themes of survival, guilt, and the search for redemption. The protagonist, a Jewish academic, is a compelling figure who grapples with his own sense of displacement, both culturally and spiritually. The novel’s exploration of Jewish identity is nuanced and thoughtful, touching on the ways in which history shapes and sometimes distorts self-perception.
What makes *Op Non Cit* particularly powerful is its refusal to offer easy answers. Instead, it invites readers to engage in a dialogue about the nature of memory and the moral imperatives of remembering. The novel challenges us to consider how we carry the past within us, and how we can honor it without being consumed by it. It is a testament to Isler's skill as a writer that he can handle such difficult material with both sensitivity and insight.
It is not just a novel about the Jewish experience—it is a universal meditation on the human condition, on loss, and on the possibility of finding meaning amidst the ruins. It is a work that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page, prompting reflection and, perhaps, a deeper understanding of the intricate tapestry of history and identity.
*Op Non Cit* by Alan Isler is a profoundly moving and intellectually engaging novel that explores the complexities of identity, memory, and the haunting legacy of the Holocaust. From the perspective of a Jewish reader, the novel resonates deeply with the enduring struggle to reconcile the past with the present, to find meaning in a world irrevocably scarred by unimaginable loss.
Isler masterfully weaves a narrative that is both erudite and accessible, using wit and dark humor to navigate the weighty themes of survival, guilt, and the search for redemption. The protagonist, a Jewish academic, is a compelling figure who grapples with his own sense of displacement, both culturally and spiritually. The novel’s exploration of Jewish identity is nuanced and thoughtful, touching on the ways in which history shapes and sometimes distorts self-perception.
What makes *Op Non Cit* particularly powerful is its refusal to offer easy answers. Instead, it invites readers to engage in a dialogue about the nature of memory and the moral imperatives of remembering. The novel challenges us to consider how we carry the past within us, and how we can honor it without being consumed by it. It is a testament to Isler's skill as a writer that he can handle such difficult material with both sensitivity and insight.
It is not just a novel about the Jewish experience—it is a universal meditation on the human condition, on loss, and on the possibility of finding meaning amidst the ruins. It is a work that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page, prompting reflection and, perhaps, a deeper understanding of the intricate tapestry of history and identity.
November 24, 2017
Vier Novellen, davon Der Bacon-Liebhaber richtig gut.
April 7, 2013
Vier Geschichten, in den Juden im Mittelpunkt stehen - nicht sehr gläubig, mehr oder weniger erfolgreich und von ihrer Umwelt nicht sehr geachtet. Die Geschichten sind chronologisch geordnet und - obwohl für sich stehend - durch die Orte miteinander verbunden: Das Ghetto in Venedig, eine englische Kleinstadt, ein Passagierschiff, New York.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews