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A Guide for the Perplexed
New Year's Eve. Almost 1992. Two very different women have come to Spain for two very different reasons. Holland, a six-foot British beauty, has collected her considerable forces to film a documentary about an elusive violin virtuoso who has cloistered himself in a Moorish villa high above the Mediterranean. Sixty-five-year-old Hanni has flown in from Miami Beach in search of a wayward ancient family document of major historical significance.
They have nothing in common except a travel agent. Stranded by a wildcat airport strike, Hanni and Holland wander in search of this man, through the night time streets of magical, mystical Mariposa, from bar to beach, from flamenco hall to bordello. Slowly they discover that they are connected by a strange web of history and happenstance--a common labyrinth that stretches back to World War II, the Spanish Inquisition, and beyond.
A Guide for the Perplexed is a collection of the letters these women write to their mysterious, unseen travel agent--a long night' worth of confessions, a tapestry of tales chasing tales, including an untold saga of Columbus's voyage to the New World, stories of war and lost loves, lost children, lost Jews, and the true origins of baseball.
Hardcover
First published June 16, 1992
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About the author
Jonathan Levi
17 books18 followersMúsico, periodista, escritor y productor. Es cofundador de una de las revistas literarias más reconocidas de Norteamérica: Granta. Ha publicado artículos y reseñas de libros en grandes publicaciones como The New York Times y Los Angeles Times. Ha trabajado escrito y dirigido obras de teatro y óperas. También trabajó con The Metropolitan Opera Guild y el Kennedy Center. «Septimania» es su regreso a la literatura después de un poco más de veinte años.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 31, 2013
I have this tick; If I read so much as a word beyond the title; I have to finish the book. Well, I got sucked into this and well, ten full years later, I finally finished it. Much to my chagrin I was left more perplexed than enlightened; more drained than fulfilled. It alludes more greatness than it occasions. #nonplussed
November 10, 2013
This was not a "fun" book to read. It was extraordinarily complicated and weird. The title replicates the title of a book in the book, a travel guide purportedly written by a travel agent used by two women who are stranded in a tiny Spanish airport when the entire airport staff goes on strike. But that's just the first 30 pages or so.
The book is really about violin music (the kind that comes from the soul, not from learning), the Expulsion of Spanish Jews in 1492, Columbus, the Moors in Spain, Maimonides, World War II, travel and movement as metaphor for life. Oh, and the origin of baseball. Did I mention Led Zeppelin and flamenco music? Yes, and just about anything else you'd like to toss into this crazy salad of music and history and biography.
It made me crazy to read this, but I had to finish it to find out where we were going. It helps to know history. It helps to know a bit of Torah/Talmud. It helps to be patient. And it helps to understand metaphor.
My favorite imagery is the concept that if one stops moving, one stops living. "Moving" in this instance is the same as travelling. Not in the sense of tourism, but in the sense of taking in what is around you in your life and making it part of your core, the good and the not-so-good, so that the movement changes you to your very deepest, and also your most superficial, level.
I should read it again. There's a lot in there.
The book is really about violin music (the kind that comes from the soul, not from learning), the Expulsion of Spanish Jews in 1492, Columbus, the Moors in Spain, Maimonides, World War II, travel and movement as metaphor for life. Oh, and the origin of baseball. Did I mention Led Zeppelin and flamenco music? Yes, and just about anything else you'd like to toss into this crazy salad of music and history and biography.
It made me crazy to read this, but I had to finish it to find out where we were going. It helps to know history. It helps to know a bit of Torah/Talmud. It helps to be patient. And it helps to understand metaphor.
My favorite imagery is the concept that if one stops moving, one stops living. "Moving" in this instance is the same as travelling. Not in the sense of tourism, but in the sense of taking in what is around you in your life and making it part of your core, the good and the not-so-good, so that the movement changes you to your very deepest, and also your most superficial, level.
I should read it again. There's a lot in there.
January 12, 2009
Interesting concept, if somewhat complicated in execution at times, but still a fun read.
September 10, 2017
Ugh. Satchel Paige said "Don't look back" and Jonathan Levi said "Keep moving", only Paige added maybe a half dozen words and Levi added 342 pages.
Call it Postmodern, or magical realism or poppycock, but by what ever name you choose, Levi does write well, he draws interesting characters and drops names from almost every discipline and era known to Wikipedia. One needs a background to keep up. And a huge heap of suspension of disbelief. It is possible to keep the story line straight through the chicane and to defy gravity as the rollercoaster flips over, but the question always with us is "Is it worth it?" For me, just barely.
Call it Postmodern, or magical realism or poppycock, but by what ever name you choose, Levi does write well, he draws interesting characters and drops names from almost every discipline and era known to Wikipedia. One needs a background to keep up. And a huge heap of suspension of disbelief. It is possible to keep the story line straight through the chicane and to defy gravity as the rollercoaster flips over, but the question always with us is "Is it worth it?" For me, just barely.
July 10, 2021
This is one of the few books I’ve given up on and refused to take the time to finish. Not a good read.
November 28, 2021
Honestly... I had a hard time with this... There were so many references I just couldn't understand. I made it to Page 80.
July 28, 2022
Why this book feels so damn confusing
April 6, 2015
When confronting the raucous and unruly throng of diverse talents that are Jonathan Levi, a man who accurately believes himself to be Jonathan Levi, one knows hardly how or where to begin, (only to stay away from his Wikipedia page because it will give you crippling envy.) A Guide for the Perplexed is an expression of these envious and massive endowments and is far more. In the synergies that interact between faith, history, love, geography, music, sex, intellectual depth, and the love of reading and learning and teaching, something emerges that is very unique.
There will be passages you will have to re-read but will do so happily, rooting out the insights and observations that linger behind and above the words. There is so much going on that it is impossible to enumerate here. But one thing that this latter day Maimonides shows that in many ways what seems to be a specific cultural experience is something that is actually a hard shiny gem of the universal. In a way, we are all wandering, whether it be in the desert or in the colorful settings of Spain.
There will be passages you will have to re-read but will do so happily, rooting out the insights and observations that linger behind and above the words. There is so much going on that it is impossible to enumerate here. But one thing that this latter day Maimonides shows that in many ways what seems to be a specific cultural experience is something that is actually a hard shiny gem of the universal. In a way, we are all wandering, whether it be in the desert or in the colorful settings of Spain.
July 23, 2009
Magical realism meets Judaic scholarship meets rock music meets baseball in this novel about three women, each on a quest in Spain through the intervention of a mysterious travel agent. Stranded in an obscure airport in Spain by an airline workers' strike, the three women retreat to a villa and begin to tell stories of their past transformations. The stories spin across three continents and five centuries as the women rediscover themselves, and in the process learn just who the fellow booking their tickets really is.
The book raises interesting questions about identity, family, love, art, and God. I have read it 4 or 5 times and see something new each time.
The book raises interesting questions about identity, family, love, art, and God. I have read it 4 or 5 times and see something new each time.
March 11, 2019
This is challenging but rewarding storytelling, absorbing you in character, place, and different times. I gave both it and Levi’s Septimania five stars because of the way Levi builds scenes and moments out of history, myth, and imagination. His writing stands with the best I know of. There’s always energy on the page, but it’s slow to form and unrushed, the way you want a novel to be.
I do like Septimania more, however, probably because of its plot and naturally because it features the city of Rome. But Levi’s a wonderful writer, like an English language Umberto Eco.
I do like Septimania more, however, probably because of its plot and naturally because it features the city of Rome. But Levi’s a wonderful writer, like an English language Umberto Eco.
June 14, 2012
This book took a while to pick up. The letter format is interesting, but it took us off on tangents and slowed things down.
But, I really enjoyed it once I got into it. Really interesting perspectives on life, different phases of a woman's life, love, religion, family and twists of fate.
Thought provoking, at least for me in the place I was at when I read it.
It even inspired a blog post:
http://thatspoon.wordpress.com/2012/0...
But, I really enjoyed it once I got into it. Really interesting perspectives on life, different phases of a woman's life, love, religion, family and twists of fate.
Thought provoking, at least for me in the place I was at when I read it.
It even inspired a blog post:
http://thatspoon.wordpress.com/2012/0...
July 17, 2014
I have read and re-read this book a number of times. It never fails to capture my attention with its mystery and fantasy. I love some of the off-beat ideas like Kol Nidre melodies connected to flamenco and the origins of baseball in Florida. Mostly, though, I love how a bit of Jewish wisdom inspires a story of generations of searching for meaning and finding it.
March 23, 2010
A fun book but I feel like I need to read it again because half the time I didn't know what was going on! Not an "easy" read but nothing heavy - it's hard to explain! There's a good summary at http://www.enotes.com/guide-for-perpl.... :)
December 18, 2009
Luxuriant prose style but the story felt too obviously contrived and ultimately a bit pointless.
June 22, 2012
I found this book as a potential selection for my book club long ago - it's an odd gem, but still one of my favorites.
June 23, 2013
I still remember it today..even though I read it in the 90's ... a well told story.
September 18, 2017
I'm reviewing this for an association, so I can't post it. HOWEVER, I HIGHLY recommend this book to those of you are fans of medieval/Sephardic Jewish history. HOLLA!!!!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews