And the Word Was: A Novel

by Bruce Bauman

"A magnificent debut, smart and intense, but accessible and riveting…simply a great novel."— Booklist (starred review)

When the tragic death of his son compels Dr. Neil Downs to flee New York City for India, he takes a job as the resident physician at the American Embassy, where he is introduced to the paradoxes of Indian social and political life. Unable to mourn, and angry about a betrayal by his wife, Sarah, Neil seeks philosophical refuge in the writings of Levi Furstenblum, whose work grapples with the nature of language and god after the Holocaust. As Neil experiences the interplay between the external and internal, foreign and domestic, the promises of faith and the ineluctability of evil, he slowly unravels the lies and misrepresentations that had woven the texture of his life.

360 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2005

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Lizzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was oddly poignant at times, and at other times fell flat. Sometimes I wanted to strangle the narrator and other times I wanted to sit with him near a fire and a good bottle of red wine. It's worth a read if you're a teeny bit curious about one man's perspective on the intersection between Judaism and Hinduism, India and America, and sexuality and love.

[Tyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably a 3.5 star book. I found it to be a very compelling read but somewhere I got lost in all of India related intrigue. It seemed like the book couldn't decide exactly what it was trying to be, a story about getting over loss or a book about the inner dealings and intrigues of the Indian family. This could definetly be a book club book though since there is a lot to discuss.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book furthered my fascination with India and had amazing thought-provoking moments.
'What is needed is not hope for what you can have, but what you can give, for what is beyond measure, not beyond life.'

[Andru · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the narrative voice is full of bite and bile, the book ultimately falls apart, especially at the end.