Blooms of Darkness: A Novel**WINNER OF THE 2012 INDEPENDENT FOREIGN FICTION PRIZE** A new novel from the award-winning, internationally acclaimed Israeli writer (“One of the greatest writers of the age”—The Guardian), a haunting, heartbreaking story of love and loss. The ghetto in which the Jews have been confined is being liquidated by the Nazis, and eleven-year-old Hugo is brought by his mother to the local brothel, where one of the prostitutes has agreed to hide him. Mariana is a bitterly unhappy woman who hates what she has done to her life, and night after night Hugo sits in her closet and listens uncomprehendingly as she rages at the Nazi soldiers who come and go. When she’s not mired in self-loathing, Mariana is fiercely protective of the bewildered, painfully polite young boy. And Hugo becomes protective of Mariana, too, trying to make her laugh when she is depressed, soothing her physical and mental agony with cold compresses. As the memories of his family and friends grow dim, Hugo falls in love with Mariana. And as her life spirals downward, Mariana reaches out for consolation to the adoring boy who is on the cusp of manhood. The arrival of the Russian army sends the prostitutes fleeing. But Mariana is too well known, and she is arrested as a Nazi collaborator for having slept with the Germans. As the novel moves toward its heartrending conclusion, Aharon Appelfeld once again crafts out of the depths of unfathomable tragedy a renewal of life and a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. |
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accordion afraid Anna answer appears beautiful bottle brandy brassiere bring certain smile chess closet door cold darkness darling doorway dreams drink drunk everything eyes face father fear forget friends German give guard guests hands hard heard heart hiding Hugo asks Hugo feels Hugo hears Hugo knows Hugo says Hugo sits Hugo takes Hugo wants Hugo's mother hugs imagine immediately Jews Jules Verne keep kisses Kitty knapsack laugh leave listen look Madam Mama Mariana says Mariana's room meatballs morning mouth Nasha night notebook once Otto Papa parents peasant pray promise refugees remember Russians sandwiches says Mariana secret seems to Hugo shouts silence silk stockings sleep smile Sofia soldiers sometimes soul soup speaks stands stop strange Suddenly suitcase talk tell tences thank There's things thought tries Ukrainian Uncle Sigmund understand Victoria voice walk watch What's woman women words