The Puttermesser Papers by Cynthia Ozick
This story is wildly imaginative and highly lyrical. I found the prose to be enthralling, and the main character Ruth Puttermesser is at once sympathetic and frustrating, lovable and annoying - yet, always contemplative and deep. Set in New York City, this novel tells the tale of an aging woman who works for a government agency, becomes the mayor, creates a golem, is obsessed with George Elliot, has a Russian cousin who comes to visit, and ultimately offers insight into what Paradise is. The ending stretches the limits of narrative and challenges notions of point-of-view consistency in order to provide a reflection on life and death that is profound and critical.
A finalist for the National Book Award, this novel is a powerful, unique, at times fantastical character portrait.
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