Every time I read something by Howard Jacobson I am intrigued. The books I´ve read by now, among which The Finkler Question, do display an extraordinary storytelling strength - although expressed sometimes through quite unnatural wordings - with an unique humorous effect. To be honest, I cannot name any other writer right now who can unchain so much laugh on my side.
Live a Little, my latest read by Jacobson is a story about love in old age. Actually, very old age, as the two main protagonists of the story, Shimi Carmelli and Beryl Dusinbery, are well over 90. One - she - married several times - and fighting hard against forgetfulness. He - Shimi - never married before, with a heavy weight of regrets from becoming estranged from his brother. Around Shimi, the buzz of desire uttered by a cast of widows from North London. Shortly, a bunch of very much alive old people with desires and interests as every other young person on earth. Love and being alive does not have a term of availability.
The characters are mostly Jewish, but the kind of ´enlightened´ Jewish approch to life that one can find in London, although co-existing with traditional forms. ´Enlightened´ means that there are not too many identity markers except being born from one or both Jewish parents.
It is a kind story, that makes the old age more relatable and less frightening. There is no age limit for falling in love, and love somes every shapes and at every moment. Also, being a widow(er) or over 60, or even 90, does not stop someone from being alive. It is an important take on life that needs to be outlined more often, as it makes life itself more liveable.
Jacobson remains an important storytelling voice of contemporary British literature and I make a mention for myself to explore more of his books in the coming months. Be it only for trying to replicate the never ending laughter I experienced in Live a Little.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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