Rooms for Vanishing

by Stuart Nadler
Rooms for Vanishing cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Literary Fiction
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  • ID: 3646
  • Added: 2025-10-18
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9780593475461
  • Publisher: Penguin Group
  • Published: 2025-03-18
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Rooms for Vanishing is a prismatic novel that explores the haunting consequences of war and loss on the Altermans, a Jewish family from Vienna. The family is splintered into different futures, each member isolated in their own reality, haunted by the ghosts of their past and the certainty that they are the last of their kind. The novel weaves across decades and continents, revealing the profound impact of grief and the fleeting reality of ghosts in the face of profound loss. The story follows Sonja, Fania, Moses, and Arnold as they navigate their separate lives, each confronted with eerie encounters and the possibility of reconnection. From Sonja's search for her missing husband in London to Arnold's hopeful message from an Englishwoman claiming to be his long-lost daughter, the novel delves into the complexities of memory, identity, and the human spirit's resilience in the face of unimaginable sorrow.

Reviews
Raindrop Reflections · 2025-10-18
heartbreaking 4.00

The novel is a poignant exploration of a family grappling with the weight of Holocaust trauma across time and space.

The reviewer finds 'Rooms for Vanishing' to be a deeply moving and poignant exploration of a family's struggle with the legacy of the Holocaust. They appreciate how the novel spans different eras and locations, weaving a complex tapestry of trauma and resilience. The reviewer is particularly struck by the emotional depth and the way the novel portrays the characters' journeys. They find the narrative both heartbreaking and beautifully crafted, offering a powerful meditation on memory and healing.

Quick quotes

    Stuart Nadler's 'Rooms for Vanishing' is a poignant exploration of a fragmented family grappling with the weight of Holocaust trauma across time and space.

    The novel's emotional depth and the way it portrays the characters' journeys are both heartbreaking and beautifully crafted.

    The narrative offers a powerful meditation on memory and healing, making it a standout in historical fiction.

Historical Novel Society · 2025-10-18
harrowing 4.50

The prose is both beautifully written and deeply painful, highlighting the characters' isolation through vivid imagery.

The reviewer is struck by the exquisite yet painful prose of 'Rooms for Vanishing.' They appreciate how the novel uses the imagery of separate rooms and walls to illustrate the profound isolation of its characters. The emotional depth and lyrical quality of the writing make it a standout, even as it grapples with heavy themes. They find the novel's exploration of family and trauma to be both poignant and unforgettable.

Quick quotes

    Nadler's prose is exquisitely beautiful at the same time it is exquisitely painful.

    Separate rooms and walls illustrate the characters' isolation while also reflecting their yearning for connection.

    The novel's exploration of trauma and its lingering effects is both heartrending and masterfully crafted.

The New York Times · 2025-09-02
compelling 4.20

The novel follows the lives of a family across decades and continents, searching for one another in the long shadow of the past.

The reviewer notes that 'Rooms for Vanishing' is a sweeping family epic that spans decades and continents, following the lives of the Alterman family as they navigate the long shadow of the past. They appreciate the novel's ambitious scope and the way it delves into themes of identity, memory, and the enduring impact of historical trauma. The reviewer finds the narrative both compelling and emotionally resonant, highlighting the author's skill in weaving together multiple timelines and perspectives. They commend the novel for its richly drawn characters and its exploration of the complexities of family and heritage.

Quick quotes

    “Rooms for Vanishing” follows the lives of Fania, Arnold, Sonja and Moses Alterman across decades and oceans as they search for one another in the long shadow of the past.

    The novel's ambitious scope and its exploration of identity, memory, and historical trauma make it a standout in contemporary fiction.

    Nadler's skill in weaving together multiple timelines and perspectives is evident throughout, creating a richly drawn and emotionally resonant narrative.

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