I am very conflicted about this book. I am a big fan of historical fiction, especially when I learn something while being entertained. As someone who has read a lot of Holocaust books, I now will only read one if I know it is a story I am totally unfamiliar with, something newly discovered, or at least new to me. Otherwise, I feel I am rereading the same book. I read this book without knowing what it was about, no dust cover! To me it felt like the author had come upon some fascinating information, lost to history, about the first documentation of Holocaust survivors (before they were labelled as such) and rather than write a non-fiction accounting of the find he wanted to bring the information to a wider audience through fiction. Then he added another story about the lawyers who worked on the civil rights case desegregating schools. Then he added two college professors, children of these civil rights lawyers, and their present day issues. Then he threw in a newly released convict trying to make it through a probationary period working in a New York hospital. Then while working he helps an old man to his room and the man insists he return each day and listen to his life story. And his life story happens to be an incredible Holocaust story! And then there is more... To me it was just too much, too convoluted, too contrived, too many unnecessary characters and their plot lines, many of which were left unresolved, some of which tied up too neatly. There is a point when some of the characters lives/stories intersect and the final chapters move well, but I would have preferred the book to have been streamlined with far fewer story lines.Nonetheless, there is some truly fascinating, important information here, well worth the reading - it just could have been, in my opinion, two separate books This was a fantastic book. I found it difficult to get into and even put it down to read another book, but once I was hooked, I could not put it down.Lamont Williams, a black ex convict is given a job on probation at Sloan Kettering memorial hospital. He befriends a patient, an elderly Jewish man who relates an oral history of the holocaust and his experiences in Auschwitz. The story links to some accidental research being undertaken by an Australian Jewish historian, Adam Zignelik. Set in NY, Melbourne and Europe the book entwines the holocaust with issues of Afro Americans and civil rights movement.
What do You think about The Street Sweeper (2011)?
Wonderfully written and important to read. These stories must continue to be told.
—prettygirlswag
difficult book to get into. Not enjoying it and will not finish it.
—valeriavjh
Excellent storytelling . Powerful lessons in History and humanity.
—Raven
Tell everyone what happened here. Tell everyone to read this book
—Chyde158
