Take half a dozen or so main characters, and a dozen more supporting ones, from diverse walks of life: race, economic sector; historical decade, century, and continent. Weave their separate beginnings into each person's own story. Then tie them all together. All I can add here without giving anything away is my own opinion: I love a well-orchestrated convergence of Jewish and African-American backgrounds. THE STREET SWEEPER is multi-character, multi-threaded saga that combines academia, civil rights, the US justice system, and the Holocaust into one coherent story by the end. It starts with Lamont Williams, a black probationary janitor at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Hospital. Recently released from prison, he is trying to get his life back in order and find his now eight-year-old daughter. There he meets and befriends Henryk Mandelbrot, a cancer patient who was a survivor of Auschwitz. Mandelbrot is determined to tell Williams his story, insisting that Williams remember every detail. A second thread is about Adam Zignelik, son of a well-known civil rights activist and untenured faculty member in the History Department of Columbia University. Since he has not published anything worthwhile, he is about to lose his job. William McCray, the father of a friend of his as well as head of the History Department, is a World War II veteran. He is trying to prove that black US soldiers liberated Dachau concentration camp. As Adam becomes interested in the subject, he discovers a treasure trove of personal interviews conducted with some of the survivors in Displaced Persons Camps right after the war. They were conducted by a psychologist, Henry Border and were possibly the first oral histories ever conducted. They were recorded on a newly invented magnetic coil process. The book alternates between the present and the years before and during the Holocaust depending on what is being said or revealed. It works fairly well, though there is much too much repetition, including minor details. We learn a lot about the main characters and how they react to changing situations. Much of the dialogue is in the form of lectures rather than conversations. THE STREET SWEEPER provides more detail about life in the camp, especially with how people were sent to the gas chambers and what happened to the bodies afterwards, than most other books. It also talks about an attempt by prisoners to damage the structures. In addition, there is some important dialogue about the way the US Supreme Court has overturned Brown vs The Board of Education, a case that involved some of the characters or their family members. The book is worth reading and does offer much insight. Many of the characters are based on real people and real events. They are listed at the end. I just wish there wasn’t so much repetition.
What do You think about Wat Nooit Is Verteld (2011)?
I may try this one again, but I put it down. Just...couldn't... It was poorly edited or something.
—peanutbutterisyummy
The history is excellent. But it was hard slogging through all the sub stories. I lost interest.
—elixire
Outstanding but hectic. Bit relieved it's finished.
—vishay
