The Ministry of Special Cases

Brace yourself for heartbreak: The Ministry of Special Cases is a harrowing fictional story set in a disturbingly real historical time. The novel takes place in Buenos Aires in the 1970s, the time when disappear became a transitive verb describing the government’s frequent kidnappings of civilians. Kaddish Poznan, the bastard child of a Jewish prostitute, lives with his wife, Lillian, and their 19-year-old son, Pato. While Lillian’s tender affection for her only child is palpable, Kaddish’s relationship with him is a turbulent one (the two exchange accusations of “hijo de puta!” and “hijo de hijo de puta!” with comical regularity).

Despite Lillian’s best efforts to protect Pato (she fortifies the apartment with an absurdly heavy steel door and monitors his comings and goings as best she can), he is snatched by four men right from under Kaddish’s nose. The frantic search that ensues tears the Poznans’ lives apart and drives home the spine-tingling helplessness that results from trying to reason with a terrorist government.

Englander’s novel has hints of magical realism (we find the characters in a variety of absurd situations, such as their willing receipt of unnecessary nose jobs from a broke surgeon who owes Kaddish money), but most of the story is so convincingly told that it’s hard to imagine that Englander hasn’t weathered political persecution himself. Despite its grim plot, the book is a pleasure to read: While revealing the nightmare of being threatened by your own government, The Ministry of Special Cases also powerfully conveys the strength of familial love. — Kate Lowenstein

Englander reads Wed 25.