The AssistantThe Assistant
Score Classic
What it's about
Morris Bober is a poor, honest Jewish grocer in Brooklyn whose store barely survives. After two men rob him and hit him over the head, a drifter named Frank Alpine shows up and begs to work for him. Frank was one of the robbers, and guilt-ridden, he works long hours for almost nothing, falls in love with Morris's daughter Helen, and struggles to become a better man.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best novels. It's Malamud's most beloved book, a quiet, moving story of suffering and redemption.
You'll love it if you liked
The Fixer
The Chosen
A Tree Grows in BrooklynGood to know
It's sad and austere. There's a sexual assault.
By the numbers
- Readers26 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller2 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Bernard Malamud
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Quick answers
Is The Assistant worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the 100 best novels. It ranks #2,015 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Assistant about?
Morris Bober is a poor, honest Jewish grocer in Brooklyn whose store barely survives. After two men rob him and hit him over the head, a drifter named Frank Alpine shows up and begs to work for him. Frank was one of the robbers, and guilt-ridden, he works long hours for almost nothing, falls in love with Morris's daughter Helen, and struggles to become a better man.
How long does it take to read The Assistant?
About 6 hours (246 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Assistant?
If you liked it, try The Fixer by Bernard Malamud, The Chosen by Chaim Potok or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.