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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
omg this is so sad. this book is so straight forward but then there are these lines that just stick out in their beauty
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
there was a lot to this book, we really just followed the intertwined lives of an author and her maid but their relationship was so complicated. i thought it was oddly pretty though and there’s something nice about the good in people that we don’t typically see
For a book that is only 260-something pages, wow does it go by slow. While I think I somewhat enjoyed this book, i also don’t think I will revisit it or think about it much again. I found all the character irritating and impossible to understand. Emerence seems to act in the opposite way anyone would expect someone to act. She is hardheaded, purposefully infuriating, and mean. She is also strictly moral and universally equal in her treatment of others. I don’t think i could stand her. The narrator (who i think is a stand in for the author) irritates me as well. She is a pushover, meek, often vengeful, complaining, and i do not understand her life. She is a writer but what is she writing? Writing about? She wins an award out of seemingly nowhere. I feel similarly about her husband except for much of the book he talks about how they need help around the house as it is not feasible for Magda to write, cook, clean, shop, do laundry, etc. He doesn’t have some crazy award so why isn’t he contributing to some of that? Anyways I, like Emerence, found their relationship odd. The focus of the book is def Emerence and Magdas relationship, but so odd to me a married couple, over the course of 20+ years, would never share a tender moment. I think Emerence and Magda were clearly doomed from the start, but I did find their maddening attempts to be understood and understand the other a little sweet (or at least amusing). I constantly had the sense, while reading this, that there was some vital context I was missing. I’m not familiar with life or politics in Hungary at this time, or eastern europe broadly, and it felt like there was something there that could’ve offered me more insight. I did enjoy the ending and final chapters. It felt like a slight from the grave that all of the inheritance crumbled to dust in Magda’s hands. And I did enjoy the full circle ending, the repeated dream, the constant presence of Magda’s guilt and impossible choice
1.5-2 stars!
Even though it is only 262 pages long, The Door was a struggle to finish. The purpose of the novel is to examine the relationship between elderly Emerence and our narrator Magda, neither of whom are especially likable (or relatable) characters. Their constant arguing felt childish and many of Emerence’s views seemed contrary simply for the purpose of being contrary. Emerence’s perspectives are often absolutely outlandish, but the book presents them as “wisdom”. Even though some segments of the book are intense and mysterious, most did not seem to add value. As a novel published in Hungarian it is possible that some of the positives are lost in the translation, but regardless of this I would not recommend this book to a friend.
Even though it is only 262 pages long, The Door was a struggle to finish. The purpose of the novel is to examine the relationship between elderly Emerence and our narrator Magda, neither of whom are especially likable (or relatable) characters. Their constant arguing felt childish and many of Emerence’s views seemed contrary simply for the purpose of being contrary. Emerence’s perspectives are often absolutely outlandish, but the book presents them as “wisdom”. Even though some segments of the book are intense and mysterious, most did not seem to add value. As a novel published in Hungarian it is possible that some of the positives are lost in the translation, but regardless of this I would not recommend this book to a friend.
Absolutely brilliant. A book of enormous compassion and depth. Who would have thought the story of the relationship between a writer and her cleaning lady could hold such symbolism and allusion. This is a book exploring the effects of loneliness, age, politics, our desire (and perhaps inability) to love fully, loyalty and betrayal. The simple prose creates tension between the language and the complexity of the personalities and their relationships. And, as an added bonus, the translation is terrific, so much so that it doesn't feel like a translation at all. I'm often put off by works in translation, feeling that I'm reading through a scrim, but not here. I have no criticisms. Highly recommended.
An interesting story of the intertwining lives of two very different women and the power they exercise over each other. One is a young woman, becoming famous in Hungary as a writer. The other is an older housekeeper who is a tireless worker and who takes care of the writer's home, but also the writer at times. They develop a deep friendship that is often antagonistic, yet they understand each other in their bones. There is an interesting dog they share in a way and it is part of the power struggle between them. It was also interesting to hear about life in post-war Hungary, and with the mementos of memory and behavior the war and the Holocaust left behind. It was an enjoyable read, and also nice to read something a little different. It begins with a great hook, with the writer claiming she caused the death of the older friend....
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes