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siria's review against another edition
2.0
The Book of the Fathers is a sweeping tale of the male line of a single Hungarian family, the Csillags, across twelve generations and some three hundred years. Of mixed Jewish and Christian ancestry, the story of these twelve men—linked by the ability which most of them have to remember the experiences, skills and talents of their ancestors—becomes the story of Hungary in microcosm.
It's readable, but I didn't love this novel. Vámos ties himself in to a structure of 12 chapters, each one corresponding to a sign of the zodiac and each one linked to a particular main character. As a conceit this is fine, but once you bring in each main character's partner, other children, siblings, etc, this is a huge cast of characters to deal with and none of them really came to life on the page. There's no emotional spark here, and (shockingly, I know, given the title of this book) Vámos has forgotten Abigail Adams' famous exhortation to "remember the ladies." Women are given short shrift here, and that's not something I particularly care for in my fiction.
Nor did I feel that the prose was all that good—though, as this is a novel originally written in Hungarian, I can't necessarily lay the blame for that at Vámos' feet. Ultimately, for me, a good idea let down by poor execution.
It's readable, but I didn't love this novel. Vámos ties himself in to a structure of 12 chapters, each one corresponding to a sign of the zodiac and each one linked to a particular main character. As a conceit this is fine, but once you bring in each main character's partner, other children, siblings, etc, this is a huge cast of characters to deal with and none of them really came to life on the page. There's no emotional spark here, and (shockingly, I know, given the title of this book) Vámos has forgotten Abigail Adams' famous exhortation to "remember the ladies." Women are given short shrift here, and that's not something I particularly care for in my fiction.
Nor did I feel that the prose was all that good—though, as this is a novel originally written in Hungarian, I can't necessarily lay the blame for that at Vámos' feet. Ultimately, for me, a good idea let down by poor execution.
cinnamon82's review against another edition
This was such a chore to read. Not my sort of thing at all. Pity, because the blurb made it seem so promising.
librarianonparade's review against another edition
4.0
This about twelve generations in the Csillag family through 300 years of Hungarian history. I don't even know what prompted me to pick it up, but I'm glad I did. I found it fascinating reading, about a country and a time I know so little of. I have to admit, the blurb on the back cover isn't really all that accurate about what the book's actually about, but I didn't mind in the slightest.
literallyelza's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
nigelbrown's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 An interesting and touchingly human novel about the serendipitous nature of life.
It is described in the blurb as Kornel Csillig’s fortunes on inheriting a timepiece and his descendants fortunes, being able to predict various future events.
You would think this would make it tale of success and familial happiness, it is, in fact, a depressing story of catastrophic marriages, death and disaster.
The two most gratifying aspects you come away with, having read this, are, firstly, what an incredibly tough history Hungary has had, especially the peasants and the jewish community, and secondly how wonderfully precious and indeed, equal our ancestry is. My own children’s blood is a melting pot of at least four nationalities, not to mention around six vastly divided areas of England, and that’s only four generations worth.
It is luxuriously written, superbly translated or, most likely, both
My only criticism, and this could be attributed to my poor concentration levels , is that it can sometimes be a little confusing each time the baton is passed on.
It is described in the blurb as Kornel Csillig’s fortunes on inheriting a timepiece and his descendants fortunes, being able to predict various future events.
You would think this would make it tale of success and familial happiness, it is, in fact, a depressing story of catastrophic marriages, death and disaster.
The two most gratifying aspects you come away with, having read this, are, firstly, what an incredibly tough history Hungary has had, especially the peasants and the jewish community, and secondly how wonderfully precious and indeed, equal our ancestry is. My own children’s blood is a melting pot of at least four nationalities, not to mention around six vastly divided areas of England, and that’s only four generations worth.
It is luxuriously written, superbly translated or, most likely, both
My only criticism, and this could be attributed to my poor concentration levels , is that it can sometimes be a little confusing each time the baton is passed on.
dreesreads's review against another edition
4.0
This novel tells the stories of 12 first-born sons of the fictional Hungarian Csillag/Stern family. Vamos covers 300 years of Hungarian history--from an 18th century eclipse to the 1999 eclipse. There is an 8-page author's note at the end--that I wish was at the beginning!-- in which Vamos explains how this book began as his attempt to write ab out his father's family. He did not know much, so his father and grandfather's lives became the basis for 2 of the 20th century characters, and he rest is fiction based in history. Astrology plays a roll (there's a reason there are 12 generations), as does the history and development of the Hungarian language (which is not so obvious in the translations).
The story starts with young Kornel Csillag, born 1702, who returns to Hungary with his mother and grandfather, who had fled a war. They settle, but the war is not over and their town is destroyed and nearly everyone killed. Kornel survives, and begins The Book of Fathers. A watch he finds gives each eldest son the gift of sight through his ancestors, and sometimes future visions as well. Through the generations they expand and add volumes to the book, and each man feels like he truly knew the previous generations.
This book is nearly 500 pages, but is both fun and fascinating to read. As boys/men find their talents, the wives they knew were coming, and speak languages they know because their ancestors did. They also find their fates, which their vague visions of the future left them confused about. It is clever and interesting, and is packed full of Hungarian history of the common people.
Vamos is a very well-known author in Hungary and has taught at Yale. He has many other works that I will look out for.
The story starts with young Kornel Csillag, born 1702, who returns to Hungary with his mother and grandfather, who had fled a war. They settle, but the war is not over and their town is destroyed and nearly everyone killed. Kornel survives, and begins The Book of Fathers. A watch he finds gives each eldest son the gift of sight through his ancestors, and sometimes future visions as well. Through the generations they expand and add volumes to the book, and each man feels like he truly knew the previous generations.
This book is nearly 500 pages, but is both fun and fascinating to read. As boys/men find their talents, the wives they knew were coming, and speak languages they know because their ancestors did. They also find their fates, which their vague visions of the future left them confused about. It is clever and interesting, and is packed full of Hungarian history of the common people.
Vamos is a very well-known author in Hungary and has taught at Yale. He has many other works that I will look out for.
librarianonparade's review against another edition
4.0
This about twelve generations in the Csillag family through 300 years of Hungarian history. I don't even know what prompted me to pick it up, but I'm glad I did. I found it fascinating reading, about a country and a time I know so little of. I have to admit, the blurb on the back cover isn't really all that accurate about what the book's actually about, but I didn't mind in the slightest.
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