May 2016 Recap

An earlier translation with illustrations. I want one! Only available from 'these' sellers priced from $335.99 up to $17,436.12. Not kidding. Nate would notice that on the Visa.

Dear Bookclub,
Another day-in-paradise-lunch-on-the-Veranda kept us from delving too deeply into the grimy nooks and crannies of "The Door". Provoking a variety of reactions, the read transported us as readers to a  new territory of communication, understanding and diversity just beyond the shadows of the horrors of Hungary's past. Strangely refreshing, not unanimously liked, the fairytale (Grimm's) quality piquing the imagination of the cinematic possibilities, Szabo's story dense with Emerence as epic, stirred more questions than certainty. That is the both magnetism and repulsion.

The reference about the cosmonaut that I could not recall (Gagarin) was just one example of the bitter views spewed by Emerence; hard to discuss because the admiration for her generous contributions to her circle loomed large in our memories. What a trick! And I meant to ask, what exactly is a christening bowl? The obvious does not seem to fit its use as a vessel for all that food. Hmmm...so many little wonders. Please tell me your ideas.

TG, your wonder about 'the prize' in the book must be autobiographical as you guessed (from Amazon blurb):
Magda Szabo was born in 1917 in Debrecen, Hungary. She began her literary career as a poet. In the 1950s she disappeared from the publishing scene for political reasons and made her living by teaching and translating from French and English. She began writing novels, and in 1978 was awarded the Kossuth Prize, the most prestigious literary award in Hungary. Magda Szabo died in 2007. 


Finally, the empathy evoked by so many of the characters, (remember the Lieutenant Colonel?) has left a little print on my heart which is how I want to remember this little gem.

I erred in posting the link to the trailer for "The Door" in the previous post - now corrected and here it is again:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU5fgaWhfqQ

Back to our bubble.. Celebrating Val who defies the definition of defying an 'age'. What a treasure in our midst!

Terrie recommended four fantastic books for the upcoming Septmeber selection:

Ivan Doig  "Last Bus to Wisdom"
Curtis Sittenfeld  "Eligible"
Helen Simonson "The Summer Before the War"
Annie Proulx "Barkskins" *chosen

Enlightenment from Trudy about an app for movie management (new to me!): GoWatchIt

https://gowatchit.com/home

Please sign up to request "The Door" and perhaps our nudging will make it available.

Happy reading,
LK