The Book of Fathers

The only period of Hungarian history that I'm familiar with is the Holocaust period which saw the slaughter of Hungarian Jews, so this book was quite an interesting read as it fills in the gaps in my knowledge of Hungarian history (though it is historical fiction there is enough historical details provided to give a sense of place and events). I have read a few works by Hungarian authors, most...more

The only period of Hungarian history that I'm familiar with is the Holocaust period which saw the slaughter of Hungarian Jews, so this book was quite an interesting read as it fills in the gaps in my knowledge of Hungarian history (though it is historical fiction there is enough historical details provided to give a sense of place and events). I have read a few works by Hungarian authors, most notable being Nobel Prize winner Imre Kertesz's Fatelessness, an unforgettable story about a young boy's experiences in the concentration camp during WW II. There's also this movie Sunshine which explores the story of three generations of a Jewish-Hungarian family, which was brought to mind as I read this book (the theme of life continuing and evolving). Miklos Vamos, the author of "The Book of Fathers" weaves a compelling narrative centered around the fortunes and misfortunes of the Csillag family (the name changes back and forth but the bonds of shared heritage remain) through a couple of generations (spanning 300 years), and as viewed through the eyes of the sons of the family, who through 12 generations share their memories in the Book of Fathers, and seem blessed with special powers, ranging from the gift of "sight" to prowess at card-playing, music, etc..It makes for fascinating reading - peopled with a host of interesting characters that make you want to read on if only to discover how the son of the next generation will fare. The theme of the inevitable cycle of life, with its share of triumphs and tragedies, is well-portrayed. In each generation, the idea that there is something worth seeking, whatever it may be, is credibly evoked, yet in no way does it belittle the story of the previous generation or the ones coming after. I look forward to reading more by this author.   hide