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The Door
A busy young writer struggling to cope with domestic chores, hires a housekeeper recommended by a friend. The housekeeper's reputation is one built on dependable efficiency, though she is something of an oddity. Stubborn, foul-mouthed and with a flagrant disregard for her employer's opinions she may even be crazy. She allows no-one to set foot inside her house; she masks herself with a veil and is equally guarded about her personal life. And yet Emerence is revered as much as she is feared. As the story progresses her energy and passion to help becomes clear, extinguishing any doubts arising out of her bizarre behaviour. A stylishly told tale which recounts a strange relationship built up over 20 years between a writer and her housekeeper. After an unpromising and caustic start benign feelings develop and ultimately the writer benefits from what becomes an inseparable relationship. Simultaneously we learn Emerence's tragic past which is revealed in snapshots throughout the book.
262 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
1,993 people are currently reading
56.5k people want to read
About the author
Magda Szab贸
78听books1,031听followersMagda Szab贸 was a Hungarian writer, arguably Hungary's foremost female novelist. She also wrote dramas, essays, studies, memories and poetry.
Born in Debrecen, Szab贸 graduated at the University of Debrecen as a teacher of Latin and of Hungarian. She started working as a teacher in a Calvinist all-girl school in Debrecen and H贸dmez艖v谩s谩rhely. Between 1945 and 1949 she was working in the Ministry of Religion and Education. She married the writer and translator Tibor Szobotka in 1947.
She began her writing career as a poet, publishing her first book 叠谩谤谩苍测 ("Lamb") in 1947, which was followed by Vissza az emberig ("Back to the Human") in 1949. In 1949 she was awarded the Baumgarten Prize, which was--for political reasons--withdrawn from her on the very day it was given. She was dismissed from the Ministry in the same year.
During the establishment of Stalinist rule from 1949 to 1956, the government did not allow her works to be published. Since her unemployed husband was also stigmatized by the communist regime, she was forced to teach in an elementary school during this period.
Her first novel, 贵谤别蝉办贸 ("Fresco"), written in these years was published in 1958 and achieved overwhelming success among readers. Her most widely read novel, 础产颈驳茅濒 ("Abigail", 1970), is an adventure story about a schoolgirl boarding in eastern Hungary during the war.
She received several prizes in Hungary, and her works have been published in 42 countries. In 2003, she was the winner of the French literary prize Prix Femina 脡tranger for the best foreign novel.
Her novel 础产颈驳茅濒 was popularized through a much-loved television series in 1978. 础产颈驳茅濒 was also chosen as the sixth most popular novel at the Hungarian version of Big Read. Her three other novels that were in the top 100 are F眉r Elise , An Old-Fashioned Story , and The Door .
Born in Debrecen, Szab贸 graduated at the University of Debrecen as a teacher of Latin and of Hungarian. She started working as a teacher in a Calvinist all-girl school in Debrecen and H贸dmez艖v谩s谩rhely. Between 1945 and 1949 she was working in the Ministry of Religion and Education. She married the writer and translator Tibor Szobotka in 1947.
She began her writing career as a poet, publishing her first book 叠谩谤谩苍测 ("Lamb") in 1947, which was followed by Vissza az emberig ("Back to the Human") in 1949. In 1949 she was awarded the Baumgarten Prize, which was--for political reasons--withdrawn from her on the very day it was given. She was dismissed from the Ministry in the same year.
During the establishment of Stalinist rule from 1949 to 1956, the government did not allow her works to be published. Since her unemployed husband was also stigmatized by the communist regime, she was forced to teach in an elementary school during this period.
Her first novel, 贵谤别蝉办贸 ("Fresco"), written in these years was published in 1958 and achieved overwhelming success among readers. Her most widely read novel, 础产颈驳茅濒 ("Abigail", 1970), is an adventure story about a schoolgirl boarding in eastern Hungary during the war.
She received several prizes in Hungary, and her works have been published in 42 countries. In 2003, she was the winner of the French literary prize Prix Femina 脡tranger for the best foreign novel.
Her novel 础产颈驳茅濒 was popularized through a much-loved television series in 1978. 础产颈驳茅濒 was also chosen as the sixth most popular novel at the Hungarian version of Big Read. Her three other novels that were in the top 100 are F眉r Elise , An Old-Fashioned Story , and The Door .
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June 5, 2013
How on earth could the telling of the life and character of an aged Hungarian cleaning lady feel so eerily uncanny?
Because, do not be mistaken, this is not a mystery book. This is a novel about the relationship between two women: an illiterate servant and her considerably younger employer, a writer. The latter narrates the story, which is set in Hungary around the 1960s-80s.
So, how could this be such a memorable story? Magda Szabo (1917-2007) proves in The Door to be an astounding writer. After a gripping beginning, she then takes us through a very intense, scary, and magical unfolding of the tale. Szabo draws her brushstrokes regularly, building up the suspense, or may be peeling off the many veils that cover reality.
What emerges is the extraordinary and colossally strong personality of Emerence, the servant. She is an atavistic force that communicates with animals like no other person can, and who has a magnetic power and physical strength to attract or banish or condemn those beings around her according to her beliefs, moods and whims.
In contrast, the other woman --the 鈥渨oman writer鈥�-- as narrator seems subjected to the will of the strong elderly servant. The unbalance in strength is found also in the way the book focuses our view. If the name of Emerence is introduced at the very beginning of the book, the name of the 鈥渨oman writer鈥�, Magdchen, which is also Szabo鈥檚 name, is only mentioned, in passing, towards the end. The writer and creator becomes the anonymous observer, the 鈥渨oman writer鈥� in the story.
But is she just an observer? Is she really subjected to Emerence鈥檚 forces? For, as she tells us, at the very beginning: 鈥� I killed Emerence鈥︹€� And this chilling start prompts the telling of the story that led to this, the relationship between two beings that The Door separates. This ambiguity on who is acting on whom makes me think of this book as a meditation on subjectivity.
The Door was published in Hungary in 1987 and has been translated by Len Rix, winning him the prestigious Oxford Weidenfeld Translation Prize in 2006. This is my first book by Magda Szabo and would like to read more. Unfortunately very little has been translated.
Now I will wait until Istvan Sazbo鈥檚 2012 film version, with Helen Mirren as Emerence is shown in a cinema near me鈥�!!!
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August 8, 2024
Magda Szab贸's The Door - an intense story, a haunting story, a fiercely compelling story of the relationship between two women living in a Hungarian village: Magda, a married writer and Emerence, a mysterious housekeeper possessing qualities of epic proportions. To my eye the above portrait by Hungarian born artist Csaba Markus captures what Emerence must have looked like as a younger woman.
Critical responses to The Door have been dramatic in the extreme: Ali Smith: "a story of such savagery that it demands both silence and truth," Cynthia Zarin: "a bone-shaking book," Deborah Eisenberg: "a white-knuckle experience," Claire Messud: "It has altered the way I understand my own life." Let me assure you, reading The Door and listening to Si芒n Thomas narrate the audio book makes for one riveting, unforgettable experience.
Originally published in Hungarian in 1987, this New York Review Books edition of The Door is translated into a fluid English by Len Rix and includes a short Introduction by Ali Smith. Author Magda Szab贸 acknowledges there's a strong element of autobiography at work.
We are in a Hungarian village and listen in as an established author by the name of Magda recounts her experience over the course of twenty years, from, say, about 1965 to 1985, living in a large apartment with her husband, a university instructor, and dog. However, the heart of the heart of this tale centers around Magda and older Emerence, an illiterate woman of peasant stock with almost superhuman strength and endurance for work in the service of others.
A number of other men and women strut and fret their minutes on the pages of the novel - the son of Emerence's brother ("J贸zsi's boy"), a Lieutenant Colonel and three old women, friends of Emerence: Ad茅lka, Polett, Sutu - but Emerence is the true dramatic presence and it is Emerence whom I will make the focus of my review.
Emerence as the 20th Century
Magda figures Emerence was born around 1905. The more Emerence shares her tragic background, including losing her father as a young child, as a thirteen-year-old witnessing the death of her beautiful twin siblings during a storm followed immediately by the suicide of her mother, her orphan years during and after WWI, living through the atrocities and brutalities of WWII, the more we recognize Emerence embodies the twentieth century, especially twentieth century Hungary. We feel her bitterness when she tells Magda: "You don't die that easily, but let me tell you, you come close to it. Afterwards, what you went through makes you so clever you wish you could become stupid again, utterly stupid. Well, I got clever, which shouldn't surprise you, because I was given training round the clock."
Emerence as a true Christian
The more I learned of Emerence's unflinching love and ceaseless devotion to those in need - women, men, children, animals - the more I was reminded of the 12th & 13th century European women who became Beguines to embrace a life of poverty in order to care for the poor and sick. Although Emerence is illiterate, she reminds me specifically of Marguerite Porete, a Beguine, mystic and author of The Mirror of Simple Souls emphasizing the power of love as infinitely more important than following Church rules. Marguerite Porete, a truly free-spirited woman was burned at the stake for heresy. One can only wonder if Emerence would have been condemned to a similar fate if born in those Medieval years.
Emerence as Ancient Pagan Spirit
When Magda reflects on the inner spirit of this powerful woman, she sprinkles in references to Homer, Hesiod and Greek mythology, references to Sophocles, Euripides and Greek tragedy. 鈥淏eneath Medea-Emerence鈥檚 headscarf glowed the fires of the underworld." No doubt about it, Emerence, a woman of the Earth who is larger than life.
Emerence as Village Hero
Over the years Emerence came in conflict with others in the village, a series of nasty incidents with a pigeon breeder comes immediately to mind. But this tireless woman never permitted her dedication to her neighbors to slacken - among her many chores: clearing snow from eleven different buildings and raising Viola, the dog Magda and her husband take in. "Everyone trusted Emerence, but she trusted no-one; or, to be more precise, she doles out crumbs of trust to a chosen few - the Lieutenant Colonel, me, Polett while she was alive, J贸zsi's boy - and stray morsels to a few others."
Emerence as Monument Builder
"She was saving her strength for the time when she might actually do something about the past." The drama of how exactly Emerence plans out her final tribute to those she held dear in her life is something to behold.
Emerence as fierce judge and jury
Emerence is not one to pull any punches. Magda absorbs the sting in the truth of her words. "You have an appalling nature," she began. "You puff yourself up like a bullfrog, and one day you'll explode. The only thing you're good for is getting your friend in the helicopter to make trees dance by trickery. You never grasp what is simple."
Emerence the fierce individual
In the end, all of what I have noted above can be tossed in the fire - there is no doubt, Emerence is her own woman, one who defies categorization. "What more do you want? I cook, I wash, I clean and tidy. I brought Viola up for you. I'm not your dead mother, or your nursemaid, or your little chum. Leave me in peace."
How could I write my review without a reference to the door, Emerence's door. Right before Magda does receive entrance here is what Emerence has to say: "Now pay attention. If you tell anyone, I'll put a curse on you. Anyone I curse comes to a sticky end. You're going to see something no-one has ever seen, and no-one ever will, until they bury me." What does Magda get to see? You will have to read this classic novel for yourself to find out.
Master Storyteller Magda Szab贸 from Hungary, (1917-2007)
"She also demanded of me that, in my art, it should be real passion and not machinery that moved the branches. That was a major gift, the greatest of her bequests.鈥�
鈥� Magda Szab贸, The Door
November 27, 2023
There are a lot of books about housekeepers who upset your life. I think of by Leila Slimani and the German classic by Elias Canetti whose housekeeper destroys his life. I reviewed by A. S. Byatt and in one of the short stories, Art Work, a housekeeper turns the life of the artist couple she works for upside down. In this novel, The Door, we have husband-wife writers and their maid/cook, Emerence 鈥� quite a name!
This is the story of the 20-year relationship between Emerence and the 鈥榣ady writer,鈥� as she calls her employer. They evolve a mother-daughter relationship but it鈥檚 not a loving one; it鈥檚 a love-hate relationship. Many times the writer is so obsessed by her tumultuous interactions with Emerence that she can鈥檛 work for days and at times is physically ill. There are times that the writer thinks (or should I say, recognizes?) that Emerence may be insane.
Emerence is an older woman, old enough to be the writer鈥檚 mother, but she has super-human strength and can out-work any 20-year-old. She has other jobs too 鈥� like shoveling snow for 11 houses. She might disappear for a week or bring groceries into the house at 3 a.m.
The married couple gets a dog and it becomes Emerence鈥檚 dog, living mainly at her house. Emerence can鈥檛 stand people like bureaucrats, priests and politicians who don鈥檛 do physical labor. She grudgingly comes to accept the idea that her two employers 鈥渨ork鈥� at banging on their typewriters to produce a 鈥減roduct鈥� 鈥� a book.
Emerence embodies the good and evil of humanity. She is loving and hateful, forgiving and vindictive, caring and unconcerned, polite and rude, well-mannered and obscene, giving and grabby. She loves that dog but if he does something wrong she鈥檒l beat it viciously.
Emerence is secretive. She has never let ANYONE in her house. All her business and entertaining is conducted on the front porch. What鈥檚 behind that door besides a heavy smell of disinfectant? Someone has seen a giant bank safe blocking off a hidden, inaccessible room. Some people say her house is filled with treasures stolen from Jews during the war.
Emerence is as secretive about her private and past life as she is about what鈥檚 in her house. It takes the lady writer twenty years for all the details to dribble out little by little. Is there such a word as 鈥榟orrorful鈥�? A life of abuse, tragedy, lost loves, unrequited love.
There is good writing: 鈥淲ho isn鈥檛 lonely, I鈥檇 like to know? And that includes people who have someone but just haven鈥檛 noticed.鈥�
Occasionally we get a bit of philosophy: 鈥淚n my student days, I detested Schopenhauer. Only later did I come to acknowledge the force of his idea that every relationship involving personal feeling laid one open to attack, and the more people I allowed to become close to me, the greater the number of ways in which I was vulnerable.鈥�
I really liked the writing and the story. I thought it a 4.5 but I鈥檒l round it down because the last third or so, when the woman writer is overcome with guilt about the relationship (through no fault of her own), I thought it got a bit repetitive and dragged somewhat.
Although the book was published in 1987, the story is set earlier, in post-WW II Hungary under communist control. The 鈥榣ady writer鈥� runs into censorship problems, as did the real author in her life. Szabo (1917-2007) lost her day job and had literary awards retracted when her writings ran afoul of 鈥榮ocialist realism.鈥�
Top photo, Hungary in the 1960s, from rferl.org
Budapest around 1965 from pinterest.com
Photos of the author from dailynewshungary.com
[Edited 2/1/22, 11/27/23 for typos, spoilers and pictures]
This is the story of the 20-year relationship between Emerence and the 鈥榣ady writer,鈥� as she calls her employer. They evolve a mother-daughter relationship but it鈥檚 not a loving one; it鈥檚 a love-hate relationship. Many times the writer is so obsessed by her tumultuous interactions with Emerence that she can鈥檛 work for days and at times is physically ill. There are times that the writer thinks (or should I say, recognizes?) that Emerence may be insane.
Emerence is an older woman, old enough to be the writer鈥檚 mother, but she has super-human strength and can out-work any 20-year-old. She has other jobs too 鈥� like shoveling snow for 11 houses. She might disappear for a week or bring groceries into the house at 3 a.m.
The married couple gets a dog and it becomes Emerence鈥檚 dog, living mainly at her house. Emerence can鈥檛 stand people like bureaucrats, priests and politicians who don鈥檛 do physical labor. She grudgingly comes to accept the idea that her two employers 鈥渨ork鈥� at banging on their typewriters to produce a 鈥減roduct鈥� 鈥� a book.
Emerence embodies the good and evil of humanity. She is loving and hateful, forgiving and vindictive, caring and unconcerned, polite and rude, well-mannered and obscene, giving and grabby. She loves that dog but if he does something wrong she鈥檒l beat it viciously.
Emerence is secretive. She has never let ANYONE in her house. All her business and entertaining is conducted on the front porch. What鈥檚 behind that door besides a heavy smell of disinfectant? Someone has seen a giant bank safe blocking off a hidden, inaccessible room. Some people say her house is filled with treasures stolen from Jews during the war.
Emerence is as secretive about her private and past life as she is about what鈥檚 in her house. It takes the lady writer twenty years for all the details to dribble out little by little. Is there such a word as 鈥榟orrorful鈥�? A life of abuse, tragedy, lost loves, unrequited love.
There is good writing: 鈥淲ho isn鈥檛 lonely, I鈥檇 like to know? And that includes people who have someone but just haven鈥檛 noticed.鈥�
Occasionally we get a bit of philosophy: 鈥淚n my student days, I detested Schopenhauer. Only later did I come to acknowledge the force of his idea that every relationship involving personal feeling laid one open to attack, and the more people I allowed to become close to me, the greater the number of ways in which I was vulnerable.鈥�
I really liked the writing and the story. I thought it a 4.5 but I鈥檒l round it down because the last third or so, when the woman writer is overcome with guilt about the relationship (through no fault of her own), I thought it got a bit repetitive and dragged somewhat.
Although the book was published in 1987, the story is set earlier, in post-WW II Hungary under communist control. The 鈥榣ady writer鈥� runs into censorship problems, as did the real author in her life. Szabo (1917-2007) lost her day job and had literary awards retracted when her writings ran afoul of 鈥榮ocialist realism.鈥�
Top photo, Hungary in the 1960s, from rferl.org
Budapest around 1965 from pinterest.com
Photos of the author from dailynewshungary.com
[Edited 2/1/22, 11/27/23 for typos, spoilers and pictures]
December 8, 2022
L鈥橝MICA GENIALE
Helen Mirren nel ruolo di Emerenc nel film omonimo del 2012 del regista Ivan Szabo.
Magda Szabo gioca con il lettore spargendo nella narrazione fragili elementi autobiografici: il marito della protagonista 猫 uno scrittore proprio come era Tibor, il marito della Szabo; Szabo e suo marito subirono l鈥檕stracismo e la messa al bando, a lei fu addirittura ritirato un premio appena consegnato, e dur貌 per anni, dal 1949 al 1956. Poi ci fu la riabilitazione e il ritorno alla scrittura a tempo pieno. E allora una domestica entr貌 effettivamente in casa Szabo-Szobotka.
Ma 猫 inutile, e controproducente, andare al di l脿 di queste tenui analogie. 鈥淟a porta鈥� non 猫 un romanzo autobiografico, non lo 猫 anche se la protagonista 猫 una scrittrice che si chiama Magda, e non 猫 neppure un romanzo realistico.
鈥淟a porta鈥� parla di una scrittrice, che 猫 la voce narrante, che vive in Ungheria in un paese che per貌 si capisce essere un quartiere della capitale, insieme a suo marito, a sua volta scrittore. Le loro opere sono state vietate, ma un po鈥� prima che questa storia abbia inizio, sono state riammesse e riabilitate: la scrittrice narratrice pu貌 tornare a scrivere, quindi, non avr脿 pi霉 tempo per occuparsi dell鈥檈conomia domestica e avr脿 bisogno di aiuto.
Le parlano bene di un鈥檃nziana di nome Emerenc che cucina e pulisce per tutti gli abitanti della strada e del quartiere, si prende cura dei bambini, spazza la strada dalle foglie morte e d鈥檌nverno dalla neve. Emerenc conosce tutto di tutti, tiene salotto nel piccolo portico davanti a casa, la cui porta nessuno 猫 autorizzato a oltrepassare, dalla quale arrivano sinistri effluvi di detersivi.
Il primo momento spiazzante 猫 all鈥檌nizio quando apprendiamo che non sar脿 la domestica a subire un esame, ma viceversa: perch茅 Emerenc non lava i panni sporchi al primo che capita - quindi, solo se Magda e suo marito hanno buone referenze, Emerenc assumer脿 l鈥檌ncarico.
Non succede molto altro: Magda e suo marito adottano un cucciolo salvandolo dalla neve ed Eminenc diventer脿 la vera padrone e il riferimento affettivo del quattrozampe, con gran gelosia di chi racconta; il marito di Magda si ammala ed Emerenc sa come curarlo; si ammala anche Eminenc鈥� Szabo sa come regalarci dettagli e informazioni con parsimonia.
Emerenc e Magda interpretata dall鈥檃ttrice tedesca Martina Gedeck.
Non succede molto, come dicevo, routine, banalit脿, la trama 猫 esile: il tesoro 猫 dietro la porta, in quello che c鈥櫭�, in quello che non c鈥櫭�, in quello che rappresenta e significa. Un tesoro che dilaga quando Emerenc si ammala, nell鈥檜ltima parte del pagine: a questo punto si intuisce che dietro la porta c鈥櫭� uno scrigno (davanti alla porta c鈥櫭� effettivamente una vecchia enorme pesantissima cassaforte) pieno di gemme preziose.
鈥gni legame sentimentale rappresenta una potenziale aggressione, da quante pi霉 persone ci lasciamo avvicinare tanto pi霉 numerosi sono i canali attraverso il pericolo pu貌 colpirci. Non fu facile ammettere che Emerenc contava sempre pi霉, la sua esistenza era diventata una componente essenziale della mia vita; all鈥檌nizio mi spaventava l鈥檌dea che un giorno avrei potuto perderla: se le fossi sopravvissuta nella schiera delle mie ombre ci sarebbe stato un ulteriore fantasma, insaziabile, tormentoso, che mi avrebbe seguita ovunque e gettata nella disperazione.
Szabo ci fa credere che tutto si svolga in un paesino: la strada dove tutti si conoscono, personaggi ricalcati su sterotipi del paese (ma anche come se fossero usciti da una parabola: il poliziotto buono, il fornaio鈥�), solidariet脿 umana e anche tanta sfacciata curiosit脿 (privacy bandita e sempre impicciarsi degli affari altrui). Invece siamo nella capitale, a Pest per la precisione.
Emerenc e il cane Viola.
La scrittura della Szabo sembra fatta di nulla, semplice e senza pretese: ma 猫 precisa, sapiente, costruisce magnifiche cattedrali e splendidi castelli con cerchietti e stanghette, con gli stecchini o i fiammiferi come i detenuti. Lentamente sprigiona il quadro, piano piano le gemme cominciano a rilucere, prima nascoste, si pu貌 solo intravederle, poi velate, per arrivare al finale dove occorre coprirsi gli occhi, tanto 猫 forte il chiarore.
Una scrittura cos矛 sapiente che sa trasformare personaggi intollerabili in creature indimenticabili: Emerenc 猫 burbera e sgradevole al limite della brutalit脿, di quelle che si vanterebbero di 鈥渘on avere peli sulla lingua鈥�; la scrittrice 猫 lamentosa e pusillanime. Perfino il cane 猫 un ben strano quattrozampe che di canino ha poco, sembra ricalcato su qualche modello umano (il quattrozampe funge da messaggero tra il mondo del razionale e quello la cui comprensione non 猫 alla diretta portata degli esseri umani).
Magda Szabo.
Tutto converge a fare di Emerenc un personaggio mitologico. In grado di compiere miracoli (a cominciare da come sequestra l鈥檃ffetto di Viola, il cane). Sin dalla sua prima apparizione, col gigantesco mestolo davanti al calderone nel quale lava i panni, 猫 avvolta in un鈥檃ureola di luce. Ha l鈥檈nergia di una valchiria nonostante sia anziana. Accoglie i randagi, cani e gatti, come sembra che facesse il cristo con i bambini e i mendicanti. 脠 circondata da tre presenze femminili che sembrano le Parche Moire (Sutu, Polett, Ad茅lka).
Il romanzo si apre e chiude con un sogno, che 猫 un incubo, che esprime l鈥檌mpotenza di fronte alla morte dell鈥檃mica e il senso di colpa che la narratrice non riesce a controllare, e superare.
Viola cerca di aprire La Porta.
La porta 猫 il confine della propria intimit脿, l鈥檌ngresso all鈥檃more, all鈥檌ntimit脿, alla reciproca conoscenza.
Ora vedr脿 qualcosa che nessuno ha mai visto, n茅 mai vedr脿 finch茅 non sar貌 sotto terra. Io oggi le ho fatto pi霉 male di quanto meritasse, le offro l鈥檜nica cosa che ho, l鈥檜nica cosa che ai suoi occhi abbia un valore. Prima o poi l鈥檃vrebbe vista, perch茅 in fondo questa 猫 roba sua, ma almeno cos矛 la vede mentre sono ancora viva. Entri. Non abbia paura.
La porta si apre sul mistero della comunicazione umana, sull鈥檜mana lotta per superare la distanza tra anime, quella valle che separa uno dall鈥檃ltro. La porta conduce al mistero dell鈥檃more.
Magda ed Emerenc si sono riconosciute, nel profondo hanno capito di essere composte dalla stessa materia, parlano la stessa lingua anche se sembrano non capirsi, hanno frequenti scontri, il silenzio 猫 spesso la loro forma di comunicazione.
Emerenc seduta sotto il portico davanti a casa.
Per Ali Smith Emerenc 猫 una raffigurazione dell鈥橴ngheria.
Personalmente, invece, trovo particolarmente affascinante quest鈥檃ltro percorso di lettura: siamo alla presenza di un io narrante che 猫 una scrittrice, la quale scrive e racconta di un鈥檃ltra donna, un鈥檃mica speciale. 脠 la storia della loro relazione che riempie le pagine. Possiamo fidarci al cento per cento di questa narratrice? Ci racconta di un鈥檃ltra donna, impenetrabile, in qualche modo inafferrabile, una donna con segreti, ma con talento speciale che per貌 sembra voler auto-limitare. 脠 l鈥檃ltra donna, l鈥檃mica, che impone le regole della comunicazione, che decide aperture chiusure momenti di confidenza e momenti di privacy.
Queste due donne sono davvero divise o sono le due parti della stessa persona? Chi delle due 猫 quella brillante? Lila e Len霉 sono due met脿 dello stesso io, come potrebbero esserlo Magda ed Emerenc?
Poi, certo, davanti alla 鈥榩orta鈥� succede davvero poco, mentre le vicende di Lila e Len霉 sono un鈥檌radidio. Ma l鈥檈co, io la sento, e mi piace sentirla, mi aiuta a comprendere.
Emerenc e La Porta.
PS
Il film del regista Ivan Szabo (Mephisto), che credo sia solo omonimo, non parente della scrittrice, 猫 una trasposizione sciapa, didascalica, messa in scena con maldestrezza, visivamente a livello di una fiction Mediaset. Neppure la splendida Helen Mirren nella parte di Emerenc riesce a risollevare il tono di un film nato male (tra i tanti misfatti: attori che recitano in inglese con difficolt脿 cos矛 palesi da dover ricorrere a doppiatori inglesi 鈥� flashback in stile horror).
Magda Szabo.
Helen Mirren nel ruolo di Emerenc nel film omonimo del 2012 del regista Ivan Szabo.
Magda Szabo gioca con il lettore spargendo nella narrazione fragili elementi autobiografici: il marito della protagonista 猫 uno scrittore proprio come era Tibor, il marito della Szabo; Szabo e suo marito subirono l鈥檕stracismo e la messa al bando, a lei fu addirittura ritirato un premio appena consegnato, e dur貌 per anni, dal 1949 al 1956. Poi ci fu la riabilitazione e il ritorno alla scrittura a tempo pieno. E allora una domestica entr貌 effettivamente in casa Szabo-Szobotka.
Ma 猫 inutile, e controproducente, andare al di l脿 di queste tenui analogie. 鈥淟a porta鈥� non 猫 un romanzo autobiografico, non lo 猫 anche se la protagonista 猫 una scrittrice che si chiama Magda, e non 猫 neppure un romanzo realistico.
鈥淟a porta鈥� parla di una scrittrice, che 猫 la voce narrante, che vive in Ungheria in un paese che per貌 si capisce essere un quartiere della capitale, insieme a suo marito, a sua volta scrittore. Le loro opere sono state vietate, ma un po鈥� prima che questa storia abbia inizio, sono state riammesse e riabilitate: la scrittrice narratrice pu貌 tornare a scrivere, quindi, non avr脿 pi霉 tempo per occuparsi dell鈥檈conomia domestica e avr脿 bisogno di aiuto.
Le parlano bene di un鈥檃nziana di nome Emerenc che cucina e pulisce per tutti gli abitanti della strada e del quartiere, si prende cura dei bambini, spazza la strada dalle foglie morte e d鈥檌nverno dalla neve. Emerenc conosce tutto di tutti, tiene salotto nel piccolo portico davanti a casa, la cui porta nessuno 猫 autorizzato a oltrepassare, dalla quale arrivano sinistri effluvi di detersivi.
Il primo momento spiazzante 猫 all鈥檌nizio quando apprendiamo che non sar脿 la domestica a subire un esame, ma viceversa: perch茅 Emerenc non lava i panni sporchi al primo che capita - quindi, solo se Magda e suo marito hanno buone referenze, Emerenc assumer脿 l鈥檌ncarico.
Non succede molto altro: Magda e suo marito adottano un cucciolo salvandolo dalla neve ed Eminenc diventer脿 la vera padrone e il riferimento affettivo del quattrozampe, con gran gelosia di chi racconta; il marito di Magda si ammala ed Emerenc sa come curarlo; si ammala anche Eminenc鈥� Szabo sa come regalarci dettagli e informazioni con parsimonia.
Emerenc e Magda interpretata dall鈥檃ttrice tedesca Martina Gedeck.
Non succede molto, come dicevo, routine, banalit脿, la trama 猫 esile: il tesoro 猫 dietro la porta, in quello che c鈥櫭�, in quello che non c鈥櫭�, in quello che rappresenta e significa. Un tesoro che dilaga quando Emerenc si ammala, nell鈥檜ltima parte del pagine: a questo punto si intuisce che dietro la porta c鈥櫭� uno scrigno (davanti alla porta c鈥櫭� effettivamente una vecchia enorme pesantissima cassaforte) pieno di gemme preziose.
鈥gni legame sentimentale rappresenta una potenziale aggressione, da quante pi霉 persone ci lasciamo avvicinare tanto pi霉 numerosi sono i canali attraverso il pericolo pu貌 colpirci. Non fu facile ammettere che Emerenc contava sempre pi霉, la sua esistenza era diventata una componente essenziale della mia vita; all鈥檌nizio mi spaventava l鈥檌dea che un giorno avrei potuto perderla: se le fossi sopravvissuta nella schiera delle mie ombre ci sarebbe stato un ulteriore fantasma, insaziabile, tormentoso, che mi avrebbe seguita ovunque e gettata nella disperazione.
Szabo ci fa credere che tutto si svolga in un paesino: la strada dove tutti si conoscono, personaggi ricalcati su sterotipi del paese (ma anche come se fossero usciti da una parabola: il poliziotto buono, il fornaio鈥�), solidariet脿 umana e anche tanta sfacciata curiosit脿 (privacy bandita e sempre impicciarsi degli affari altrui). Invece siamo nella capitale, a Pest per la precisione.
Emerenc e il cane Viola.
La scrittura della Szabo sembra fatta di nulla, semplice e senza pretese: ma 猫 precisa, sapiente, costruisce magnifiche cattedrali e splendidi castelli con cerchietti e stanghette, con gli stecchini o i fiammiferi come i detenuti. Lentamente sprigiona il quadro, piano piano le gemme cominciano a rilucere, prima nascoste, si pu貌 solo intravederle, poi velate, per arrivare al finale dove occorre coprirsi gli occhi, tanto 猫 forte il chiarore.
Una scrittura cos矛 sapiente che sa trasformare personaggi intollerabili in creature indimenticabili: Emerenc 猫 burbera e sgradevole al limite della brutalit脿, di quelle che si vanterebbero di 鈥渘on avere peli sulla lingua鈥�; la scrittrice 猫 lamentosa e pusillanime. Perfino il cane 猫 un ben strano quattrozampe che di canino ha poco, sembra ricalcato su qualche modello umano (il quattrozampe funge da messaggero tra il mondo del razionale e quello la cui comprensione non 猫 alla diretta portata degli esseri umani).
Magda Szabo.
Tutto converge a fare di Emerenc un personaggio mitologico. In grado di compiere miracoli (a cominciare da come sequestra l鈥檃ffetto di Viola, il cane). Sin dalla sua prima apparizione, col gigantesco mestolo davanti al calderone nel quale lava i panni, 猫 avvolta in un鈥檃ureola di luce. Ha l鈥檈nergia di una valchiria nonostante sia anziana. Accoglie i randagi, cani e gatti, come sembra che facesse il cristo con i bambini e i mendicanti. 脠 circondata da tre presenze femminili che sembrano le Parche Moire (Sutu, Polett, Ad茅lka).
Il romanzo si apre e chiude con un sogno, che 猫 un incubo, che esprime l鈥檌mpotenza di fronte alla morte dell鈥檃mica e il senso di colpa che la narratrice non riesce a controllare, e superare.
Viola cerca di aprire La Porta.
La porta 猫 il confine della propria intimit脿, l鈥檌ngresso all鈥檃more, all鈥檌ntimit脿, alla reciproca conoscenza.
Ora vedr脿 qualcosa che nessuno ha mai visto, n茅 mai vedr脿 finch茅 non sar貌 sotto terra. Io oggi le ho fatto pi霉 male di quanto meritasse, le offro l鈥檜nica cosa che ho, l鈥檜nica cosa che ai suoi occhi abbia un valore. Prima o poi l鈥檃vrebbe vista, perch茅 in fondo questa 猫 roba sua, ma almeno cos矛 la vede mentre sono ancora viva. Entri. Non abbia paura.
La porta si apre sul mistero della comunicazione umana, sull鈥檜mana lotta per superare la distanza tra anime, quella valle che separa uno dall鈥檃ltro. La porta conduce al mistero dell鈥檃more.
Magda ed Emerenc si sono riconosciute, nel profondo hanno capito di essere composte dalla stessa materia, parlano la stessa lingua anche se sembrano non capirsi, hanno frequenti scontri, il silenzio 猫 spesso la loro forma di comunicazione.
Emerenc seduta sotto il portico davanti a casa.
Per Ali Smith Emerenc 猫 una raffigurazione dell鈥橴ngheria.
Personalmente, invece, trovo particolarmente affascinante quest鈥檃ltro percorso di lettura: siamo alla presenza di un io narrante che 猫 una scrittrice, la quale scrive e racconta di un鈥檃ltra donna, un鈥檃mica speciale. 脠 la storia della loro relazione che riempie le pagine. Possiamo fidarci al cento per cento di questa narratrice? Ci racconta di un鈥檃ltra donna, impenetrabile, in qualche modo inafferrabile, una donna con segreti, ma con talento speciale che per貌 sembra voler auto-limitare. 脠 l鈥檃ltra donna, l鈥檃mica, che impone le regole della comunicazione, che decide aperture chiusure momenti di confidenza e momenti di privacy.
Queste due donne sono davvero divise o sono le due parti della stessa persona? Chi delle due 猫 quella brillante? Lila e Len霉 sono due met脿 dello stesso io, come potrebbero esserlo Magda ed Emerenc?
Poi, certo, davanti alla 鈥榩orta鈥� succede davvero poco, mentre le vicende di Lila e Len霉 sono un鈥檌radidio. Ma l鈥檈co, io la sento, e mi piace sentirla, mi aiuta a comprendere.
Emerenc e La Porta.
PS
Il film del regista Ivan Szabo (Mephisto), che credo sia solo omonimo, non parente della scrittrice, 猫 una trasposizione sciapa, didascalica, messa in scena con maldestrezza, visivamente a livello di una fiction Mediaset. Neppure la splendida Helen Mirren nella parte di Emerenc riesce a risollevare il tono di un film nato male (tra i tanti misfatti: attori che recitano in inglese con difficolt脿 cos矛 palesi da dover ricorrere a doppiatori inglesi 鈥� flashback in stile horror).
Magda Szabo.
March 23, 2024
The one way of tolerating existence is to lose oneself in literature as in a perpetual.
-Gustave Flaubert
link:
The Door stealthily creeps into your life to unabashedly make you realize that what is coming across, is not something common, for it challenges your perception and interpretation of literature; those of us, who boast about literary discernment of being acquainted with various movements or aspects of literature, may have to eat our own words while stumbling upon this stunning masterpiece by Magda Szabo. Human relationships have been one of the biggest enigmas of humanity, they are as complex (if not more) as the universe itself. We trudged upon the history of our civilization to decode and decipher innumerable conundrums of humanity, however, when it comes to understanding our relationships, we seem to have made modest progress. Of course, of late, we have to able to deconstruct our language, as we moved from structuralism to post-structuralism, to show its inadequacy and inability in our communications but still a lot of ground to be trodden upon.
Like the Dutchman, she steered her mysterious ship entirely alone, always into unknown waters, driven by the wind of ever-changing relationships.
As we know that humanity is as mysterious as anything could be, and hence they have been only a handful of meticulous observers of it; and our literary world is no exception to it, for we have only a few authors like Szabo, for whom we may hold such high regard. The Door is a haunting tale of an unusual relationship, between Magda, an author, and the narrator, and Emerence, a domestic servant, which would stick into your memory forever. The book unfolds itself with a breathtaking opening that perhaps discloses its seeming climax, right at the onset, but that is where it actually starts. It does not have to do anything with any so-called climaxes or any so-called actions for that matter, it is not a typical mystery in which you have to unravel the secrets, rather the book itself unveils its disguised features layer-by-layer, like peeling off an onion, wherein you have to arrange these layers rationally to produce its thorough impression. The book bestows you an opportunity to reflect upon the dark and nostalgic vagaries of your own life, of course, some of them may be ghastly and shocking, it could be said a unique blend of horror and ecstasy.
The book is written not for God, who knows the secrets of my heart, not for the shades of the all-seeing dead who witness both my waking life and my dreams. I write for other people. Thus far I have lived my life with courage, and I hope to die that way, bravely and without lies. But for that to be, I must speak out. I killed Emerence. The fact that I was trying to save her rather than destroy her changes nothing.
Magda, the author (our narrator), feels that her writing has been in a stalemate for years, she shifts to Hungary which is under communist rule. She is excited with the prospect that now she would be able to dedicate her life to writing but it brings a need for someone who could help in daily household chores. The opportunity and chance amalgamate when Emerence comes into the picture, she is a strong, fierce, and eccentric first-rate housekeeper who, in a way, chooses Magda rather than other way around. She hardly shows any emotions as if she is a manifestation of something divine, who can go to any extent to fulfill her duties. The enigma around her personality encompasses the mythical proportion, the more we, along with our poor narrator-Magda, try to understand her, the more befuddled we become, and we share our sympathies with Magda for that. However, as the narrative moves forward, Emerence begins to reveal facets of her personality, in the process, the narrator becomes detached from everyone else, even with the reader, but she is bewitched by Emerence. The narrator suppresses her being to allow Emerence to rise above everything else so much so that other characters look with the eyes of hope, from the depths of nothingness, as if someone could bring them to existence.
This old woman is not just oblivious to her country, she鈥檚 oblivious to everything. Her spirit shines bright, but through a cloud of steam. Such a thirst of life, but so diffused over everything; such immense talent, achieving nothing.
link:
Magda (both Magda- the author and narrator) creates a personality of incomprehensible proportions, but have we ever been able to understand humanity itself, she is domineering and authoritative but charming and influential, somewhat like mother nature. She seems ignorant to everything in life, even to the most cautious eyes, but is she really or are we not insensible and unmindful of such a pure human being. The author has craved some of the deepest eyes in the form of Emerence, those eyes are so intense that you may feel the whole world in them, and those are so captivating, poignant, and soul-stirring that tears would roll down from most of the eyes reading it. She is a distinctive motherly figure who showers emotions upon people, may turn her sentiments to opposite effects but essentially, she is alone at heart, as if her being is untouched, unaffected, and unexplored, in a way she remains imprisoned in her consciousness, and 鈥楾he Door鈥� to her consciousness is perhaps the most enigmatic and hardest thing of the universe of the author. But why is she, like she is; the narrator and author take you to one of humanity's most harrowing and disturbing childhoods. The author shows you the rosy picture of our vehement measures of success such as war, which is essentially discharge of our rage and fear in mass, but we have more thorns than rose leaves there; what war can do to humanity which stands a mute spectator to the bloodbath that has been fomented by humanity itself in the name of power and religion, which are ironically devised to acquire divinity.
The bond between us- produced by forces almost impossible to define- was in every way like love, though it required endless concessions for us to accept each other.
link:
The Door is a unique tale of an uncommon (unrequited) love between Magda and Emerence, with love comes vulnerability as we allow people to associate with us we put inessential and excessive pressure on our heart since we imbibe these people in our being and when these part from us, we lose our being. Does it mean that we need to stay clear of all probable bonds, well, being human we can鈥檛 help it. And the abovementioned love is unrequited since one of the persons in this union of faith, trust, and interdependency is not allowed to live as she craved her life, she is being robbed of symbols of her faith, her religion, her God by someone who she loves whole-heartedly. Do we have authority to strip those we love, of their existential solaces or comforts they sculpted out of their entire lives, even if it means to save them from dying; and don鈥檛 we kill them when throw them into an inauthentic existential hell which rips off the meaning they bestow upon their lives. Don鈥檛 we effectively throw them into hopelessness in the name of this hope which takes birth from the womb of lie?
If she died, there would be no escape. If she lived, then the power that had so far never let me down would, yet gain, pluck me back, perhaps for the very last time, from the abyss over which I trembled.
The Door is a scintillating and frightening tale of the history of human civilization, the history which is filled with numerous unfortunate and unexpressed examples of innocence of humanity being engulfed by the searing demands of the hour in the wake of our great deeds. These unassumed examples of innocence have been lacerated by our bloodlust vengeance so that they stare into your face with eyes hardened and fossilized without any trace of tears and emotions, and what can you do except looking into them with your mouth agape in the horror of humanity crying through your useless eyes. You may guess that what importance our silly ideas of hope, faith, and God would have in the life of such a tormented specimen of human beings, she only wants love, pure love, but that too is being snatched from her unfortunate, trembling hands by our foolish desires of ego satisfaction. But one thing is for sure that eventually Emerence may vanish from your lives but not before she paralyzes your heart, forever to be a part of your consciousness- a dark history of your own life.
Humankind has come a long way since its beginnings and people of the future won鈥檛 be able to imagine the barbaric early days in which we fought with one another, in groups or individually, over little more than a cup of cocoa. But not even then will it be possible to soften the fate of a woman for whom no one has made a place in their life.
-Gustave Flaubert
link:
The Door stealthily creeps into your life to unabashedly make you realize that what is coming across, is not something common, for it challenges your perception and interpretation of literature; those of us, who boast about literary discernment of being acquainted with various movements or aspects of literature, may have to eat our own words while stumbling upon this stunning masterpiece by Magda Szabo. Human relationships have been one of the biggest enigmas of humanity, they are as complex (if not more) as the universe itself. We trudged upon the history of our civilization to decode and decipher innumerable conundrums of humanity, however, when it comes to understanding our relationships, we seem to have made modest progress. Of course, of late, we have to able to deconstruct our language, as we moved from structuralism to post-structuralism, to show its inadequacy and inability in our communications but still a lot of ground to be trodden upon.
Like the Dutchman, she steered her mysterious ship entirely alone, always into unknown waters, driven by the wind of ever-changing relationships.
As we know that humanity is as mysterious as anything could be, and hence they have been only a handful of meticulous observers of it; and our literary world is no exception to it, for we have only a few authors like Szabo, for whom we may hold such high regard. The Door is a haunting tale of an unusual relationship, between Magda, an author, and the narrator, and Emerence, a domestic servant, which would stick into your memory forever. The book unfolds itself with a breathtaking opening that perhaps discloses its seeming climax, right at the onset, but that is where it actually starts. It does not have to do anything with any so-called climaxes or any so-called actions for that matter, it is not a typical mystery in which you have to unravel the secrets, rather the book itself unveils its disguised features layer-by-layer, like peeling off an onion, wherein you have to arrange these layers rationally to produce its thorough impression. The book bestows you an opportunity to reflect upon the dark and nostalgic vagaries of your own life, of course, some of them may be ghastly and shocking, it could be said a unique blend of horror and ecstasy.
The book is written not for God, who knows the secrets of my heart, not for the shades of the all-seeing dead who witness both my waking life and my dreams. I write for other people. Thus far I have lived my life with courage, and I hope to die that way, bravely and without lies. But for that to be, I must speak out. I killed Emerence. The fact that I was trying to save her rather than destroy her changes nothing.
Magda, the author (our narrator), feels that her writing has been in a stalemate for years, she shifts to Hungary which is under communist rule. She is excited with the prospect that now she would be able to dedicate her life to writing but it brings a need for someone who could help in daily household chores. The opportunity and chance amalgamate when Emerence comes into the picture, she is a strong, fierce, and eccentric first-rate housekeeper who, in a way, chooses Magda rather than other way around. She hardly shows any emotions as if she is a manifestation of something divine, who can go to any extent to fulfill her duties. The enigma around her personality encompasses the mythical proportion, the more we, along with our poor narrator-Magda, try to understand her, the more befuddled we become, and we share our sympathies with Magda for that. However, as the narrative moves forward, Emerence begins to reveal facets of her personality, in the process, the narrator becomes detached from everyone else, even with the reader, but she is bewitched by Emerence. The narrator suppresses her being to allow Emerence to rise above everything else so much so that other characters look with the eyes of hope, from the depths of nothingness, as if someone could bring them to existence.
This old woman is not just oblivious to her country, she鈥檚 oblivious to everything. Her spirit shines bright, but through a cloud of steam. Such a thirst of life, but so diffused over everything; such immense talent, achieving nothing.
link:
Magda (both Magda- the author and narrator) creates a personality of incomprehensible proportions, but have we ever been able to understand humanity itself, she is domineering and authoritative but charming and influential, somewhat like mother nature. She seems ignorant to everything in life, even to the most cautious eyes, but is she really or are we not insensible and unmindful of such a pure human being. The author has craved some of the deepest eyes in the form of Emerence, those eyes are so intense that you may feel the whole world in them, and those are so captivating, poignant, and soul-stirring that tears would roll down from most of the eyes reading it. She is a distinctive motherly figure who showers emotions upon people, may turn her sentiments to opposite effects but essentially, she is alone at heart, as if her being is untouched, unaffected, and unexplored, in a way she remains imprisoned in her consciousness, and 鈥楾he Door鈥� to her consciousness is perhaps the most enigmatic and hardest thing of the universe of the author. But why is she, like she is; the narrator and author take you to one of humanity's most harrowing and disturbing childhoods. The author shows you the rosy picture of our vehement measures of success such as war, which is essentially discharge of our rage and fear in mass, but we have more thorns than rose leaves there; what war can do to humanity which stands a mute spectator to the bloodbath that has been fomented by humanity itself in the name of power and religion, which are ironically devised to acquire divinity.
The bond between us- produced by forces almost impossible to define- was in every way like love, though it required endless concessions for us to accept each other.
link:
The Door is a unique tale of an uncommon (unrequited) love between Magda and Emerence, with love comes vulnerability as we allow people to associate with us we put inessential and excessive pressure on our heart since we imbibe these people in our being and when these part from us, we lose our being. Does it mean that we need to stay clear of all probable bonds, well, being human we can鈥檛 help it. And the abovementioned love is unrequited since one of the persons in this union of faith, trust, and interdependency is not allowed to live as she craved her life, she is being robbed of symbols of her faith, her religion, her God by someone who she loves whole-heartedly. Do we have authority to strip those we love, of their existential solaces or comforts they sculpted out of their entire lives, even if it means to save them from dying; and don鈥檛 we kill them when throw them into an inauthentic existential hell which rips off the meaning they bestow upon their lives. Don鈥檛 we effectively throw them into hopelessness in the name of this hope which takes birth from the womb of lie?
If she died, there would be no escape. If she lived, then the power that had so far never let me down would, yet gain, pluck me back, perhaps for the very last time, from the abyss over which I trembled.
The Door is a scintillating and frightening tale of the history of human civilization, the history which is filled with numerous unfortunate and unexpressed examples of innocence of humanity being engulfed by the searing demands of the hour in the wake of our great deeds. These unassumed examples of innocence have been lacerated by our bloodlust vengeance so that they stare into your face with eyes hardened and fossilized without any trace of tears and emotions, and what can you do except looking into them with your mouth agape in the horror of humanity crying through your useless eyes. You may guess that what importance our silly ideas of hope, faith, and God would have in the life of such a tormented specimen of human beings, she only wants love, pure love, but that too is being snatched from her unfortunate, trembling hands by our foolish desires of ego satisfaction. But one thing is for sure that eventually Emerence may vanish from your lives but not before she paralyzes your heart, forever to be a part of your consciousness- a dark history of your own life.
Humankind has come a long way since its beginnings and people of the future won鈥檛 be able to imagine the barbaric early days in which we fought with one another, in groups or individually, over little more than a cup of cocoa. But not even then will it be possible to soften the fate of a woman for whom no one has made a place in their life.
May 7, 2017
The Door by Magda Szabo is a fictionalized autobiography of the author's relationship with her octogenarian housekeeper named Emerence Szerebas. A goodreads friend from Hungary recommended this novel to me because she sees that I enjoy reading women authors from around the globe. Szabo wrote many prize winning novels during the course of her career, including both this book and the one depicted in it. During the course of this award winning novel, the readers experience post life in post Holocaust Hungary as well as the baggage that survivors carry with them. It is in this regard that we meet Emerence and the door barring people from her physical and emotional lives.
Magda and her husband are in need of a housekeeper as they are both too busy with their writing lives to care for their apartment on their own. Friends and acquaintances tell them that an older woman is to be better trusted than a young woman who might spill and break things. A caretaker of a villa down the street, Emerence is recommended to them. A countrywoman from the twin towns of Csabadul-Nadori, Emerence carries a lifetime of grief with her as she takes on cleaning job after cleaning job. Even though she works for Magda for over twenty years and appears to be ageless, the writer does not see through the door to the peasant's soul until near the end of their relationship.
Orphaned by age thirteen and responsible for the death of her twin siblings, Emerence is sent to Budapest to work as a governess and housekeeper. First employed by the Grossman family, she is entrusted to care for their daughter Eva as her own as the parents escape to the west for the duration of the Holocaust. No questions asked, her family sees nothing but Emerence's shame, yet the Grossmans repay her generously for her selflessness. Emerence as we later find out would have done this act of kindness without expecting anything in return. As a result, she hides her treasure deep inside her new apartment, never to show anyone inside the door to her secrets.
By the time Emerence goes to work for Magda and her husband, nine rescued cats are her only companions and she cares for them as others would care for babies. Despite the grief and despair occurred over a lifetime, Emerence has accumulated a neighborhood of admirers who see nothing but the Emerence who sweeps the streets, maintains an apartment building, and cares for others in their homes, including Magda. Even her nephew does not know her secrets until later. Emerence and Magda develop a deep relationship that is not fully realized until the end, including the shared caring for a dog named Viola who comes to see both women as her owners. Even though Magda is seen as self absorbed and Emerence as cold, over the course of the novel I came to deeply admire the two women as did the people who lived in their neighborhood.
It takes courage to write about oneself in less than a positive light, yet Szabo does this in The Door. Developing a trusting and loving relationship over many years between two unlikely people, readers enter through the figurative doorway to the protagonists' souls. Reading about the grief during post Holocaust Hungary was gut wrenching at times, and selfless people like Emerence should be lauded for their actions. This novel is not for everyone, especially not people in search of happy characters. Yet, The Door is an introspective novel that I enjoyed reading because I somehow could connect with the protagonists despite their at times cold dispositions. A award winning novel, I rate The Door 4 quality stars.
Magda and her husband are in need of a housekeeper as they are both too busy with their writing lives to care for their apartment on their own. Friends and acquaintances tell them that an older woman is to be better trusted than a young woman who might spill and break things. A caretaker of a villa down the street, Emerence is recommended to them. A countrywoman from the twin towns of Csabadul-Nadori, Emerence carries a lifetime of grief with her as she takes on cleaning job after cleaning job. Even though she works for Magda for over twenty years and appears to be ageless, the writer does not see through the door to the peasant's soul until near the end of their relationship.
Orphaned by age thirteen and responsible for the death of her twin siblings, Emerence is sent to Budapest to work as a governess and housekeeper. First employed by the Grossman family, she is entrusted to care for their daughter Eva as her own as the parents escape to the west for the duration of the Holocaust. No questions asked, her family sees nothing but Emerence's shame, yet the Grossmans repay her generously for her selflessness. Emerence as we later find out would have done this act of kindness without expecting anything in return. As a result, she hides her treasure deep inside her new apartment, never to show anyone inside the door to her secrets.
By the time Emerence goes to work for Magda and her husband, nine rescued cats are her only companions and she cares for them as others would care for babies. Despite the grief and despair occurred over a lifetime, Emerence has accumulated a neighborhood of admirers who see nothing but the Emerence who sweeps the streets, maintains an apartment building, and cares for others in their homes, including Magda. Even her nephew does not know her secrets until later. Emerence and Magda develop a deep relationship that is not fully realized until the end, including the shared caring for a dog named Viola who comes to see both women as her owners. Even though Magda is seen as self absorbed and Emerence as cold, over the course of the novel I came to deeply admire the two women as did the people who lived in their neighborhood.
It takes courage to write about oneself in less than a positive light, yet Szabo does this in The Door. Developing a trusting and loving relationship over many years between two unlikely people, readers enter through the figurative doorway to the protagonists' souls. Reading about the grief during post Holocaust Hungary was gut wrenching at times, and selfless people like Emerence should be lauded for their actions. This novel is not for everyone, especially not people in search of happy characters. Yet, The Door is an introspective novel that I enjoyed reading because I somehow could connect with the protagonists despite their at times cold dispositions. A award winning novel, I rate The Door 4 quality stars.
June 1, 2016
"I know now, what I didn't then, that affection can't always be expressed in calm, orderly, articulate ways; and that one cannot prescribe the form it should take for anyone else."
What an unusual sort of book and a very peculiar relationship examined therein between Magda, the narrator of The Door, and her housekeeper, Emerence. This novel really grabs you from the start 鈥� right away the reader knows that there is some mystery surrounding these two disparate women. Magda is a writer, privileged and becoming something of a public figure in her home country of Hungary. Emerence is uneducated, hard-working and tireless. The difference in social class between these two would certainly seem to preclude them from establishing a friendship, and yet over time they do just that. Yet, their relationship raises many questions about the various nuances that exist within a friendship. What do each owe the other in this relationship? Emerence's life is a swarm of secrets and plenty of hearsay about her background seems to be shared amongst the members of her community. The symbolic meaning of the title The Door is shared with both Emerence's physical door to her home - "No-one had ever seen Emerence's door standing open鈥� Guests were never invited in, and she took it very badly if anyone unexpectedly called her to come out" as well as the barrier she creates to her inner self. Still, she shares of herself in so many other ways 鈥� shoveling the snow from walkways up and down her street, providing food for the sick, giving odd gifts of treasures that others may consider junk, and sheltering homeless animals. She asks nothing in return except the respect of her privacy. Magda struggles with this as she yearns to learn this woman's deepest secrets. Emerence is privy to Magda and her husband's "dirty linen", yet Magda knows very little about this woman that she allows into her home every day. As time goes by, however, the various layers of Emerence are peeled back for Magda's eyes only and we, as readers, slowly learn about this eccentric as well.
While I enjoyed the slow reveal of Emerence's character, I still could not truly become attached to her. Her manner was harsh and any bond with her was nothing short of volatile. While she appeared to be non-judgmental and magnanimous in her treatment of humanity at large, I found her to be just the opposite with those that were the closest to her, including both Magda and even the dog, Viola. I know people like this and despite their goodness I still cannot reconcile myself to those traits that seem almost mentally abusive. Emerence detests those that work with their minds rather than their hands and she was not afraid to point this out to Magda 鈥� "You think there'll always be someone to cook and clean for you, a plate full of food, paper to scribble on, the master to love you; and everyone will live for eternity, like a fairy tale; and the only problem you might encounter is bad things written about you in the papers, which I'm sure is a terrible disgrace, but then why did you choose such a low trade, where any bandit can pour shit over you? God knows how you got yourself a name. You're not very bright, and you know nothing about people." No matter how charitable a person, what gives them the right to speak in this way to another human being? Especially one they call a friend. If Magda is expected to accept Emerence as she is, then should not the reverse be true? Should Emerence not dole out the same respect? Yet Magda wants to please Emerence and be worthy of her love 鈥� almost in the same way as Viola the dog would do anything for her true master, Emerence.
In the end, will Magda stand by Emerence and do right by her? Magda could become a bit watered down at times and play the role of an escapist. But yet, in a friendship, what matters the most 鈥� that we do exactly as our friend wishes us to do even if it goes against everything we believe in? If we are the guardians of the door, do we have the right to open that door for others to see what has been entrusted only to us if we believe that this is the correct choice of action? How to preserve the dignity of another human being is a question with no clear answer, but one which we all may need to consider at some time. This was a thought-provoking book which I found quite different from any I have read thus far. I was not really a fan of either of the main characters, and since this was character-driven this was a point that took away from my enjoyment just a bit. Definitely a book worthy of discussion and for that I have given it 3.5 stars.
What an unusual sort of book and a very peculiar relationship examined therein between Magda, the narrator of The Door, and her housekeeper, Emerence. This novel really grabs you from the start 鈥� right away the reader knows that there is some mystery surrounding these two disparate women. Magda is a writer, privileged and becoming something of a public figure in her home country of Hungary. Emerence is uneducated, hard-working and tireless. The difference in social class between these two would certainly seem to preclude them from establishing a friendship, and yet over time they do just that. Yet, their relationship raises many questions about the various nuances that exist within a friendship. What do each owe the other in this relationship? Emerence's life is a swarm of secrets and plenty of hearsay about her background seems to be shared amongst the members of her community. The symbolic meaning of the title The Door is shared with both Emerence's physical door to her home - "No-one had ever seen Emerence's door standing open鈥� Guests were never invited in, and she took it very badly if anyone unexpectedly called her to come out" as well as the barrier she creates to her inner self. Still, she shares of herself in so many other ways 鈥� shoveling the snow from walkways up and down her street, providing food for the sick, giving odd gifts of treasures that others may consider junk, and sheltering homeless animals. She asks nothing in return except the respect of her privacy. Magda struggles with this as she yearns to learn this woman's deepest secrets. Emerence is privy to Magda and her husband's "dirty linen", yet Magda knows very little about this woman that she allows into her home every day. As time goes by, however, the various layers of Emerence are peeled back for Magda's eyes only and we, as readers, slowly learn about this eccentric as well.
While I enjoyed the slow reveal of Emerence's character, I still could not truly become attached to her. Her manner was harsh and any bond with her was nothing short of volatile. While she appeared to be non-judgmental and magnanimous in her treatment of humanity at large, I found her to be just the opposite with those that were the closest to her, including both Magda and even the dog, Viola. I know people like this and despite their goodness I still cannot reconcile myself to those traits that seem almost mentally abusive. Emerence detests those that work with their minds rather than their hands and she was not afraid to point this out to Magda 鈥� "You think there'll always be someone to cook and clean for you, a plate full of food, paper to scribble on, the master to love you; and everyone will live for eternity, like a fairy tale; and the only problem you might encounter is bad things written about you in the papers, which I'm sure is a terrible disgrace, but then why did you choose such a low trade, where any bandit can pour shit over you? God knows how you got yourself a name. You're not very bright, and you know nothing about people." No matter how charitable a person, what gives them the right to speak in this way to another human being? Especially one they call a friend. If Magda is expected to accept Emerence as she is, then should not the reverse be true? Should Emerence not dole out the same respect? Yet Magda wants to please Emerence and be worthy of her love 鈥� almost in the same way as Viola the dog would do anything for her true master, Emerence.
In the end, will Magda stand by Emerence and do right by her? Magda could become a bit watered down at times and play the role of an escapist. But yet, in a friendship, what matters the most 鈥� that we do exactly as our friend wishes us to do even if it goes against everything we believe in? If we are the guardians of the door, do we have the right to open that door for others to see what has been entrusted only to us if we believe that this is the correct choice of action? How to preserve the dignity of another human being is a question with no clear answer, but one which we all may need to consider at some time. This was a thought-provoking book which I found quite different from any I have read thus far. I was not really a fan of either of the main characters, and since this was character-driven this was a point that took away from my enjoyment just a bit. Definitely a book worthy of discussion and for that I have given it 3.5 stars.
January 5, 2022
2 "I sort of wished I hadn't knocked" stars !!!
2021 Read I was Most Afraid to Hate Award (Runner Up)
I want to be very clear here. I very reluctantly awarded this novel 2 stars and I mean very reluctantly.
My enjoyment of this work did not even reach 1 star status. I loathed this reading experience but was able to glean a few morsels that got me through this novel and fragments that I was able to appreciate.
I want to start with what I was able to appreciate to a very minor degree :
The personality psychologies of the 2 female protagonists was sound and consistent and painted true to life.
I understood what the author was trying to do and I thought this was a valiant attempt. (will say more down below in what I hated)
The prose was good enough (3 star literary quality)
What I hated, loathed, repelled :
As accurate and well drawn out as the female (archetypal) characters were their interactions were mostly overwrought, immature and very often unbelievable. We have the hardworking uneducated "wise" crone in an enmeshed co-dependent hostile friendship with a young hypocritical bourgeois female academic. The hysteria between the two of them was so over the top ridiculous that I really wanted to bang their heads together. As great as the personality psychology was, the interpersonal dynamics stretched credulity over and over and after time number 637 broke me to tears of frustration.
The moral spoonfeeding of this narrative was blatant, obvious and irritated the bejezus out of me.
This did not work for me (at all) as either psychodrama, allegory nor domestic piece. Mostly like a very aggravating foot blister that will not heal.
The amount of violence towards the dog was absolutely unconscionable (I did not believe either of these characters would either engage in frequent beatings nor tolerate them)
All in all I understand why some might consider this to be a great modern masterwork. I will stick to eating my partner's delicious goulash.
P.S. The opening essay by Ali Smith was so lacklustre but maybe she was nudge nudging us with some foreshadowing.
2021 Read I was Most Afraid to Hate Award (Runner Up)
I want to be very clear here. I very reluctantly awarded this novel 2 stars and I mean very reluctantly.
My enjoyment of this work did not even reach 1 star status. I loathed this reading experience but was able to glean a few morsels that got me through this novel and fragments that I was able to appreciate.
I want to start with what I was able to appreciate to a very minor degree :
The personality psychologies of the 2 female protagonists was sound and consistent and painted true to life.
I understood what the author was trying to do and I thought this was a valiant attempt. (will say more down below in what I hated)
The prose was good enough (3 star literary quality)
What I hated, loathed, repelled :
As accurate and well drawn out as the female (archetypal) characters were their interactions were mostly overwrought, immature and very often unbelievable. We have the hardworking uneducated "wise" crone in an enmeshed co-dependent hostile friendship with a young hypocritical bourgeois female academic. The hysteria between the two of them was so over the top ridiculous that I really wanted to bang their heads together. As great as the personality psychology was, the interpersonal dynamics stretched credulity over and over and after time number 637 broke me to tears of frustration.
The moral spoonfeeding of this narrative was blatant, obvious and irritated the bejezus out of me.
This did not work for me (at all) as either psychodrama, allegory nor domestic piece. Mostly like a very aggravating foot blister that will not heal.
The amount of violence towards the dog was absolutely unconscionable (I did not believe either of these characters would either engage in frequent beatings nor tolerate them)
All in all I understand why some might consider this to be a great modern masterwork. I will stick to eating my partner's delicious goulash.
P.S. The opening essay by Ali Smith was so lacklustre but maybe she was nudge nudging us with some foreshadowing.
Read
April 2, 2019The main character of this story, the woman whose front door provides the title, is called Emerence.
Every time her name was mentioned, I automatically put a 'g' in it and read it as 'Emergence' which turned out to be quite fitting because the aspect of the writing that struck me most was the pacing: the way the story emerged little by little. Author Magda Szab贸 keeps a tight control over the narrative, allowing details to take on clarity very gradually as when a piece of photographic paper lying in a chemical bath slowly reveals the image that has been projected onto it.
Using such an old fashioned simile is fitting too because most of this story is set long before digital photography. The present day of the narrative is communist Hungary in the nineteen sixties to eighties, but the backstory takes place much earlier, between WWI and WWII. However, viewed from the vantage point of the narrator (also called Magda, and also a writer), who is firmly ensconced in the more modern and less oppressive half of the twentieth century, the backstory initially is only a vague shadow. And in spite of briefly revealing the end of the story at the beginning, Magda narrates from the position of the reader as regards how the story will play out, i.e., she acts as if she were completely in the dark (quite a neat trick given she resembles the author so closely).
So, while we know that she knows everything, we are lulled into thinking she knows nothing 鈥� which is convenient because otherwise it would be difficult to accept how awkwardly she behaves at crucial moments in the story as she bungles things again and again, trying our patience quite a bit. But it is such moments that allow the character of Emerence to be further developed, and so Magda's foolishness serves the author's purpose perfectly.
Magda's bungling is another way in which she mirrors the reader. Like her, we are inclined to underestimate Emerence during the course of the story. But our underestimation gets a serious jolt when the full picture emerges at last.
Because, yes, this story is one of very gradual Emergence 鈥� until finally it speeds up and races towards a situation of major major Emergency! The narrator and the reader follow along as well as we are able.
A very allegorical story which throws new light onto the history of Hungary in the 20th century, for this reader at least.
Every time her name was mentioned, I automatically put a 'g' in it and read it as 'Emergence' which turned out to be quite fitting because the aspect of the writing that struck me most was the pacing: the way the story emerged little by little. Author Magda Szab贸 keeps a tight control over the narrative, allowing details to take on clarity very gradually as when a piece of photographic paper lying in a chemical bath slowly reveals the image that has been projected onto it.
Using such an old fashioned simile is fitting too because most of this story is set long before digital photography. The present day of the narrative is communist Hungary in the nineteen sixties to eighties, but the backstory takes place much earlier, between WWI and WWII. However, viewed from the vantage point of the narrator (also called Magda, and also a writer), who is firmly ensconced in the more modern and less oppressive half of the twentieth century, the backstory initially is only a vague shadow. And in spite of briefly revealing the end of the story at the beginning, Magda narrates from the position of the reader as regards how the story will play out, i.e., she acts as if she were completely in the dark (quite a neat trick given she resembles the author so closely).
So, while we know that she knows everything, we are lulled into thinking she knows nothing 鈥� which is convenient because otherwise it would be difficult to accept how awkwardly she behaves at crucial moments in the story as she bungles things again and again, trying our patience quite a bit. But it is such moments that allow the character of Emerence to be further developed, and so Magda's foolishness serves the author's purpose perfectly.
Magda's bungling is another way in which she mirrors the reader. Like her, we are inclined to underestimate Emerence during the course of the story. But our underestimation gets a serious jolt when the full picture emerges at last.
Because, yes, this story is one of very gradual Emergence 鈥� until finally it speeds up and races towards a situation of major major Emergency! The narrator and the reader follow along as well as we are able.
A very allegorical story which throws new light onto the history of Hungary in the 20th century, for this reader at least.
May 10, 2020
賵丕蹖! 賵丕蹖 丕夭 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 :))
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賲孬賱 丿乇蹖 亘賵丿貙 亘賴 蹖讴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 毓噩蹖亘!!
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲丕賳噩賵乇蹖 讴賴 丕夭 禺賱丕氐賴 卮 倬蹖丿丕爻鬲 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 丿賵 夭賳 丕爻鬲! 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 乇丕亘胤賴 蹖 蹖讴 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇 賵 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 蹖 噩賵丕賳蹖 讴賴 讴丕乇賮乇賲丕蹖 丕賵爻鬲. 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 蹖賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲毓賲丕蹖蹖 賳亘賵丿 蹖讴 乇賲丕賳 亘賵丿! 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 毓卮賯 毓噩蹖亘蹖 讴賴 蹖賴賵 亘蹖賳 丕蹖賳 丿賵卮禺氐 乇卮丿 讴乇丿. 亘蹖賳 丕賲乇賳爻 賵 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴!!
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 毓卮賯 丕賲乇賳爻 亘賵丿! 毓卮賯卮 亘賴 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴貙 亘賴 丌丿賱讴丕 亘賴 爻賵鬲賵 亘賴 倬丕賱鬲! 亘賴 鬲賲丕賲 丕賮乇丕丿 賲丨賱 讴賴 亘乇丕卮賵賳 讴丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┴必�.
讴鬲丕亘 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖 爻禺鬲 丕賲乇賳爻 亘賵丿貙 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 乇賵丨 賵 毓賯賱 毓噩蹖亘蹖 讴賴 丿丕卮鬲
蹖讴 趩蹖夭 毓噩蹖亘蹖 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕賲乇賳爻 賵噩賵丿 丿丕卮鬲貨 丕賵 賴蹖趩賵賯鬲 毓丕丿蹖 賳亘賵丿. 卮亘蹖賴 讴爻丕蹖蹖 賳亘賵丿 讴賴 賲丕 賴乇乇賵夭 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗃屬�. 丕賲乇賳爻 卮亘蹖賴 讴爻蹖 亘賵丿 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 賲丿鬲 讴賵鬲丕賴蹖 讴賳丕乇賲丕爻鬲貙 乇賵蹖 賲丕 鬲丕孬蹖乇 賲蹖鈥屫柏ж辟囏� 賲蹖乇賴 賵 丿乇賳賴丕蹖鬲 賴賲蹖卮賴 蹖丕丿卮 亘丕 賲丕爻鬲.
丕賲乇賳爻 乇賵蹖 讴賱 丕丿賲 賴丕蹖 乇賵爻鬲丕卮賵賳 鬲丕孬蹖乇 诏匕丕卮鬲. 亘丿賵賳 丕蹖賳讴賴 丕賵賳 賴丕 亘禺賵丕賳 亘賴卮賵賳 毓卮賯 賵乇夭蹖丿賳 蹖丕丿 丿丕丿.
亘丿賵賳 丕蹖賳讴賴 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘禺賵丕丿 丕賵賳 乇賵 丿乇诏蹖乇 禺賵丿卮 讴乇丿. 丿乇诏蹖乇 夭賳丿诏蹖鈥屫簇� 丿乇诏蹖乇 诏乇亘賴鈥屬囏ж簇� 丿乇诏蹖乇 丿乇!
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賲孬賱 丿乇蹖 亘賵丿貙 亘賴 蹖讴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 毓噩蹖亘!!
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲丕賳噩賵乇蹖 讴賴 丕夭 禺賱丕氐賴 卮 倬蹖丿丕爻鬲 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 丿賵 夭賳 丕爻鬲! 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 乇丕亘胤賴 蹖 蹖讴 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇 賵 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 蹖 噩賵丕賳蹖 讴賴 讴丕乇賮乇賲丕蹖 丕賵爻鬲. 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 蹖賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲毓賲丕蹖蹖 賳亘賵丿 蹖讴 乇賲丕賳 亘賵丿! 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 毓卮賯 毓噩蹖亘蹖 讴賴 蹖賴賵 亘蹖賳 丕蹖賳 丿賵卮禺氐 乇卮丿 讴乇丿. 亘蹖賳 丕賲乇賳爻 賵 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴!!
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 毓卮賯 丕賲乇賳爻 亘賵丿! 毓卮賯卮 亘賴 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴貙 亘賴 丌丿賱讴丕 亘賴 爻賵鬲賵 亘賴 倬丕賱鬲! 亘賴 鬲賲丕賲 丕賮乇丕丿 賲丨賱 讴賴 亘乇丕卮賵賳 讴丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┴必�.
讴鬲丕亘 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 夭賳丿诏蹖 爻禺鬲 丕賲乇賳爻 亘賵丿貙 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 乇賵丨 賵 毓賯賱 毓噩蹖亘蹖 讴賴 丿丕卮鬲
蹖讴 趩蹖夭 毓噩蹖亘蹖 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕賲乇賳爻 賵噩賵丿 丿丕卮鬲貨 丕賵 賴蹖趩賵賯鬲 毓丕丿蹖 賳亘賵丿. 卮亘蹖賴 讴爻丕蹖蹖 賳亘賵丿 讴賴 賲丕 賴乇乇賵夭 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗃屬�. 丕賲乇賳爻 卮亘蹖賴 讴爻蹖 亘賵丿 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 賲丿鬲 讴賵鬲丕賴蹖 讴賳丕乇賲丕爻鬲貙 乇賵蹖 賲丕 鬲丕孬蹖乇 賲蹖鈥屫柏ж辟囏� 賲蹖乇賴 賵 丿乇賳賴丕蹖鬲 賴賲蹖卮賴 蹖丕丿卮 亘丕 賲丕爻鬲.
丕賲乇賳爻 乇賵蹖 讴賱 丕丿賲 賴丕蹖 乇賵爻鬲丕卮賵賳 鬲丕孬蹖乇 诏匕丕卮鬲. 亘丿賵賳 丕蹖賳讴賴 丕賵賳 賴丕 亘禺賵丕賳 亘賴卮賵賳 毓卮賯 賵乇夭蹖丿賳 蹖丕丿 丿丕丿.
亘丿賵賳 丕蹖賳讴賴 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘禺賵丕丿 丕賵賳 乇賵 丿乇诏蹖乇 禺賵丿卮 讴乇丿. 丿乇诏蹖乇 夭賳丿诏蹖鈥屫簇� 丿乇诏蹖乇 诏乇亘賴鈥屬囏ж簇� 丿乇诏蹖乇 丿乇!
July 24, 2016
I still don't know how she fitted so much living into one life.
Hope and despair go hand in hand whenever I try to form a rather fragmentary sketch of a far-off Hungarian landscape. It is one place which has become an essential part of my past as well as prospective literary sojourns and whenever I decide to visit there, to meet another storyteller and to hear one more hypnotic tale, there鈥檚 always a throbbing anticipation to receive a treasured souvenir made out of unfamiliar lives but exceptional words. And this time, when I found myself standing in front of Emerence鈥檚 door, without knocking; patiently waiting on her front porch while listening to her dearest companion, Magda Szab贸, I was lucky to witness the masterful weaving of my parting present.
I didn't like my own secrets. I liked other people's even less.
There was something about Emerence. From the outset, her enigmatic persona heightened the curiosity in me and the conjectures which followed were all kinds of strange to silly. I was baffled, moved, scared and eventually relieved. My idea of hell was getting replaced by a more sinister one and my idea of paradise was becoming more dazzling. The bewitching narration was doing the whole trick, which was a cross between a guileless confession and a virtuous revelation. Our narrator, a writer by profession had to have a constant exposure to fiction, as a result of which she allowed herself carefully monitored doses of reality. But soon enough she needed help. A domestic help in the worldly sense but something which carried a lot more than the stipulated deal.
How irrational, how unpredictable is the attraction between people, how fatal its current.
How fatal indeed. When people become too familiar with one鈥檚 surroundings and abide by an invisible but existent code of conduct, then something comes forth to shake the status quo. Emerence, a headstrong, self-reliant lady had little but rigid demands from the world around her. A giver more than a taker, she always knew what really matters. Of all this, the door of her home and whatever it concealed was part of her prized possessions. To unlock that wooden door, it was necessary to find the key to Emerence鈥檚 heart first. It was as simple and as complicated as that. A synonym for 鈥淰ulnerability鈥� can easily be depicted as 鈥榯hat one person鈥� and for Emerence, that person was her employer, our narrator. Among engaging discourses and occasional dialogues, a relationship of a lifetime flourished between two people which followed itself to the heavenly realms of death.
With the charm of a legend, the credibility of everyday life and the sanctity of a heartfelt writing, this book made me see another glorious aspect of Hungarian world. I鈥檒l soon visit there again.
Hope and despair go hand in hand whenever I try to form a rather fragmentary sketch of a far-off Hungarian landscape. It is one place which has become an essential part of my past as well as prospective literary sojourns and whenever I decide to visit there, to meet another storyteller and to hear one more hypnotic tale, there鈥檚 always a throbbing anticipation to receive a treasured souvenir made out of unfamiliar lives but exceptional words. And this time, when I found myself standing in front of Emerence鈥檚 door, without knocking; patiently waiting on her front porch while listening to her dearest companion, Magda Szab贸, I was lucky to witness the masterful weaving of my parting present.
I didn't like my own secrets. I liked other people's even less.
There was something about Emerence. From the outset, her enigmatic persona heightened the curiosity in me and the conjectures which followed were all kinds of strange to silly. I was baffled, moved, scared and eventually relieved. My idea of hell was getting replaced by a more sinister one and my idea of paradise was becoming more dazzling. The bewitching narration was doing the whole trick, which was a cross between a guileless confession and a virtuous revelation. Our narrator, a writer by profession had to have a constant exposure to fiction, as a result of which she allowed herself carefully monitored doses of reality. But soon enough she needed help. A domestic help in the worldly sense but something which carried a lot more than the stipulated deal.
How irrational, how unpredictable is the attraction between people, how fatal its current.
How fatal indeed. When people become too familiar with one鈥檚 surroundings and abide by an invisible but existent code of conduct, then something comes forth to shake the status quo. Emerence, a headstrong, self-reliant lady had little but rigid demands from the world around her. A giver more than a taker, she always knew what really matters. Of all this, the door of her home and whatever it concealed was part of her prized possessions. To unlock that wooden door, it was necessary to find the key to Emerence鈥檚 heart first. It was as simple and as complicated as that. A synonym for 鈥淰ulnerability鈥� can easily be depicted as 鈥榯hat one person鈥� and for Emerence, that person was her employer, our narrator. Among engaging discourses and occasional dialogues, a relationship of a lifetime flourished between two people which followed itself to the heavenly realms of death.
With the charm of a legend, the credibility of everyday life and the sanctity of a heartfelt writing, this book made me see another glorious aspect of Hungarian world. I鈥檒l soon visit there again.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
August 11, 2021DNF after 20%
I was looking forward to reading The Door by Magda Szabo because I saw many positive reviews and it was planed to be my first Hungarian writer. However, I could not stand the writing style and the characters. I was dreading to return listening to this book. The narrator was fine but the book made irritable (like Emerence). I do not need to like the characters but I do have to enjoy the writing. I didn't, unfortunately.
I was looking forward to reading The Door by Magda Szabo because I saw many positive reviews and it was planed to be my first Hungarian writer. However, I could not stand the writing style and the characters. I was dreading to return listening to this book. The narrator was fine but the book made irritable (like Emerence). I do not need to like the characters but I do have to enjoy the writing. I didn't, unfortunately.
April 8, 2018
What a mesmerizing and quite dark little book. This is about a Hungarian writer and her husband who have an older servant woman who basically takes over their household and their life. The book is mostly about the relationship between two women, and it鈥檚 a tense situation throughout but I really did like it!
July 14, 2021
Az ajt贸 = The Door : a novel, Magda Szab贸
The novel begins with Magda, the narrator, recounting the recurring dream that haunts her in her old age.
As Magda explains, after waking up from this dream, she is forced to face the fact that "I killed Emerence".
The story that follows is Magda's attempt to explain what she means by this sentence; it is the comprehensive story of her decades-long relationship with her housekeeper Emerence.
When the story begins, Magda has just come into favor with the government and her works are finally allowed to be published again. ...
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮 乇賵夭 蹖丕夭丿賴賲 賲丕賴 噩賵賱丕蹖 爻丕賱 2018賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 卮賴乇 賲賲賳賵毓賴貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賲丕诏丿丕 爻丕亘賵貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賮乇蹖亘丕 丕乇噩賲賳丿貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 賳卮乇 賯胤乇賴貙 1396貨 丿乇 313氐貨 卮丕亘讴 9786001199387貨 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 賲噩丕乇爻鬲丕賳 - 爻丿賴 20賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 丿乇貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賲丕诏丿丕 爻丕亘賵貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 賳氐乇丕賱賴 賲乇丕丿蹖丕賳蹖貨 賵蹖乇丕爻鬲丕乇 賲乇蹖賲 賮乇賳丕賲貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 亘蹖丿诏賱貙 1397貨 丿乇 476氐貨 卮丕亘讴 9786007806869貨 趩丕倬 丿賵賲 爻丕賱1398貨
乇賵丕蹖鬲蹖 丕夭 丕毓鬲乇丕賮 乇丕賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賴 賯鬲賱 蹖讴 夭賳 讴賴 丕夭 賱丨馗賴 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 丿蹖丿丕乇 乇丕賵蹖 亘丕 丕賵 讴賴 芦丕賲乇賳爻禄 賳丕賲 丿丕乇丿 丌睾丕夭貙 賵 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇 賲蹖丕賳賴 丌賳賴丕 乇禺 丿丕丿賴 乇丕 亘丕 噩夭卅蹖丕鬲 亘丕夭诏賵 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�
賳賯賱 丕夭 賲賯丿賲賴: (丕毓鬲乇丕賮 丿乇 丿蹖賳 賲賳 噩丕蹖蹖 賳丿丕乇丿貙 丕毓鬲乇丕賮蹖 讴賴 亘賴 賵丕爻胤賴 丌賳貙 亘丕 夭亘丕賳 讴卮蹖卮 丕賯乇丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗃屬呚� 讴賴 诏賳丕賴讴丕乇蹖賲貙 丕毓鬲乇丕賮 亘賴 丕蹖賳讴賴 賲爻鬲丨賯 賱毓賳 賵 賳賮乇蹖賳鈥屫й屬呚� 亘賴 丕蹖賳 丿賱蹖賱 讴賴 禺賵丿 禺賵丕爻鬲賴 丿賴 賮乇賲丕賳 乇丕 夭蹖乇倬丕 诏匕丕卮鬲賴鈥� 丕蹖賲貙 丕毓鬲乇丕賮蹖 讴賴 亘毓丿 丕夭 丌賳貙 亘丿賵賳 賳蹖丕夭 亘賴 鬲賵囟蹖丨 蹖丕 丕乇丕卅賴 噩夭卅蹖丕鬲貙 丌賲乇夭蹖丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堐屬呚� 丕賲丕 賲賳 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囐� 鬲賵囟蹖丨 丿賴賲貙 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囐� 丕蹖賳 噩夭卅蹖丕鬲 乇丕 亘賴 夭亘丕賳 亘蹖丕賵乇賲貨 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇丕 賲丨囟 丕胤賱丕毓 禺丿丕貙 讴賴 丕夭 爻乇 囟賲蹖乇賲 丌诏丕賴 丕爻鬲貙 賳賳賵卮鬲賴鈥� 丕賲貙 賵 賳賴 丨鬲蹖 賲丨囟 禺丕胤乇 丕乇賵丕丨 賲乇丿诏丕賳 蹖讴爻乇 亘蹖賳丕貙 讴賴 賴賲 卮丕賴丿 夭賳丿诏蹖鈥屫з呚� 丿乇 爻丕毓丕鬲 亘蹖丿丕乇蹖鈥屫з嗀� 賴賲 卮丕賴丿 乇賵蹖丕賴丕蹖賲貨 賲賳 亘乇丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇丕賳 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫迟呚� 鬲丕 讴賳賵賳 亘丕 卮賴丕賲鬲 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴乇丿賴鈥� 丕賲貙 賵 丕賲蹖丿賲 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 賴賲蹖賳鈥屫焚堌� 賴賲 亘賲蹖乇賲貙 卮噩丕毓丕賳賴 賵 亘賴 丿賵乇 丕夭 丿乇賵睾貨 丕賲丕 亘乇丕蹖 芦跇賳蹖賳禄貙 趩蹖夭蹖 乇丕 亘丕蹖丿 乇讴 賵 亘蹖鈥屬矩辟堌ж� 丕賯乇丕乇 讴賳賲貨 芦丕賲乇賳爻禄 乇丕 賲賳 讴卮鬲賲貨 丕賲丕 丕蹖賳 賵丕賯毓蹖鬲 讴賴 賯氐丿賲 賳噩丕鬲 丕賵 亘賵丿貙 賳賴 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 丕賵貙 趩蹖夭蹖 乇丕 毓賵囟 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�)貨 倬丕蹖丕賳 賳賯賱
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 22/04/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
The novel begins with Magda, the narrator, recounting the recurring dream that haunts her in her old age.
As Magda explains, after waking up from this dream, she is forced to face the fact that "I killed Emerence".
The story that follows is Magda's attempt to explain what she means by this sentence; it is the comprehensive story of her decades-long relationship with her housekeeper Emerence.
When the story begins, Magda has just come into favor with the government and her works are finally allowed to be published again. ...
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮 乇賵夭 蹖丕夭丿賴賲 賲丕賴 噩賵賱丕蹖 爻丕賱 2018賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 卮賴乇 賲賲賳賵毓賴貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賲丕诏丿丕 爻丕亘賵貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 賮乇蹖亘丕 丕乇噩賲賳丿貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 賳卮乇 賯胤乇賴貙 1396貨 丿乇 313氐貨 卮丕亘讴 9786001199387貨 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 賲噩丕乇爻鬲丕賳 - 爻丿賴 20賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 丿乇貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賲丕诏丿丕 爻丕亘賵貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 賳氐乇丕賱賴 賲乇丕丿蹖丕賳蹖貨 賵蹖乇丕爻鬲丕乇 賲乇蹖賲 賮乇賳丕賲貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 亘蹖丿诏賱貙 1397貨 丿乇 476氐貨 卮丕亘讴 9786007806869貨 趩丕倬 丿賵賲 爻丕賱1398貨
乇賵丕蹖鬲蹖 丕夭 丕毓鬲乇丕賮 乇丕賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賴 賯鬲賱 蹖讴 夭賳 讴賴 丕夭 賱丨馗賴 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 丿蹖丿丕乇 乇丕賵蹖 亘丕 丕賵 讴賴 芦丕賲乇賳爻禄 賳丕賲 丿丕乇丿 丌睾丕夭貙 賵 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇 賲蹖丕賳賴 丌賳賴丕 乇禺 丿丕丿賴 乇丕 亘丕 噩夭卅蹖丕鬲 亘丕夭诏賵 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�
賳賯賱 丕夭 賲賯丿賲賴: (丕毓鬲乇丕賮 丿乇 丿蹖賳 賲賳 噩丕蹖蹖 賳丿丕乇丿貙 丕毓鬲乇丕賮蹖 讴賴 亘賴 賵丕爻胤賴 丌賳貙 亘丕 夭亘丕賳 讴卮蹖卮 丕賯乇丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗃屬呚� 讴賴 诏賳丕賴讴丕乇蹖賲貙 丕毓鬲乇丕賮 亘賴 丕蹖賳讴賴 賲爻鬲丨賯 賱毓賳 賵 賳賮乇蹖賳鈥屫й屬呚� 亘賴 丕蹖賳 丿賱蹖賱 讴賴 禺賵丿 禺賵丕爻鬲賴 丿賴 賮乇賲丕賳 乇丕 夭蹖乇倬丕 诏匕丕卮鬲賴鈥� 丕蹖賲貙 丕毓鬲乇丕賮蹖 讴賴 亘毓丿 丕夭 丌賳貙 亘丿賵賳 賳蹖丕夭 亘賴 鬲賵囟蹖丨 蹖丕 丕乇丕卅賴 噩夭卅蹖丕鬲貙 丌賲乇夭蹖丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堐屬呚� 丕賲丕 賲賳 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囐� 鬲賵囟蹖丨 丿賴賲貙 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囐� 丕蹖賳 噩夭卅蹖丕鬲 乇丕 亘賴 夭亘丕賳 亘蹖丕賵乇賲貨 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇丕 賲丨囟 丕胤賱丕毓 禺丿丕貙 讴賴 丕夭 爻乇 囟賲蹖乇賲 丌诏丕賴 丕爻鬲貙 賳賳賵卮鬲賴鈥� 丕賲貙 賵 賳賴 丨鬲蹖 賲丨囟 禺丕胤乇 丕乇賵丕丨 賲乇丿诏丕賳 蹖讴爻乇 亘蹖賳丕貙 讴賴 賴賲 卮丕賴丿 夭賳丿诏蹖鈥屫з呚� 丿乇 爻丕毓丕鬲 亘蹖丿丕乇蹖鈥屫з嗀� 賴賲 卮丕賴丿 乇賵蹖丕賴丕蹖賲貨 賲賳 亘乇丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇丕賳 賲蹖鈥屬嗁堐屫迟呚� 鬲丕 讴賳賵賳 亘丕 卮賴丕賲鬲 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴乇丿賴鈥� 丕賲貙 賵 丕賲蹖丿賲 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 賴賲蹖賳鈥屫焚堌� 賴賲 亘賲蹖乇賲貙 卮噩丕毓丕賳賴 賵 亘賴 丿賵乇 丕夭 丿乇賵睾貨 丕賲丕 亘乇丕蹖 芦跇賳蹖賳禄貙 趩蹖夭蹖 乇丕 亘丕蹖丿 乇讴 賵 亘蹖鈥屬矩辟堌ж� 丕賯乇丕乇 讴賳賲貨 芦丕賲乇賳爻禄 乇丕 賲賳 讴卮鬲賲貨 丕賲丕 丕蹖賳 賵丕賯毓蹖鬲 讴賴 賯氐丿賲 賳噩丕鬲 丕賵 亘賵丿貙 賳賴 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 丕賵貙 趩蹖夭蹖 乇丕 毓賵囟 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�)貨 倬丕蹖丕賳 賳賯賱
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 22/04/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
March 8, 2024
Sometimes, when I read a book, I unknowingly make a mental comparison to the book I just read or the book I expect to read next. When that happens, it can scramble up my thoughts and impressions. I suspect that happened while I was reading Magda Szabo's novel The Door. Let me clarify that The Door is neither The Firm nor is it The Burglar. However, in its own way, The Door also deserves a 4+ rating; therefore, I have changed my rating from 3+ to 4+.
8 March 2024
=============================
I discovered Magda Szabo's The Door in The New York Times list of the ten best novels of 2015. Something in the description convinced me that I needed to read this book as soon as possible. Sadly, I don't recall what it was. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that Hungary had been an occupied country during most of Szabo's life, and the evils of colonialism have been a recurring theme in my readings. (The Door was first published in 1987, and communist control of Hungary didn't end until 1989.)
This is a character driven story with no clear plot progression. The author only spoke with clarity when she discussed the Nazis. This story appeared to be full of intangible metaphors and analogies that I could not quite comprehend. Whenever a blurry image formed in my mind, it quickly dissipated into the mist of my confusion. The only thing I understood was the relationship between two women who were being fully explored. I didn't understand what it all meant.
Because initially I couldn't figure out what The Door was about, I felt compelled to ask Ms. Internet, and she replied that The Door is about all the doors we enter and exit in life. Some doors are open to us. Some closed. One could even argue that we enter through a door when we're born and exit through a door when we die. (Man, I never would have figured that out on my own. Thank you, Ms. Internet.)
Early in the story, we're told we can't go through other people's doors. Szabo then shows us that the best way to find out what's on the other side of another person's door is to open your own door and invite the other person in. Problematically, this can lead to mutual dependencies and obligations. Friendship can lead to love, and love can lead to heartbreak. Ultimately, that's what life seems to be about.
8 March 2024
=============================
I discovered Magda Szabo's The Door in The New York Times list of the ten best novels of 2015. Something in the description convinced me that I needed to read this book as soon as possible. Sadly, I don't recall what it was. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that Hungary had been an occupied country during most of Szabo's life, and the evils of colonialism have been a recurring theme in my readings. (The Door was first published in 1987, and communist control of Hungary didn't end until 1989.)
This is a character driven story with no clear plot progression. The author only spoke with clarity when she discussed the Nazis. This story appeared to be full of intangible metaphors and analogies that I could not quite comprehend. Whenever a blurry image formed in my mind, it quickly dissipated into the mist of my confusion. The only thing I understood was the relationship between two women who were being fully explored. I didn't understand what it all meant.
Because initially I couldn't figure out what The Door was about, I felt compelled to ask Ms. Internet, and she replied that The Door is about all the doors we enter and exit in life. Some doors are open to us. Some closed. One could even argue that we enter through a door when we're born and exit through a door when we die. (Man, I never would have figured that out on my own. Thank you, Ms. Internet.)
Early in the story, we're told we can't go through other people's doors. Szabo then shows us that the best way to find out what's on the other side of another person's door is to open your own door and invite the other person in. Problematically, this can lead to mutual dependencies and obligations. Friendship can lead to love, and love can lead to heartbreak. Ultimately, that's what life seems to be about.
February 5, 2015
I found the atmosphere of this novel to be full of darkness and despair. The friendship between two woman, one an up and coming author, the other an older woman revered on the street. Emerence is a character I will not soon forget, a woman who has seen much, sheltered unbiasedly different people throughout the war, a hardworking woman of the utmost honor and pride.
The title has many different meanings in this book, the literal door and other doors, internal and psychological. This book raised so many questions. What does friendship mean? How much of how a person sees themselves should be taken into consideration when the person needs help. How much do you owe a person when you are the only one they let behind the barriers and the secrets they have constructed in order to keep their past and present private? I have thought of this book on and off for the last few days, it is brilliantly written and packs a powerful punch. I loved Viola the dog and how attuned he was to the wants and need of Emerence and she to him.
This is not a happy little story but it is a thought provoking one, a book that will not be easily forgotten.
The title has many different meanings in this book, the literal door and other doors, internal and psychological. This book raised so many questions. What does friendship mean? How much of how a person sees themselves should be taken into consideration when the person needs help. How much do you owe a person when you are the only one they let behind the barriers and the secrets they have constructed in order to keep their past and present private? I have thought of this book on and off for the last few days, it is brilliantly written and packs a powerful punch. I loved Viola the dog and how attuned he was to the wants and need of Emerence and she to him.
This is not a happy little story but it is a thought provoking one, a book that will not be easily forgotten.
November 3, 2020
賰賱 亘丕亘 賲賯賮賵賱 賴賵 丨丿 賮丕氐賱 亘賷賳賳丕 賵亘賷賳 丕賱丌禺乇賷賳, 賵賯丿 賳賮鬲丨賴 亘丨爻亘 兀賵賱賵賷丞 丕賱丨亘 賵丕賱丕賴鬲賲丕賲
乇賵丕賷丞 賱賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕賱賲噩乇賷丞 賲丕噩丿丕 爻丕亘賵 賲丨賰賷丞 亘兀爻賱賵亘 噩賲賷賱 賵亘爻賷胤
毓賱丕賯丞 亘賷賳 丕賲乇兀鬲賷賳- 賰丕鬲亘丞 賵禺丕丿賲丞- 鬲兀禺匕 賰賱 賲賳賴賲丕 廿賱賶 毓丕賱賲 丕賱兀禺乇賶
毓賱丕賯丞 鬲鬲乇丕賵丨 兀丨賷丕賳丕 亘賷賳 丕賱噩賲賵丿 賵丕賱鬲丨賮馗 賵兀丨賷丕賳丕 丕賱丨亘 賵丕賱丕賳爻噩丕賲
卮禺氐賷丕鬲賴賲 賲鬲賳丕賯囟丞, 賰賱 賵丕丨丿丞 賮賷賴賲 鬲乇賶 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賵丕賱賳丕爻 亘卮賰賱 賲禺鬲賱賮
丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丨賷丕鬲賴丕 亘賷賳 夭賵噩賴丕 賵毓丕賱賲賴丕 丕賱賮賰乇賷 賵丕賱賰鬲丕亘丞
賵丕賱禺丕丿賲丞 丕賱毓噩賵夭 丕賱賲賴鬲賲丞 賮賯胤 亘丕賱毓賲賱 鬲亘毓丕 賱卮乇賵胤賴丕 丕賱氐丕乇賲丞
賱賰賳賴丕 鬲賲鬲賱賰 賯賵丞 賵丨賰賲丞 賮胤乇賷丞 鬲鬲賵丕夭賳 賲毓 孬賯丕賮丞 賵賲毓丕乇賮 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞
兀噩丕丿鬲 賲丕噩丿丕 爻丕亘賵 賮賷 丕賱鬲毓亘賷乇 毓賳 丕賱丕禺鬲賱丕賮 亘賷賳賴賲丕 賮賷 丕賱賮賰乇 賵丕賱賲卮丕毓乇 賵丕賱鬲氐乇賮丕鬲
毓乇囟鬲 賲賱丕賲丨 賲賳 馗乇賵賮 丕賱丨乇亘 賵丕賱兀丨賵丕賱 丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賵丕賱爻賷丕爻賷丞 賮賷 亘賱丿賴丕 丕賱賲噩乇
賵賲毓丕賳賷 丕賱丕禺鬲賱丕賮 亘賷賳 丕賱亘卮乇 賵賲賮賴賵賲 丕賱毓胤丕亍 賵丕賱賲爻丕賳丿丞 賵丕賱毓賰爻 賮賷 丕賱鬲禺賱賷 賵丕賱禺匕賱丕賳
丕賱兀爻賱賵亘 爻賱爻 賱賰賳 賮賷賴 廿胤丕賱丞 賮賷 丕賱爻乇丿 賮賷 兀睾賱亘 丕賱賮氐賵賱
乇賵丕賷丞 賱賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕賱賲噩乇賷丞 賲丕噩丿丕 爻丕亘賵 賲丨賰賷丞 亘兀爻賱賵亘 噩賲賷賱 賵亘爻賷胤
毓賱丕賯丞 亘賷賳 丕賲乇兀鬲賷賳- 賰丕鬲亘丞 賵禺丕丿賲丞- 鬲兀禺匕 賰賱 賲賳賴賲丕 廿賱賶 毓丕賱賲 丕賱兀禺乇賶
毓賱丕賯丞 鬲鬲乇丕賵丨 兀丨賷丕賳丕 亘賷賳 丕賱噩賲賵丿 賵丕賱鬲丨賮馗 賵兀丨賷丕賳丕 丕賱丨亘 賵丕賱丕賳爻噩丕賲
卮禺氐賷丕鬲賴賲 賲鬲賳丕賯囟丞, 賰賱 賵丕丨丿丞 賮賷賴賲 鬲乇賶 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賵丕賱賳丕爻 亘卮賰賱 賲禺鬲賱賮
丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丨賷丕鬲賴丕 亘賷賳 夭賵噩賴丕 賵毓丕賱賲賴丕 丕賱賮賰乇賷 賵丕賱賰鬲丕亘丞
賵丕賱禺丕丿賲丞 丕賱毓噩賵夭 丕賱賲賴鬲賲丞 賮賯胤 亘丕賱毓賲賱 鬲亘毓丕 賱卮乇賵胤賴丕 丕賱氐丕乇賲丞
賱賰賳賴丕 鬲賲鬲賱賰 賯賵丞 賵丨賰賲丞 賮胤乇賷丞 鬲鬲賵丕夭賳 賲毓 孬賯丕賮丞 賵賲毓丕乇賮 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞
兀噩丕丿鬲 賲丕噩丿丕 爻丕亘賵 賮賷 丕賱鬲毓亘賷乇 毓賳 丕賱丕禺鬲賱丕賮 亘賷賳賴賲丕 賮賷 丕賱賮賰乇 賵丕賱賲卮丕毓乇 賵丕賱鬲氐乇賮丕鬲
毓乇囟鬲 賲賱丕賲丨 賲賳 馗乇賵賮 丕賱丨乇亘 賵丕賱兀丨賵丕賱 丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賵丕賱爻賷丕爻賷丞 賮賷 亘賱丿賴丕 丕賱賲噩乇
賵賲毓丕賳賷 丕賱丕禺鬲賱丕賮 亘賷賳 丕賱亘卮乇 賵賲賮賴賵賲 丕賱毓胤丕亍 賵丕賱賲爻丕賳丿丞 賵丕賱毓賰爻 賮賷 丕賱鬲禺賱賷 賵丕賱禺匕賱丕賳
丕賱兀爻賱賵亘 爻賱爻 賱賰賳 賮賷賴 廿胤丕賱丞 賮賷 丕賱爻乇丿 賮賷 兀睾賱亘 丕賱賮氐賵賱
March 5, 2020
This book has a timbre, a tone that is haunting.听 I will not be forgetting the character of Emerence anytime soon.听 An older woman, she acts as housekeeper for a lady writer and the writer's husband.听 Odd-turned and enigmatic, harsh and opinionated, Emerence is a workhorse.听 The 20 year relationship between the two woman is fascinating, charming, and sad.听 The story of Emerence's life slowly comes together, pieced together like an intricate mosaic.听 There are myriad meanings behind the title.听 听 听听
...this woman who peopled her home with animals - sharing this because I just loved the way it was worded.听 听 听
听I'm having a terrible time trying to write what I want to say about this book, so will call it quits and ask you to read some of the very fine reviews already posted.
...this woman who peopled her home with animals - sharing this because I just loved the way it was worded.听 听 听
听I'm having a terrible time trying to write what I want to say about this book, so will call it quits and ask you to read some of the very fine reviews already posted.
November 2, 2016
Magda Szabo really makes the reader work hard with this book and I for one found the characters and the story unconvincing
The Door is a novel by Hungarian writer Magda Szabo. The novel documents two decades of life in Budapest after the Communist takeover in 1948, The novel tells the story of a developing and complicated relationship between a young Hungarian Writer and her housekeeper and is partly autobiographical.
Having visited Hungary only last year I was up to date on the history and was glad of that when reading this novel. The book started out promising but the further along I read the more I became frustrated with the character's actions and the repetitive nature of the novel. I know this is a favorite of many but I just couldn't relate to Emerence's rages and tantrums and never felt I understood her or indeed her employer or their actions and while the book is very readable and there are moments where it captured my imagination but I cant honestly say I enjoyed the novel and hence my 2.5 Rating.
September 4, 2019
Two complicated women clash in Communist-era Hungary in Magda Szab贸鈥檚 unsettling character study,
The Door
.
The narrator is a successful author, a cultured intellectual whose 鈥渇amily goes back to the 脕rp谩ds鈥�. This novel is her extended confession; in the opening pages she admits: 鈥淚 killed Emerence鈥�.
Emerence is brusque, sturdy, freakishly strong, her hair always bescarfed. The indefatigable peasant worker, she seems straight out of a Soviet-era propaganda poster. Her long hard life, tumultuous and frequently blighted by terrible violence, makes her a symbol of 20th century Hungary itself.
These two women form a mutual love/hate co-dependent bond, lasting decades. These two need each other but both are capable of wilful blindness and shocking cruelty.
It is difficult to think of other novels with two such complicated & unlikeable female antagonists ( comes to mind, but what else?). The Door subverts all our expectations of how this narrative might resolve itself: in the conventional, Hollywood-friendly version, these two prickly women would eventually come to a cosy understanding, there would be redemptive ending involving mutual admiration, respect and affection. A darker version would perhaps culminate in mutual destruction. Szab贸 rejects both of these paths in favour of something more morally complex, even ambivalent, but which involves a tragic betrayal nonetheless.
There is something profoundly uncomfortable about reading this book. It could be the nagging feeling that it is entirely autobiographical, and that Szab贸 is exposing herself as a deeply flawed person. The narrator (referred to by name only once, very late in the book, as 鈥楳agdushka鈥�), behaves reprehensibly. Emerence too, is capable of callous viciousness, although the trauma she鈥檚 experienced over her long life does incline the reader more towards forgiveness in her case.
It鈥檚 hard to come away from this novel knowing quite how to feel about it. It is a scathing indictment of 鈥� something. Entrenched class privilege? Our tendency to pursue personal advancement at the expense of compassion and connection? The Door is abrasive, perplexing, it raises questions that gnaw at you, and it doesn鈥檛 quite let you go.
The narrator is a successful author, a cultured intellectual whose 鈥渇amily goes back to the 脕rp谩ds鈥�. This novel is her extended confession; in the opening pages she admits: 鈥淚 killed Emerence鈥�.
Emerence is brusque, sturdy, freakishly strong, her hair always bescarfed. The indefatigable peasant worker, she seems straight out of a Soviet-era propaganda poster. Her long hard life, tumultuous and frequently blighted by terrible violence, makes her a symbol of 20th century Hungary itself.
These two women form a mutual love/hate co-dependent bond, lasting decades. These two need each other but both are capable of wilful blindness and shocking cruelty.
It is difficult to think of other novels with two such complicated & unlikeable female antagonists ( comes to mind, but what else?). The Door subverts all our expectations of how this narrative might resolve itself: in the conventional, Hollywood-friendly version, these two prickly women would eventually come to a cosy understanding, there would be redemptive ending involving mutual admiration, respect and affection. A darker version would perhaps culminate in mutual destruction. Szab贸 rejects both of these paths in favour of something more morally complex, even ambivalent, but which involves a tragic betrayal nonetheless.
There is something profoundly uncomfortable about reading this book. It could be the nagging feeling that it is entirely autobiographical, and that Szab贸 is exposing herself as a deeply flawed person. The narrator (referred to by name only once, very late in the book, as 鈥楳agdushka鈥�), behaves reprehensibly. Emerence too, is capable of callous viciousness, although the trauma she鈥檚 experienced over her long life does incline the reader more towards forgiveness in her case.
It鈥檚 hard to come away from this novel knowing quite how to feel about it. It is a scathing indictment of 鈥� something. Entrenched class privilege? Our tendency to pursue personal advancement at the expense of compassion and connection? The Door is abrasive, perplexing, it raises questions that gnaw at you, and it doesn鈥檛 quite let you go.
October 1, 2016
An uncomfortable look at the barriers that we put up to protect ourselves, and the price that is paid for that self protection. Does it ever really work?
Magda Szabo wrote this in the original Hungarian in 1987, but it is now translated and available in English. It tells the story of the relationship between two women: Magda, a writer, living with her husband, and Emerence, an older peasant woman who is hired as her housekeeper. Both women come from vastly different backgrounds. Emerence is an almost unknowable, unstoppable force, who for some reason, Magda is obsessed with understanding and gaining her trust. Slowly, and often very painfully, Emerence opens up, showing glimpses into her life's story, showing vulnerability that she normally cloaks. She also puts Magda and her husband through the ringer many times with her very unorthodox behaviour and her incredibly bossy and caustic ways.
One day, this friendship is put to the test in what I found to be a complete catch-22. Magda is faced with a situation in which she has no good choice to make - both are a form of betrayal. When she picks, it weighs on her heavier than she can express to anyone. The fallout of her decision is something she will have to live with.
I was drawn into the story easily, although there was a stretch in the middle where the conflicts between Magda and Emerence felt repetitive. Then about 2/3 in, I was fully engaged and couldn't put it down. The weakness of the novel for me is why Magda wants to connect so much with Emerence in the first place. The woman is mainly weird and unpleasant to her, rejecting her good intentions and exposing, ruthlessly, her flaws. I didn't understand Magda's need to win over Emerence, unless it is simply the desire to unmask what was so carefully hidden.
The story asks questions about friendship and acceptance, about aging and dignity. Also about doors, or barriers that we put up in order to protect ourselves. Can we ever truly protect ourselves? Can we allow ourselves to remain untouched by others in our world? I would argue that the answer is no, for better or worse.
Magda Szabo wrote this in the original Hungarian in 1987, but it is now translated and available in English. It tells the story of the relationship between two women: Magda, a writer, living with her husband, and Emerence, an older peasant woman who is hired as her housekeeper. Both women come from vastly different backgrounds. Emerence is an almost unknowable, unstoppable force, who for some reason, Magda is obsessed with understanding and gaining her trust. Slowly, and often very painfully, Emerence opens up, showing glimpses into her life's story, showing vulnerability that she normally cloaks. She also puts Magda and her husband through the ringer many times with her very unorthodox behaviour and her incredibly bossy and caustic ways.
One day, this friendship is put to the test in what I found to be a complete catch-22. Magda is faced with a situation in which she has no good choice to make - both are a form of betrayal. When she picks, it weighs on her heavier than she can express to anyone. The fallout of her decision is something she will have to live with.
I was drawn into the story easily, although there was a stretch in the middle where the conflicts between Magda and Emerence felt repetitive. Then about 2/3 in, I was fully engaged and couldn't put it down. The weakness of the novel for me is why Magda wants to connect so much with Emerence in the first place. The woman is mainly weird and unpleasant to her, rejecting her good intentions and exposing, ruthlessly, her flaws. I didn't understand Magda's need to win over Emerence, unless it is simply the desire to unmask what was so carefully hidden.
The story asks questions about friendship and acceptance, about aging and dignity. Also about doors, or barriers that we put up in order to protect ourselves. Can we ever truly protect ourselves? Can we allow ourselves to remain untouched by others in our world? I would argue that the answer is no, for better or worse.
October 1, 2013
Johannes Brahms can make autumn leaves dance in one of nature鈥檚 most graceful circle. The chill in the air was about to birth the season鈥檚 very first snowflake. The clatter of rusty shovels being removed equated to the asinine banters of old women gossiping on the porch. After the death of its final leaf, the trees lay barren like a country that had abruptly lost its people. There were no birds to be seen, yet I heard them chirp a summer song. The fervent barking of a mongrel was followed by a pair of impenetrable irises; blue as the deepest ocean. The frost on my eyes made it tricky to see the peculiar lady carrying a christening bowl with glistening chicken soup. I rubbed my eyes to wipe the frost and something terribly stung me. It was morning, again!! The sunlight on my pillow showed beads of sweat on my arms and the frost along with the barking dog and the lady magically vanished. While poor Brahms still played his 'Lullaby' at my bedside, Emerence saw that I still stayed in bed. It鈥檚 been couple days now that I sleep with Emerence鈥� s 鈥榤irror-like鈥� face and wake up trying to experience the sound of her soprano voice. When I open the pages of 鈥楾he Door鈥� , my heart beats faster than the breeze on my window and my lips are bitten while I take deep breathes, for Emerence brings out my emotional vulnerabilities ; letting my scars bleed through someone else鈥檚 wounds.
鈥淪ometimes the strongest women are the ones who love beyond all faults, cry behind closed doors and fight battles that nobody knows鈥�- Anon.
Indeed, the silent , big-boned lady with an impenetrable face and having the persona of a Valkyrie ; Emerence was the strongest of the lot. A mystery that deepened the moment the door was shut. What kind of a flower was Emerence? A rose or a white oleander that tenderly grew around the fence. The now tranquil garden had once seen the dishonorable terror of red and white roses and the bloodbath that a few revolutionary chrysanthemums caused as they tore apart the fair camellias. They were bruised petals scattered like feathers of a hunted dove; each time when a flower revolted, irrespective to their colour. At times it was better when the pristine flowers hanged themselves from the devilish vines because shootings never seem to work all the way. And , 鈥� if you don鈥檛 die straightaway, they have to come over and beat you to death or shoot you back鈥�, till all was left were trampled saplings.
鈥淗ow can I truly describe her, or trace the real anatomy of her compassion 鈥� this woman who peopled her home with animals?鈥�
Emerence comes across as an eccentric, arrogant lady bearing an unfathomable obscurity. When the writer hires Emerence as a caretaker, a series of love-hate relationship flourishes between the two ladies. The oddity of Emerence鈥榮 demeanor created a haunting mesh of rumors of what really thrives behind the closed door of the villa. With every tiny window that Emerence opened,it led a draft of fresh air into Emerence鈥檚 concealed life whilst the writer gaining confidence of someday being the owner of the clandestine key. But, was it this wretched key that the writer held firmly in her palm, be the very cause of her disloyalty to Emerence?
鈥淚 killed Emerence鈥︹€�.鈥�
Szabo creates a marvelous personality through Emerence. Like a mother who bestows her true love at the rarest moments in a child鈥檚 life, Emerence spreads her loving arms ; her kindliness becomes the healing medicine for a hemorrhaged life. Her eyes were so intense that they could win battles and a heart that was warmer than the sun on a spring morning. Emerence was authoritative yet lovable; she was irascible on the verge of being bi-polar, yet she was comical and angelic when she smiled. She had an innate goodness that shone through her being a dedicated soldier to her profession and when she saved a helpless life from a deathly ditch by giving it a home. The porch of her villa became a dais for culinary entertainments. Her loneliness was veiled among the silken folds of her compassion. Her uprightness was stricter than the commands of a lion tamer and her honor came from her ambitious vibrant Taj Mahal. She valued the idea of absolute love because it is only love that saves, even through betrayal and death. The fragmentary chronicling of Emerence鈥檚 life demarcates the historical events that led the foundation of a burgeoning country and its people. I believe that when one comes across a commendable book, it becomes essential to cherish the prose with intellectual finesse and not mockery as it silently pays a tribute to the efforts and thoughts of the author. This book certainly deserves the said gesture.
"It is just that, as well as love, you also have to know how to kill鈥�.... 鈥� Lord kills too..."
Szabo makes it decisively known to the reader, the mindset of war victims and people who were spectators to the bloodbath of a country鈥檚 egotistical power battle and their probable abhorrence to religious validations. These sentences in the book, makes you think the legitimacy of religious norms adhered to find a welcoming acknowledgement and defining the presence of God, even if it means to sacrifice the well-being of human life, the very own premise that celebrates God鈥檚 worship. If it us humans, who ultimately authorize the matter life and death, choose to love and hate as per as our fallacious opinions and annihilate the very foundation of survival, then why do we use the pretext of the Lord to define our mortal egocentricities. Szabo鈥檚 prose is not only hypnotic but memorable, as her words follow you like a willful shadow never letting go even in the darkest night.
鈥淵ou can't give anyone a greater gift than to spare them suffering...."
It was these among numerous other words that made me fall in love with Emerence. It may sound harsh even horrifying maybe, but when a blood drenched body lies on the gates of death, breathes gasping for its finality an additional bullet or a stab may just bring a smile on the departed rather than the sorrow that engulfs a slow death. When Emerence reminiscences her past while she stitches , I cry ; when she reprimands either Viola or the writer and shows a speck of her blooming affection ; I smile and when her eccentricities peak with obnoxious childish acts ; I laugh.
鈥楾he Door鈥� is a powerful metaphoric representation of a woman and several others like Emerence who rather live a restrictive yet dignified life dwelling in the opaqueness of a wooden door than drowning in the nakedness of merciful alms. Emerence was more than a categorical flower; she was 鈥渁 truly great lady, pure as the stars鈥� .
Szabo鈥檚 writings make me reflect whether we who belong to the generation that frets on the mere number of 鈥榣ikes鈥� acquired on a social website, ever tried to know people like Emerence who have seen a country grow, perish and once again grow? Is it too late before an entire generation is wiped out and their stories are just mere sentences in newspaper archives? When a country is in its most horrendous turmoil and when innocent lives are cut short, isn鈥檛 it becomes necessary on the part of those alive to give a significant burial and carve memorable tombstones so that the perished do not have wasted lives. Is it too much to ask to honor the dead? Emerence makes me wonder about the degree of pain to be suffered that eventually dries up a human鈥檚 tear ducts. How many heart wrenching cries does it take to have a single serene bath? There are several who have move past the atrocities of egotistical power hoarders and have a flourishing life, but what about those who have closed all doors and have lost the key of faith along the way. With every inch that Emerence opens the door of her life, floodgates are opened within me, hurling me in a vortex of emotions. It is here that I wish so dearly to be sitting with Viola, Emerence, Polette, Sutu and Adelka on the porch, and while Emerence poured tea in her prettiest china I have an earnest desire that I was the sole owner of the key that would open the door to all of their precious lives.
鈥淟ike a truly great commander she settled everything around her in person, with a single impressive gesture鈥︹€︹€�. Humankind has come a long way since its beginnings and people of the future won't be able to imagine the barbaric early days in which we fought with one another, in groups or individually, over little more than a cup of cocoa. But not even then will it be possible to soften the fate of a woman for whom no-one has made a place in their life. If we all lacked the courage to admit this to ourselves, she at least had done so.....鈥�
Ladies and Gentlemen!!! Emerence Szered谩s..
(** Actor Helen Mirren essaying the role in the namesake movie).
February 9, 2020
This was a remarkable book.
This novel was published when the Hungarian author, Magda Szabo, was 70 years old. That gives me hope! If I can be that creative hen/if I am 70...
A reviewer from The Scotsman had this to say in praising the book: 鈥溾€ picked it up without expectation. I read it with gathering intensity, and a swelling admiration. I finished it, and straightaway started to read it again鈥︹€�
Why would somebody start to re-read the novel? But I too went back and read the very first chapter. And I am glad I did鈥�.had I not done so, I would not have gotten as full a grasp of the novel as I did. Because that first chapter 鈥渟et the table鈥� for the entire rest of the novel. In the first chapter the narrator tells us of a recurring dream/nightmare she has about a door. The novel builds up to a point near the end of it in which the narrator, Magda, tricks the old woman, Emerence, who has come to trust and love her (and it is reciprocal) to open her door of her little cottage, in an attempt to help her鈥o save her life or so she thinks鈥� although the old woman has put her faith in Magda that she would never ever let anybody through that door. I can鈥檛 divulge anything more鈥t would be a spoiler.
And I would not want to do that鈥ou need to read this book. I read it in one afternoon and evening鈥t was mesmerizing and I needed to find out how the story ended before I went to sleep. You need to find out what was behind not only the outer door that led into the house but also the inner door of that house that led into a room that nobody had been in for years, and the belongings of which was to be bequeathed to Magda, upon Emerence鈥檚 death.
This book was voted as 鈥�10 Best Books of 2015鈥� by the New York Times Book Review. That鈥檚 remarkable in that it was originally published in 1987. It took nearly 20 years for it to be published in English (translated by Len Rix, 2005, Harvill Secker) and in 2015 it was re-issued by the New York Review of Books.
Book review by Claire Messud:
Several reviews can be found at this link:
The NYRB edition has an introduction by Ali Smith and in her first sentence she points out a fact that really bothers me鈥�"The proportion of books published in the English-speaking world that are translations, from all languages (and including best-selling crime novels), is currently about three percent.鈥�
Why does that bother me? Because of her second sentence which I agree with wholeheartedly: 鈥淎 result of this is that, unless we read other languages, we miss out on superlative novels like The Door by Magda Szabo.鈥�
This novel was published when the Hungarian author, Magda Szabo, was 70 years old. That gives me hope! If I can be that creative hen/if I am 70...
A reviewer from The Scotsman had this to say in praising the book: 鈥溾€ picked it up without expectation. I read it with gathering intensity, and a swelling admiration. I finished it, and straightaway started to read it again鈥︹€�
Why would somebody start to re-read the novel? But I too went back and read the very first chapter. And I am glad I did鈥�.had I not done so, I would not have gotten as full a grasp of the novel as I did. Because that first chapter 鈥渟et the table鈥� for the entire rest of the novel. In the first chapter the narrator tells us of a recurring dream/nightmare she has about a door. The novel builds up to a point near the end of it in which the narrator, Magda, tricks the old woman, Emerence, who has come to trust and love her (and it is reciprocal) to open her door of her little cottage, in an attempt to help her鈥o save her life or so she thinks鈥� although the old woman has put her faith in Magda that she would never ever let anybody through that door. I can鈥檛 divulge anything more鈥t would be a spoiler.
And I would not want to do that鈥ou need to read this book. I read it in one afternoon and evening鈥t was mesmerizing and I needed to find out how the story ended before I went to sleep. You need to find out what was behind not only the outer door that led into the house but also the inner door of that house that led into a room that nobody had been in for years, and the belongings of which was to be bequeathed to Magda, upon Emerence鈥檚 death.
This book was voted as 鈥�10 Best Books of 2015鈥� by the New York Times Book Review. That鈥檚 remarkable in that it was originally published in 1987. It took nearly 20 years for it to be published in English (translated by Len Rix, 2005, Harvill Secker) and in 2015 it was re-issued by the New York Review of Books.
Book review by Claire Messud:
Several reviews can be found at this link:
The NYRB edition has an introduction by Ali Smith and in her first sentence she points out a fact that really bothers me鈥�"The proportion of books published in the English-speaking world that are translations, from all languages (and including best-selling crime novels), is currently about three percent.鈥�
Why does that bother me? Because of her second sentence which I agree with wholeheartedly: 鈥淎 result of this is that, unless we read other languages, we miss out on superlative novels like The Door by Magda Szabo.鈥�
February 20, 2021
禺丕賳賲 賲丕诏丿丕 爻丕亘賵 丿乇 讴鬲丕亘 芦丿乇禄 卮賲丕蹖賱 噩丿蹖丿蹖 丕夭 蹖讴 賯賴乇賲丕賳 丌賮乇蹖丿賴 貙 丕賲乇賳爻 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丕氐賱蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿乇 毓蹖賳 毓丕丿蹖 亘賵丿賳 賵丿丕卮鬲賳 賳賯卮蹖 賲毓賲賵賱蹖 丿乇 噩丕賲毓賴 亘賴 賴蹖趩 賵噩賴 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 賲毓賲賵賱蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 . 丿乇 丨賯蹖賯鬲 禺丕賳賲 爻丕亘賵 氐賮鬲 丿丕賳丕蹖蹖 乇丕 亘賴 丕賲乇賳爻 賳爻亘鬲 丿丕丿賴 賵 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 賵 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賵 乇丕賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賴賲诏蹖 丿乇 亘乇丕亘乇 丕賲乇賳爻 噩丕賴賱 賵 賳丕丿丕賳 賴爻鬲賳丿 .
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿乇 蹖讴 丿賴讴丿賴 丿乇 賲噩丕乇爻鬲丕賳 賲蹖 诏匕乇丿 貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 鬲賱丕卮 讴乇丿賴 賯卮乇賴丕蹖 賲禺鬲賱賮 噩丕賲毓賴 乇丕 丿乇 丕蹖賳 乇賵爻鬲丕 丿乇 讴賳丕乇 賴賲 亘诏賳噩丕賳丿 . 丕賲丕 賴賲賴 丌賳丕賳 丿乇 亘乇丕亘乇 丕賲乇賳爻 蹖讴 讴丕乇丕讴鬲乇 賲毓賲賵賱蹖 賵 讴賲 丕孬乇 賴爻鬲賳丿 貙 丕賲乇賳爻 禺賵丿 賯賵丕賳蹖賳 禺賵丿 賵 亘禺卮蹖 丕夭 噩丕賲毓賴 乇丕 賵囟毓 賲蹖 讴賳丿 貙 丕賵 丿乇 毓蹖賳 丨丕賱 讴賴 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇 丕爻鬲 丕賲丕 亘丕 睾乇賵乇 賲蹖 诏賵蹖丿 : 賲賳 賱亘丕爻 賴丕蹖 賴乇 讴爻蹖 乇丕 賳賲蹖 卮賵乇賲 . 丕賲乇賳爻 禺賵丿 氐丕丨亘 讴丕乇卮 乇丕 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 賲蹖 讴賳丿 貙 丕賵 丨蹖賵丕賳丕鬲 乇丕 賲噩匕賵亘 賵 賲胤蹖毓 禺賵丿 賲蹖 讴賳丿 貙 亘乇丕蹖 亘蹖賲丕乇丕賳 睾匕丕 賲蹖 亘乇丿 賵 丕诏乇 亘乇賮蹖 亘亘丕乇丿 倬丕乇賵蹖卮 乇丕 亘乇 賲蹖 丿丕乇丿 賵讴賱 讴賵趩賴 乇丕 倬丕乇賵 賲蹖 讴賳丿 .
乇丕亘胤賴 乇丕賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘丕 丕蹖賳 乇丕賵蹖 讴賱 蹖讴 乇丕亘胤賴 蹖讴 胤乇賮賴 丕爻鬲 貙 亘賴 賲乇賵乇 夭賲丕賳 乇丕賵蹖 毓丕卮賯 丕賲乇賳爻 賲蹖 卮賵丿 丕賲丕 丕賲乇賳爻 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕 丿乇 亘蹖卮鬲乇 賲賵丕乇丿 丕賵 乇丕 鬲丨賯蹖乇 賲蹖 讴賳丿 貙 丕夭 乇丕亘胤賴 丕卮 亘丕 禺丿丕 賵 讴賱蹖爻丕 鬲丕 丨乇賮賴 賵 卮睾賱卮 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏蹖 讴賴 丕賲乇賳爻 丌賳乇丕 讴丕乇 丕丨賲賯賴丕 賲蹖 丿丕賳丿 . 丕賲乇賳爻 賴賲趩賳丕賳讴賴 丿乇 噩丕賲毓賴 賲蹖 诏乇丿丿 賵 亘賴 賲賱鬲 禺丿賲鬲 賲蹖 讴賳丿 丿乇 丕賳丿讴 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 丿乇 禺丕賳賴 丕爻鬲 賴蹖趩 讴爻 乇丕 賳賲蹖 倬匕蹖乇丿 . 丿乇 禺丕賳賴 貙 丕賵 乇丕 丕夭 噩丕賲毓賴 亘蹖乇賵賳 賳诏賴 賲蹖 丿丕乇丿 貙 丕賲乇賳爻蹖 讴賴 亘賴 鬲賲丕賲 禺丕賳賴 賴丕 乇丕賴 丿丕乇丿 讴爻蹖 乇丕 亘賴 禺丕賳賴 丕卮 乇丕賴 賳賲蹖 丿賴丿 . 诏賵蹖丕 亘賴 賴蹖趩讴爻 丕蹖賳 丕賳丿丕夭賴 丕毓鬲賲丕丿 賳丿丕乇丿 讴賴 禺賱賵鬲卮 乇丕 亘亘蹖賳丿 .
賮賱爻賮賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 丕賲乇賳爻 爻丕丿賴 賵 爻乇乇丕爻鬲 丕爻鬲 貙 丕賵 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 丿丕乇丿 讴賴 亘夭乇诏鬲乇蹖賳 賴丿蹖賴 丕蹖 讴賴 賲蹖 卮賵丿 亘賴 讴爻蹖 丿丕丿 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丕夭 丿乇丿 賵 乇賳噩 賳噩丕鬲卮 丿賴蹖 .( 亘乇 賲亘賳丕蹖 賴賲蹖賳 賮賱爻賮賴 丕賲乇賳爻 丕賳鬲馗丕乇 丿丕乇丿 讴賴 亘毓丿 丕夭 賲乇诏卮 讴爻蹖 亘蹖丕蹖丿 賵诏乇亘賴 賴丕蹖卮 乇丕 禺賱丕氐 讴賳丿 鬲丕 亘丿賵賳 丕賵 丿乇丿 賵 乇賳噩蹖 賳讴卮賳丿 )
禺丕賳賲 爻丕亘賵 亘丕 蹖讴 乇賵丕蹖鬲 爻丕丿賴 賵 噩匕丕亘 貙 鬲賮丕賵鬲賴丕蹖 丿賵賳賵毓 賳诏丕賴 亘賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 賵 卮丕蹖丿 賴賲 賲乇诏 乇丕 亘蹖丕賳 讴乇丿賴 貙 丕賵 亘賴 丕爻鬲丕丿蹖 讴丕乇丕讴鬲乇蹖 丌賮乇蹖丿賴 賮乇丕賲賵卮 賳卮丿賳蹖 賵 亘丕 賲毓噩夭賴 賯賱賲 禺賵丿 鬲賲丕賲 賵蹖跇诏蹖 賴丕蹖 爻禺鬲 丕賲乇賳爻 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 亘丕賵乇倬匕蹖乇 賵 賯丕亘賱 賯亘賵賱 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲 .
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿乇 蹖讴 丿賴讴丿賴 丿乇 賲噩丕乇爻鬲丕賳 賲蹖 诏匕乇丿 貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 鬲賱丕卮 讴乇丿賴 賯卮乇賴丕蹖 賲禺鬲賱賮 噩丕賲毓賴 乇丕 丿乇 丕蹖賳 乇賵爻鬲丕 丿乇 讴賳丕乇 賴賲 亘诏賳噩丕賳丿 . 丕賲丕 賴賲賴 丌賳丕賳 丿乇 亘乇丕亘乇 丕賲乇賳爻 蹖讴 讴丕乇丕讴鬲乇 賲毓賲賵賱蹖 賵 讴賲 丕孬乇 賴爻鬲賳丿 貙 丕賲乇賳爻 禺賵丿 賯賵丕賳蹖賳 禺賵丿 賵 亘禺卮蹖 丕夭 噩丕賲毓賴 乇丕 賵囟毓 賲蹖 讴賳丿 貙 丕賵 丿乇 毓蹖賳 丨丕賱 讴賴 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇 丕爻鬲 丕賲丕 亘丕 睾乇賵乇 賲蹖 诏賵蹖丿 : 賲賳 賱亘丕爻 賴丕蹖 賴乇 讴爻蹖 乇丕 賳賲蹖 卮賵乇賲 . 丕賲乇賳爻 禺賵丿 氐丕丨亘 讴丕乇卮 乇丕 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 賲蹖 讴賳丿 貙 丕賵 丨蹖賵丕賳丕鬲 乇丕 賲噩匕賵亘 賵 賲胤蹖毓 禺賵丿 賲蹖 讴賳丿 貙 亘乇丕蹖 亘蹖賲丕乇丕賳 睾匕丕 賲蹖 亘乇丿 賵 丕诏乇 亘乇賮蹖 亘亘丕乇丿 倬丕乇賵蹖卮 乇丕 亘乇 賲蹖 丿丕乇丿 賵讴賱 讴賵趩賴 乇丕 倬丕乇賵 賲蹖 讴賳丿 .
乇丕亘胤賴 乇丕賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘丕 丕蹖賳 乇丕賵蹖 讴賱 蹖讴 乇丕亘胤賴 蹖讴 胤乇賮賴 丕爻鬲 貙 亘賴 賲乇賵乇 夭賲丕賳 乇丕賵蹖 毓丕卮賯 丕賲乇賳爻 賲蹖 卮賵丿 丕賲丕 丕賲乇賳爻 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕 丿乇 亘蹖卮鬲乇 賲賵丕乇丿 丕賵 乇丕 鬲丨賯蹖乇 賲蹖 讴賳丿 貙 丕夭 乇丕亘胤賴 丕卮 亘丕 禺丿丕 賵 讴賱蹖爻丕 鬲丕 丨乇賮賴 賵 卮睾賱卮 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏蹖 讴賴 丕賲乇賳爻 丌賳乇丕 讴丕乇 丕丨賲賯賴丕 賲蹖 丿丕賳丿 . 丕賲乇賳爻 賴賲趩賳丕賳讴賴 丿乇 噩丕賲毓賴 賲蹖 诏乇丿丿 賵 亘賴 賲賱鬲 禺丿賲鬲 賲蹖 讴賳丿 丿乇 丕賳丿讴 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 丿乇 禺丕賳賴 丕爻鬲 賴蹖趩 讴爻 乇丕 賳賲蹖 倬匕蹖乇丿 . 丿乇 禺丕賳賴 貙 丕賵 乇丕 丕夭 噩丕賲毓賴 亘蹖乇賵賳 賳诏賴 賲蹖 丿丕乇丿 貙 丕賲乇賳爻蹖 讴賴 亘賴 鬲賲丕賲 禺丕賳賴 賴丕 乇丕賴 丿丕乇丿 讴爻蹖 乇丕 亘賴 禺丕賳賴 丕卮 乇丕賴 賳賲蹖 丿賴丿 . 诏賵蹖丕 亘賴 賴蹖趩讴爻 丕蹖賳 丕賳丿丕夭賴 丕毓鬲賲丕丿 賳丿丕乇丿 讴賴 禺賱賵鬲卮 乇丕 亘亘蹖賳丿 .
賮賱爻賮賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 丕賲乇賳爻 爻丕丿賴 賵 爻乇乇丕爻鬲 丕爻鬲 貙 丕賵 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 丿丕乇丿 讴賴 亘夭乇诏鬲乇蹖賳 賴丿蹖賴 丕蹖 讴賴 賲蹖 卮賵丿 亘賴 讴爻蹖 丿丕丿 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丕夭 丿乇丿 賵 乇賳噩 賳噩丕鬲卮 丿賴蹖 .( 亘乇 賲亘賳丕蹖 賴賲蹖賳 賮賱爻賮賴 丕賲乇賳爻 丕賳鬲馗丕乇 丿丕乇丿 讴賴 亘毓丿 丕夭 賲乇诏卮 讴爻蹖 亘蹖丕蹖丿 賵诏乇亘賴 賴丕蹖卮 乇丕 禺賱丕氐 讴賳丿 鬲丕 亘丿賵賳 丕賵 丿乇丿 賵 乇賳噩蹖 賳讴卮賳丿 )
禺丕賳賲 爻丕亘賵 亘丕 蹖讴 乇賵丕蹖鬲 爻丕丿賴 賵 噩匕丕亘 貙 鬲賮丕賵鬲賴丕蹖 丿賵賳賵毓 賳诏丕賴 亘賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 賵 卮丕蹖丿 賴賲 賲乇诏 乇丕 亘蹖丕賳 讴乇丿賴 貙 丕賵 亘賴 丕爻鬲丕丿蹖 讴丕乇丕讴鬲乇蹖 丌賮乇蹖丿賴 賮乇丕賲賵卮 賳卮丿賳蹖 賵 亘丕 賲毓噩夭賴 賯賱賲 禺賵丿 鬲賲丕賲 賵蹖跇诏蹖 賴丕蹖 爻禺鬲 丕賲乇賳爻 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 亘丕賵乇倬匕蹖乇 賵 賯丕亘賱 賯亘賵賱 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲 .
December 21, 2015
It took me 10 days to read this book, which is unusual for me as I can read fairly quickly, especially when I really love a book. But this one demanded to be read slowly, not only to savor the language, but to get inside the mind and heart of Emerence, which proved impossible in the end.
Emerence was a servant, working for an author and her husband. When she turned the tables on them at the interview, claiming that she was in fact interviewing them ("I don't do just anyone's dirty laundry, you know."), that should have been a clue that she would always be the one in control. She also worked as a caretaker for her apartment building, sweeping the streets, shoveling snow, fixing things, (in her 70's!) She took care of the sick, helped the poor, hid people during and after WWII, all without expecting or desiring any return.
But Emerence was no saint. She railed against God and religion, hated any type of authority, made fun of any type of art or culture, refused to accept any help to improve her lot in life, preferring to remain a person who worked with her hands.
Her strength and endurance were legendary with her neighbors, and her iron will and determination made her intractable. She lived alone with her secrets, and never allowed anyone through her door. A woman never to be forgotten or trifled with.
Magda Szabo reveals Emerence to us very slowly, in small doses, and even at the end we can't know what really made her tick. I thought it was appropriate that the narrator is unnamed, only known as "the lady writer". She was one of the few people loved by Emerence but it was not her story. Emerence controls the reader as she does everything else in her life. A great book that I won't soon forget.
Emerence was a servant, working for an author and her husband. When she turned the tables on them at the interview, claiming that she was in fact interviewing them ("I don't do just anyone's dirty laundry, you know."), that should have been a clue that she would always be the one in control. She also worked as a caretaker for her apartment building, sweeping the streets, shoveling snow, fixing things, (in her 70's!) She took care of the sick, helped the poor, hid people during and after WWII, all without expecting or desiring any return.
But Emerence was no saint. She railed against God and religion, hated any type of authority, made fun of any type of art or culture, refused to accept any help to improve her lot in life, preferring to remain a person who worked with her hands.
Her strength and endurance were legendary with her neighbors, and her iron will and determination made her intractable. She lived alone with her secrets, and never allowed anyone through her door. A woman never to be forgotten or trifled with.
Magda Szabo reveals Emerence to us very slowly, in small doses, and even at the end we can't know what really made her tick. I thought it was appropriate that the narrator is unnamed, only known as "the lady writer". She was one of the few people loved by Emerence but it was not her story. Emerence controls the reader as she does everything else in her life. A great book that I won't soon forget.
January 3, 2017
In modern postwar Hungary, an old woman who is now a famous author recalls a nightmare: herself as a young woman. The novel begins after she has passed through a 鈥減olitically frozen鈥� time and started to be able to write again and to be publicly lauded for it. She and her husband move up a step on the social ladder. They hire an old woman, Emerence, as a servant. Or is it the other way round? 鈥淚 don鈥檛 wash just anyone鈥檚 dirty linen,鈥� Emerence says, coming to see their flat in her 鈥渃eremonial鈥� headscarf and taking her time deciding whether they will suit her before she takes over the household, turns up for work whenever she feels like it, and bonds with the dog in a way no one else can.Emerence had her ideas about everything. Even doctors were not to be trusted and God only understood her take on trust, religion and all things human. The church vehemently disagreed, but that was their problem. She only relied on the security that she had created for herself and the animals she so passionately protected against the cruelty of life and humans. She had a belief in animal purity ("They can't inform on us, or tell lies about us"), while never questioning her way of beating animals into near-senseless submission.
Emerence is primitive, demanding, and without religion in a way that makes her somehow full of God鈥檚 wrath. There is 鈥渟omething superhuman鈥� about the way she can work. She feeds all the neighborhood sick, sweeps all doorsteps; nothing human and in need is alien to this woman who has hidden refugees across the board from Fascist to Communist.
Nobody, except herself and her foundlings were allowed behind the locked door of her apartment. Come icy cold winters, or scorching hot summers, everyone was received on the veranda. The windows were securely closed up to any prying eyes. No human being ever tried to disrespect her wishes. Emerence was a ferocious defender of herself and what was right according to her. She could be dangerous, as some neighbors realized soon enough after meeting her.
Until she met 'the author' and the latter's husband, Emerence never allowed anyone into her personal space or circle of trust. In fact, there was no circle of trusted friends. She had a whole community who loved her, but that was different. Only animals and herself understood her way of love and devotion to them. It would ultimately lead to a tragedy and regret. No person is an island, although life forced Emerence to create her own hide-away since she was a young girl of nine-years-old. As long as the neighbors and her employers allowed her to function within her own secure borders, she acted normal...
And as long as 'the author' and her husband allowed Emerence to treat them like children, the author was able to learn more about this reclusive, yet hardworking caretaker of the mansions across the street. The autobiographical tidbits Emerence told the young author were impossible, folk ballads in prose. It kept 'the author' mesmerized and devoted to her new housekeeper for many years.
Emerence was immensely strong and tragically weak. She was trustworthy but untouchable; giving but refused to receive; tough but loving; challenging but devoted to the people she lived with. She thought she could trust the famous author. Alas...
The narrator('the author'): Once, just once in my life, not in the cerebral anemia of sleep but in reality, a door did stand before me. That door opened. It was opened by someone who defended her solitude and impotent misery so fiercely that she would have kept that door shut though a flaming roof crackled over her head.
I alone had the power to make her open that lock. In turning the key she put more trust in me than she ever did in God, and in that fateful moment I believed I was godlike 鈥� all-wise, judicious, benevolent and rational. We were both wrong: she who put her faith in me, and I who thought too well of myself.
The prize, I reflected bitterly, had already begun to work its influence. I had rushed off in a TV car towards its radiance, away from illness, old age, loneliness and incapacity.... Away from Emerence who was unable to tell the author that she loved her, or needed her. The only way she knew how to do that, was to lash out in cruel profanities and verbal abuse. The author misunderstood her words, just like the Lieutenant Colonel did not speak the same language as Emerence when it came to expressing their feelings and emotions.
Author: So he(Lieutenant Colonel) didn鈥檛 grasp my meaning either; or perhaps he couldn鈥檛. We were dealing in such different currencies. Emerence鈥檚 dictionary featured filth, scene, scandal, laughing stock of the street and shame. His contained law, order, solutions, solidarity, effective measures. Both phrasebooks were accurate, it was just that they were in different languages.
In the introduction to the book the translator says:
...unless we read other languages, we miss out on superlative novels like The Door by Magda Szab贸. This American edition comes nearly thirty years after its original publication, and very little by Szab贸, one of Hungary鈥檚 most eminent novelists, is available in English. But The Door is so full-blooded and stately a book that it clearly belongs with a shelf of equally fully made creations by the (now elderly) Szab贸, every one of which the reader will want to find after finishing this compelling, funny, and horrifying novel, translated by Len Rix in a rich and calm tone.
I first watched the movie, available on Youtube, in which Helen Mirren portrays Emerence brilliantly, before reading the book. The cast of characters are British, the production team Hungarian, and the ambiance of the 1960's era as well as the cultural environment were masterfully done. The language is English. It brought this book alive on a totally different level and for once I believe that the film saved the book in a way. Absolutely masterfully done, but of course adapted and I wanted to know the real story, so I got the book. A wise decision, I believe.
One of the most profound events in the book, when Emerence explained her fear of lightning to 'the author', was so much better experienced in the text. Gripping and heartbreaking. And all of a sudden, we see Emerence as the traumatized nine-year-old little girl hiding inside the bravado and toughness of the ageing housekeeper. And suddenly we wanted to hold the old curmudgeon, hug her, love her, protect her from her own tragic pain.
I suspect that some of the magic of the prose got lost in translation, which is corrected in the movie as far as ambiance and atmosphere is concerned. Yet, I found the book a fascinating read as well, and wanted to relive the life of Emerence through the prose again. It was well worth the read and a thought-provoking experience about the different emotional languages we all use to express the memories we dared not talk about. We have different ways of building those protecting walls around ourselves and when a community have to deal with a crisis, we suddenly have difficulty in understanding each other's words while talking the same language.
The book is written in the first person as a memory. A welcome linear tale, presented in an intimate conversational tone with the reader. The author communicated her thoughts and regrets directly with the reader, which makes it a great experience. I was wondering if this was based on a true story or pure fiction. It was told th谩t well! Biographical novel?
I accidentally encountered the movie and the book, but what a magnificent start to a new year of reading it was!
Recommended for sure! An absolute gem.
November 3, 2023
Magda Szabo's novel The Door can be read on two levels.
One level is the surface story, the twenty year relationship of two women. The first is our narrator Magda, a writer whose writing has been banned in Communist Hungary. The ban lifted, she is overwhelmed by trying to write and care for her home simultaneously. She seeks to engage a housekeeper. I am then introduced to Emerence, an almost mythic town figure. She is opinionated, volatile, assertive, and mysterious. She will lend assistance to anyone in need. Emerence keeps her complicated history and her living space private, allowing no entry. Despite their shared rural roots these women have little else in common. Yet over time their lives become entangled and a complicated love and friendship grows. Szabo maintains tension throughout the novel by gradually revealing Emerence's secrets.
Despite her age Emerence seems invincible until one day she fails to show up for her duties. Magda and the townspeople plan an intervention. This event leads me to mull over the rights and responsibilities of friendship and love. Is it right to do what one believes is best for a loved one or is it right to respect the wishes of that person regardless of the cost? This question hits home for me as one of my loved ones and I are in disagreement as to the right approach to healing after a major health incident. Honoring his wishes, which I believe will slow/impede a full recovery, keeps our relationship intact. At this time I have chosen to do so, despite reservations. I have chosen the relationship over his best recovery. I will never know if this decision is the right one. And I am hoping that I will have no regrets.
In Szabo's novel, Magda has to live with the choices she makes, as does Emerence. I find this a haunting character study of these two women and an in depth exploration of friendship, connection, loss, and personal dignity.
On another level, The Door, which is set in the post WW II era, can be read as a story of Hungary with Emerence's door being a metaphor for the barrier between the past and the future. Emerence is the past, a survivor haunted by the war; and Magda, of the next generation, can never truly understand the impact of war on the previous generation as they strive to move forward and create change. By 1987, the year of this novel's publication, the collapse of socialism in Hungary was in the air. The majority of people lived in poverty, and the economic situation was lighting the kindling of social and political change.
I can understand why this intricate, well-crafted novel is so well thought of in Hungary. A shout out to my friend Jennifer for lending her copy to me to read.
Publication 1987
One level is the surface story, the twenty year relationship of two women. The first is our narrator Magda, a writer whose writing has been banned in Communist Hungary. The ban lifted, she is overwhelmed by trying to write and care for her home simultaneously. She seeks to engage a housekeeper. I am then introduced to Emerence, an almost mythic town figure. She is opinionated, volatile, assertive, and mysterious. She will lend assistance to anyone in need. Emerence keeps her complicated history and her living space private, allowing no entry. Despite their shared rural roots these women have little else in common. Yet over time their lives become entangled and a complicated love and friendship grows. Szabo maintains tension throughout the novel by gradually revealing Emerence's secrets.
Despite her age Emerence seems invincible until one day she fails to show up for her duties. Magda and the townspeople plan an intervention. This event leads me to mull over the rights and responsibilities of friendship and love. Is it right to do what one believes is best for a loved one or is it right to respect the wishes of that person regardless of the cost? This question hits home for me as one of my loved ones and I are in disagreement as to the right approach to healing after a major health incident. Honoring his wishes, which I believe will slow/impede a full recovery, keeps our relationship intact. At this time I have chosen to do so, despite reservations. I have chosen the relationship over his best recovery. I will never know if this decision is the right one. And I am hoping that I will have no regrets.
In Szabo's novel, Magda has to live with the choices she makes, as does Emerence. I find this a haunting character study of these two women and an in depth exploration of friendship, connection, loss, and personal dignity.
On another level, The Door, which is set in the post WW II era, can be read as a story of Hungary with Emerence's door being a metaphor for the barrier between the past and the future. Emerence is the past, a survivor haunted by the war; and Magda, of the next generation, can never truly understand the impact of war on the previous generation as they strive to move forward and create change. By 1987, the year of this novel's publication, the collapse of socialism in Hungary was in the air. The majority of people lived in poverty, and the economic situation was lighting the kindling of social and political change.
I can understand why this intricate, well-crafted novel is so well thought of in Hungary. A shout out to my friend Jennifer for lending her copy to me to read.
Publication 1987
June 3, 2020
The one sentence summary
蹖讴 倬蹖乇夭賳 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇賽 賲睾乇賵乇貙 亘賴 卮讴賱 毓噩蹖亘蹖 毓丕卮賯 禺丕賳賲賽 丕乇亘丕亘卮 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�.
"丕诏乇 讴爻蹖 讴丕乇丿蹖 鬲蹖夭 鬲賵蹖 賯賱亘 丌丿賲 賮乇賵 讴賳丿貙 丌丿賲 亘賱丕賮丕氐賱賴 丕夭 倬丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫з佖� 賲丕 賳蹖夭 丿乇蹖丕賮鬲賴 亘賵丿蹖賲 讴賴 賮賯丿丕賳 丕賲乇賳爻 乇丕 賴賳賵夭 丿乇 丿乇賵賳賲丕賳 丕丨爻丕爻 賳讴乇丿賴鈥屫й屬呚� 讴賴 賱胤賲賴鈥屫ж� 亘毓丿丕 亘賴 賲丕 賵丕乇丿 禺賵丕賴丿 卮丿貙 讴賴 亘毓丿丕 丕夭 倬丕 禺賵丕賴蹖賲 丕賮鬲丕丿."
...
亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 禺丕胤乇 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丕夭 诏賵乇爻鬲丕賳 賴丕 貙 丕夭 乇賮鬲賳 亘賴 爻乇 賲夭丕乇 貙 賵 丕夭 賲乇丕爻賲 鬲乇丨蹖賲 賲鬲賳賮乇賲 貨 夭蹖乇丕 賲毓鬲賯丿賲 鬲賳賴丕 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 乇賮鬲诏丕賳 丿乇 丌賳 丨囟賵乇 賳丿丕乇賳丿貙 賴賲蹖賳 噩丕賴丕爻鬲. 賴賲蹖賳 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 鬲賳 賱胤蹖賮卮丕賳貙 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴 丿乇 倬丕乇趩賴鈥屫й� 爻賮蹖丿 丕乇夭丕賳 賯蹖賲鬲 丿乇 丨丕賱 倬賵爻蹖丿賳 爻鬲 賵 禺賵乇丕讴 丨卮乇丕鬲 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� .
賲蹖鈥屫з嗁� 丕蹖賳噩丕 賳蹖爻鬲蹖丿貙 賴乇趩賳丿 丕爻鬲禺賵丕賳賴丕蹖鬲丕賳 賴賳賵夭 丕蹖賳噩丕 丨囟賵乇 丿丕乇賳丿. 卮賲丕 乇丕 丕賲丕 賴乇 乇賵夭 賵 賴乇 卮亘貙 丿乇 禺丕賳賴鈥屰� 爻乇丿 賵 禺卮賲诏蹖賳賲 賲蹖鈥屰屫жㄙ� 貨 倬卮鬲 倬蹖丕賳賵蹖蹖 讴賴 賳賵丕禺鬲賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 讴賳丕乇 賲蹖夭蹖 讴賴 诏乇丿诏蹖乇蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 貙 丿乇 丌卮倬夭禺丕賳賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 丕噩丕賯卮 禺丕賲賵卮 丕爻鬲. 卮賲丕 乇丕 丿乇 鬲賲丕賲 噩丕賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿蹖诏乇 賴蹖趩鈥屬堎傌� 賳禺賵丕賴蹖丿 亘賵丿 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖讴賳賲.
.......
鉀斮囏簇ж�. 丕蹖賳 亘禺卮 丕夭 乇蹖賵蹖賵賵 賮丕賯丿 賴乇诏賵賳賴 丕乇夭卮 毓賱賲蹖貙賴賳乇蹖貙鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 蹖丕 賴乇賳賵毓 禺丕氐蹖 丕夭 丕乇夭卮 賴丕蹖 賲鬲丿丕賵賱 亘卮乇蹖 丕爻鬲. 丕诏乇 丨賵氐賱賴鈥屰� 趩爻賳丕賱賴 賳丿丕乇蹖丿貙 賳禺賵丕賳蹖丿.
丌乇夭賵 賲蹖讴賳賲 賵 亘丕鬲賵噩賴 亘賴 賴乇噩鈥屬堚€屬呚必� 讴賴 賴賲賴鈥屫� 乇賵 诏乇賮鬲賴貙 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 賴乇 夭賲丕賳 丿蹖诏乇蹖 亘毓丿 丕夭 乇賮鬲賳卮賵賳 丕賲蹖丿賵丕乇賲 讴賴 丿賳蹖丕 亘賴 夭賵丿蹖 賳丕亘賵丿 卮賴貨 賵 賲賳 賴賲 丕夭 卮乇 鬲賲丕賲 丕蹖賳 丌卮賵亘 乇賵丕賳蹖 讴賴 賲孬賱 讴乇賲 趩賵亘 丿乇賵賳賲 乇賵 倬賵讴 讴乇丿賴 乇丕丨鬲 卮賲.[ 蹖賴 氐丨賳賴 鬲賵蹖 讴鬲丕亘 賴爻鬲 讴賴 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賵丕乇丿 丕鬲丕賯 賲禺賮蹖 "丕賲乇賳爻"( 賴賲賵賳 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇蹖 讴賴 賮賵鬲 讴乇丿賴 賵 乇丕亘胤賴 毓丕卮賯丕賳賴鈥屰� 鬲賲蹖夭蹖 亘丕賴丕卮 倬蹖丿丕 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿 賵 讴賱 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲 乇丕噩毓鈥屫ㄙ� 賴賲賵賳賴) 賲蹖卮賴 賵 亘丕 夭蹖亘丕鬲乇蹖賳 丕孬丕孬蹖賴鈥屰屰� 讴賴 鬲氐賵乇卮賵 讴賳蹖丿 乇賵亘乇賵 賲蹖卮賴. 賵賱蹖 鬲賲丕賲 丕賵賳 賲亘賱賲丕賳 賵 丕孬丕孬蹖賴 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 馗丕賴乇 爻丕賱賲 賵 賲丨讴賲 亘賳馗乇 賲蹖丕賳貙 亘賴 卮讴賱 睾鈥屬傗€屫� 亘丕 丕賵賱蹖賳 鬲賲丕爻 丿爻鬲卮 賲鬲賱丕卮蹖 賵 倬賵丿乇 賲蹖卮賳 趩賵賳 丕夭 丿乇賵賳 倬賵爻蹖丿賴 亘賵丿賳.]
丕蹖賳讴賴 丌乇夭賵蹖 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 賴賲賴 乇賵 丿丕乇賲 亘禺丕胤乇 胤亘毓 禺賵丿禺賵丕賴賲 賳蹖爻鬲 . 亘禺丕胤乇 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 亘賴 卮丿鬲 丕夭 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 賲蹖鈥屫必迟� 賵 亘毓囟蹖丕鬲賵賳 乇賵 亘賯丿乇蹖 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇賲 讴賴 賳賲蹖鬲賵賳賲 丿賵乇蹖鈥屫堎� 乇賵 鬲氐賵乇 讴賳賲 趩賴 亘乇爻賴 亘賴 鬲丨賲賱. 賱毓賳鬲蹖丕 ! 賴蹖趩讴丿賵賲鬲賵賳 倬丕蹖賴鈥屰� 禺賵丿讴卮蹖 丿爻鬲賴 噩賲毓蹖 賳蹖爻鬲蹖丿. 丨鬲蹖 鬲賵蹖 亘賵蹖 賮丕囟賱丕亘 賴賲 丿賳亘丕賱 亘丕乇賯賴 賴丕蹖 丕賲蹖丿 亘賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖诏乇丿蹖丿. 丨丕賱賲 丕夭鬲賵賳 亘賴賲 賲蹖禺賵乇賴 丨賯蹖賯鬲丕貙 賵賱蹖 丿賵爻鬲鬲賵賳 丿丕乇賲 賵 丕夭 丕蹖賳讴賴 丿賵爻鬲鬲賵賳 丿丕乇賲 丨丕賱賲 亘賴賲 賲蹖禺賵乇賴.
蹖亘丕乇 爻毓蹖 讴乇丿賲 禺賵丿讴卮蹖 讴賳賲 賵賱蹖 賳卮丿. 丕毓鬲乇丕賮 賲蹖讴賳賲 禺蹖賱蹖 亘蹖鈥屫关必顿� 賵 鬲乇爻賵丕賲. 賲蹖丿賵賳賲 丕诏乇 讴爻蹖 亘禺賵丕丿 賵丕賯毓丕 丕蹖賳讴丕乇賵 讴賳賴 丨鬲賲丕 乇賵卮 賲賳丕爻亘 乇賵 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖讴賳賴 賵 鬲賵蹖 爻蹖 孬丕賳蹖賴 禺賱丕氐... 賵賱蹖 賲賳 亘夭丿賱賲. 亘禺丕胤乇 賴賲蹖賳 鬲氐賲蹖賲 诏乇賮鬲賲 蹖賴 賯丕鬲賱 丕噩蹖乇 讴賳賲 讴賴 丿禺賱賲賵 亘蹖丕乇賴 賵 氐丿 丕賱亘鬲賴 丕乇夭賵賳賲 亘丕卮賴. 趩賵賳 禺蹖賱蹖 賵賯鬲賴 爻乇讴丕乇 賳賲蹖鈥屫辟� 賵 胤亘蹖毓鬲丕 蹖賴 倬丕倬丕爻蹖 丕賲 賳丿丕乇賲貙 丕诏乇 讴爻蹖賵 賲蹖 卮賳丕爻蹖丿 讴賴 賲乇丕賲蹖 蹖丕 氐乇賮丕 噩賴鬲 賱匕鬲 丌丿賲 賲蹖讴卮賴 賲賳賵 亘賴 丕賵賳 蹖丕 丕賵賳賵 亘賴 賲賳 賲毓乇賮蹖 讴賳蹖丿 . 噩亘乇丕賳 賲蹖讴賳賲.
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賯丕毓丿鬲丕 丕賳鬲馗丕乇 賲蹖乇賴 鬲賵蹖 乇蹖賵蹖賵賵 丕夭 禺賵丿 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲 趩蹖夭蹖 亘诏蹖賲. 賲禺鬲氐乇 毓乇囟 讴賳賲 讴賴 丕氐賱丕 賳賲蹖丿賵賳賲 丨爻賲 亘賴 讴鬲丕亘 趩蹖賴 賵 賴蹖趩 賳賯胤賴鈥屰� 禺丕氐蹖 丕夭 賲睾夭賲 乇賵 賳禺丕乇賵賳丿. 丕丨鬲賲丕賱丕 讴鬲丕亘 毓丕卮賯丕賳賴 丕爻 賵賱蹖 賲賳 賴賲卮 丿賳亘丕賱 乇诏賴鈥屬囏й屰� 丕夭 賲乇诏 鬲賵賵卮 亘賵丿賲. 賵賱蹖 賲孬賱 蹖讴 诏賳噩 蹖丕亘 讴賵丿賳 賴賲卮 丿賵乇 禺賵丿賲 賲蹖鈥屭嗀必屫� 賵 氐賮丨賴鈥屬囏й� 丕卮鬲亘丕賴蹖 乇賵 賵乇賯 賲蹖鈥屫藏呚� 丿乇丨丕賱蹖讴賴 讴丕賮蹖 亘賵丿 倬賳噩 氐賮丨賴 丌禺乇賵 亘禺賵賳賲.
蹖讴 倬蹖乇夭賳 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇賽 賲睾乇賵乇貙 亘賴 卮讴賱 毓噩蹖亘蹖 毓丕卮賯 禺丕賳賲賽 丕乇亘丕亘卮 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�.
"丕诏乇 讴爻蹖 讴丕乇丿蹖 鬲蹖夭 鬲賵蹖 賯賱亘 丌丿賲 賮乇賵 讴賳丿貙 丌丿賲 亘賱丕賮丕氐賱賴 丕夭 倬丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫з佖� 賲丕 賳蹖夭 丿乇蹖丕賮鬲賴 亘賵丿蹖賲 讴賴 賮賯丿丕賳 丕賲乇賳爻 乇丕 賴賳賵夭 丿乇 丿乇賵賳賲丕賳 丕丨爻丕爻 賳讴乇丿賴鈥屫й屬呚� 讴賴 賱胤賲賴鈥屫ж� 亘毓丿丕 亘賴 賲丕 賵丕乇丿 禺賵丕賴丿 卮丿貙 讴賴 亘毓丿丕 丕夭 倬丕 禺賵丕賴蹖賲 丕賮鬲丕丿."
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亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 禺丕胤乇 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丕夭 诏賵乇爻鬲丕賳 賴丕 貙 丕夭 乇賮鬲賳 亘賴 爻乇 賲夭丕乇 貙 賵 丕夭 賲乇丕爻賲 鬲乇丨蹖賲 賲鬲賳賮乇賲 貨 夭蹖乇丕 賲毓鬲賯丿賲 鬲賳賴丕 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 乇賮鬲诏丕賳 丿乇 丌賳 丨囟賵乇 賳丿丕乇賳丿貙 賴賲蹖賳 噩丕賴丕爻鬲. 賴賲蹖賳 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 鬲賳 賱胤蹖賮卮丕賳貙 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴 丿乇 倬丕乇趩賴鈥屫й� 爻賮蹖丿 丕乇夭丕賳 賯蹖賲鬲 丿乇 丨丕賱 倬賵爻蹖丿賳 爻鬲 賵 禺賵乇丕讴 丨卮乇丕鬲 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� .
賲蹖鈥屫з嗁� 丕蹖賳噩丕 賳蹖爻鬲蹖丿貙 賴乇趩賳丿 丕爻鬲禺賵丕賳賴丕蹖鬲丕賳 賴賳賵夭 丕蹖賳噩丕 丨囟賵乇 丿丕乇賳丿. 卮賲丕 乇丕 丕賲丕 賴乇 乇賵夭 賵 賴乇 卮亘貙 丿乇 禺丕賳賴鈥屰� 爻乇丿 賵 禺卮賲诏蹖賳賲 賲蹖鈥屰屫жㄙ� 貨 倬卮鬲 倬蹖丕賳賵蹖蹖 讴賴 賳賵丕禺鬲賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 讴賳丕乇 賲蹖夭蹖 讴賴 诏乇丿诏蹖乇蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 貙 丿乇 丌卮倬夭禺丕賳賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 丕噩丕賯卮 禺丕賲賵卮 丕爻鬲. 卮賲丕 乇丕 丿乇 鬲賲丕賲 噩丕賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿蹖诏乇 賴蹖趩鈥屬堎傌� 賳禺賵丕賴蹖丿 亘賵丿 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖讴賳賲.
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鉀斮囏簇ж�. 丕蹖賳 亘禺卮 丕夭 乇蹖賵蹖賵賵 賮丕賯丿 賴乇诏賵賳賴 丕乇夭卮 毓賱賲蹖貙賴賳乇蹖貙鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 蹖丕 賴乇賳賵毓 禺丕氐蹖 丕夭 丕乇夭卮 賴丕蹖 賲鬲丿丕賵賱 亘卮乇蹖 丕爻鬲. 丕诏乇 丨賵氐賱賴鈥屰� 趩爻賳丕賱賴 賳丿丕乇蹖丿貙 賳禺賵丕賳蹖丿.
丌乇夭賵 賲蹖讴賳賲 賵 亘丕鬲賵噩賴 亘賴 賴乇噩鈥屬堚€屬呚必� 讴賴 賴賲賴鈥屫� 乇賵 诏乇賮鬲賴貙 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 賴乇 夭賲丕賳 丿蹖诏乇蹖 亘毓丿 丕夭 乇賮鬲賳卮賵賳 丕賲蹖丿賵丕乇賲 讴賴 丿賳蹖丕 亘賴 夭賵丿蹖 賳丕亘賵丿 卮賴貨 賵 賲賳 賴賲 丕夭 卮乇 鬲賲丕賲 丕蹖賳 丌卮賵亘 乇賵丕賳蹖 讴賴 賲孬賱 讴乇賲 趩賵亘 丿乇賵賳賲 乇賵 倬賵讴 讴乇丿賴 乇丕丨鬲 卮賲.[ 蹖賴 氐丨賳賴 鬲賵蹖 讴鬲丕亘 賴爻鬲 讴賴 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賵丕乇丿 丕鬲丕賯 賲禺賮蹖 "丕賲乇賳爻"( 賴賲賵賳 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇蹖 讴賴 賮賵鬲 讴乇丿賴 賵 乇丕亘胤賴 毓丕卮賯丕賳賴鈥屰� 鬲賲蹖夭蹖 亘丕賴丕卮 倬蹖丿丕 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿 賵 讴賱 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲 乇丕噩毓鈥屫ㄙ� 賴賲賵賳賴) 賲蹖卮賴 賵 亘丕 夭蹖亘丕鬲乇蹖賳 丕孬丕孬蹖賴鈥屰屰� 讴賴 鬲氐賵乇卮賵 讴賳蹖丿 乇賵亘乇賵 賲蹖卮賴. 賵賱蹖 鬲賲丕賲 丕賵賳 賲亘賱賲丕賳 賵 丕孬丕孬蹖賴 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 馗丕賴乇 爻丕賱賲 賵 賲丨讴賲 亘賳馗乇 賲蹖丕賳貙 亘賴 卮讴賱 睾鈥屬傗€屫� 亘丕 丕賵賱蹖賳 鬲賲丕爻 丿爻鬲卮 賲鬲賱丕卮蹖 賵 倬賵丿乇 賲蹖卮賳 趩賵賳 丕夭 丿乇賵賳 倬賵爻蹖丿賴 亘賵丿賳.]
丕蹖賳讴賴 丌乇夭賵蹖 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 賴賲賴 乇賵 丿丕乇賲 亘禺丕胤乇 胤亘毓 禺賵丿禺賵丕賴賲 賳蹖爻鬲 . 亘禺丕胤乇 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 亘賴 卮丿鬲 丕夭 鬲賳賴丕蹖蹖 賲蹖鈥屫必迟� 賵 亘毓囟蹖丕鬲賵賳 乇賵 亘賯丿乇蹖 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇賲 讴賴 賳賲蹖鬲賵賳賲 丿賵乇蹖鈥屫堎� 乇賵 鬲氐賵乇 讴賳賲 趩賴 亘乇爻賴 亘賴 鬲丨賲賱. 賱毓賳鬲蹖丕 ! 賴蹖趩讴丿賵賲鬲賵賳 倬丕蹖賴鈥屰� 禺賵丿讴卮蹖 丿爻鬲賴 噩賲毓蹖 賳蹖爻鬲蹖丿. 丨鬲蹖 鬲賵蹖 亘賵蹖 賮丕囟賱丕亘 賴賲 丿賳亘丕賱 亘丕乇賯賴 賴丕蹖 丕賲蹖丿 亘賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖诏乇丿蹖丿. 丨丕賱賲 丕夭鬲賵賳 亘賴賲 賲蹖禺賵乇賴 丨賯蹖賯鬲丕貙 賵賱蹖 丿賵爻鬲鬲賵賳 丿丕乇賲 賵 丕夭 丕蹖賳讴賴 丿賵爻鬲鬲賵賳 丿丕乇賲 丨丕賱賲 亘賴賲 賲蹖禺賵乇賴.
蹖亘丕乇 爻毓蹖 讴乇丿賲 禺賵丿讴卮蹖 讴賳賲 賵賱蹖 賳卮丿. 丕毓鬲乇丕賮 賲蹖讴賳賲 禺蹖賱蹖 亘蹖鈥屫关必顿� 賵 鬲乇爻賵丕賲. 賲蹖丿賵賳賲 丕诏乇 讴爻蹖 亘禺賵丕丿 賵丕賯毓丕 丕蹖賳讴丕乇賵 讴賳賴 丨鬲賲丕 乇賵卮 賲賳丕爻亘 乇賵 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖讴賳賴 賵 鬲賵蹖 爻蹖 孬丕賳蹖賴 禺賱丕氐... 賵賱蹖 賲賳 亘夭丿賱賲. 亘禺丕胤乇 賴賲蹖賳 鬲氐賲蹖賲 诏乇賮鬲賲 蹖賴 賯丕鬲賱 丕噩蹖乇 讴賳賲 讴賴 丿禺賱賲賵 亘蹖丕乇賴 賵 氐丿 丕賱亘鬲賴 丕乇夭賵賳賲 亘丕卮賴. 趩賵賳 禺蹖賱蹖 賵賯鬲賴 爻乇讴丕乇 賳賲蹖鈥屫辟� 賵 胤亘蹖毓鬲丕 蹖賴 倬丕倬丕爻蹖 丕賲 賳丿丕乇賲貙 丕诏乇 讴爻蹖賵 賲蹖 卮賳丕爻蹖丿 讴賴 賲乇丕賲蹖 蹖丕 氐乇賮丕 噩賴鬲 賱匕鬲 丌丿賲 賲蹖讴卮賴 賲賳賵 亘賴 丕賵賳 蹖丕 丕賵賳賵 亘賴 賲賳 賲毓乇賮蹖 讴賳蹖丿 . 噩亘乇丕賳 賲蹖讴賳賲.
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賯丕毓丿鬲丕 丕賳鬲馗丕乇 賲蹖乇賴 鬲賵蹖 乇蹖賵蹖賵賵 丕夭 禺賵丿 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲 趩蹖夭蹖 亘诏蹖賲. 賲禺鬲氐乇 毓乇囟 讴賳賲 讴賴 丕氐賱丕 賳賲蹖丿賵賳賲 丨爻賲 亘賴 讴鬲丕亘 趩蹖賴 賵 賴蹖趩 賳賯胤賴鈥屰� 禺丕氐蹖 丕夭 賲睾夭賲 乇賵 賳禺丕乇賵賳丿. 丕丨鬲賲丕賱丕 讴鬲丕亘 毓丕卮賯丕賳賴 丕爻 賵賱蹖 賲賳 賴賲卮 丿賳亘丕賱 乇诏賴鈥屬囏й屰� 丕夭 賲乇诏 鬲賵賵卮 亘賵丿賲. 賵賱蹖 賲孬賱 蹖讴 诏賳噩 蹖丕亘 讴賵丿賳 賴賲卮 丿賵乇 禺賵丿賲 賲蹖鈥屭嗀必屫� 賵 氐賮丨賴鈥屬囏й� 丕卮鬲亘丕賴蹖 乇賵 賵乇賯 賲蹖鈥屫藏呚� 丿乇丨丕賱蹖讴賴 讴丕賮蹖 亘賵丿 倬賳噩 氐賮丨賴 丌禺乇賵 亘禺賵賳賲.
April 10, 2021
禺賵卮丨丕賱賲 讴賴 禺賵丕賳丿賳 芦丿乇禄 亘丕毓孬 卮丿 亘丕 賲丕诏丿丕 爻丕亘賵蹖 賮賵賯鈥屫з勜关ж� 丌卮賳丕 卮賵賲! 丕蹖賳 夭賳 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥屫й� 賯賴丕乇 丕爻鬲. 丕夭 賴賲丕賳 賮氐賱 丌睾丕夭蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲賴鈥屭嗃屫� 倬蹖丿丕爻鬲貙 丌賳诏丕賴 讴賴 乇丕賵蹖 氐丨賳賴鈥屫й� 丕夭 禺賵丕亘卮 乇丕 亘丕 賲丕 亘賴 丕卮鬲乇丕讴 賲蹖鈥屭柏ж必� 讴丕亘賵爻蹖 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 賴乇 诏蹖乇丕賮鬲丕丿賴 丿乇 趩賳诏 乇賵蹖丕蹖蹖 氐丨賳賴鈥屬矩必ж槽� 丌卮賳丕蹖蹖 丿丕乇丿貙 賵 爻倬爻 禺賵丿 丿乇 丿賵 氐賮丨賴鈥屰� 丕賵賱 讴鬲丕亘 禺蹖賱蹖 乇讴 賵 倬賵爻鬲 讴賳丿賴 亘賴 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫� 讴賴 丕賲乇賳爻 乇丕 丕賵 讴卮鬲賴 丕爻鬲. 乇丕爻鬲卮 乇丕 亘诏賵蹖賲 讴鬲丕亘 丿賯蹖賯丕 丕夭 賴賲蹖賳 賳賯胤賴 亘乇丕蹖賲 噩匕丕亘 卮丿貙 夭蹖乇丕 丿丕賳爻鬲賲 丿乇 亘賳丿 丿丕賳爻鬲賳 倬丕蹖丕賳 讴鬲丕亘 賳禺賵丕賴賲 亘賵丿 賵 丌賳趩賴 倬蹖卮 乇賵蹖賲 丕爻鬲 丕丨鬲賲丕賱丕 賲毓噩賵賳 丿賱倬匕蹖乇蹖 丕夭 乇賵丕亘胤 丕賳爻丕賳蹖 賵 讴賳丿 賵 讴丕賵 賲蹖丕賳 丌賳鈥屬囏ж池�.
亘賱賴貙 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴必�. 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕賲乇賳爻 賵 氐丕丨亘鈥屭┴ж必� 讴賴 賴賲丕賳 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥屰� 乇丕賵蹖 賳蹖夭 賴爻鬲 丌賳趩賳丕賳 倬乇讴卮卮 賵 诏蹖乇丕 亘賵丿 讴賴 鬲賲丕賲 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲 賵 夭賲丕賳 賵 賲讴丕賳 倬蹖乇丕賲賵賳賲 乇丕 賴賳诏丕賲 亘賴 丿爻鬲 诏乇賮鬲賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 禺賵丿 賲蹖鈥屭┴篡屫�. 卮蹖賲蹖 乇丕亘胤賴鈥屰� 丕賲乇賳爻 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇 賵 氐丕丨亘讴丕乇卮 賵 賳賵毓 毓卮賯 賵 毓賱丕賯賴鈥屰� 亘蹖賳 丕蹖賳 丿賵 賵 丕夭 賴賲賴 噩丕賱亘鈥屫� 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽� 亘蹖鈥屬嗁傌� 丕賲乇賳爻 丕夭 賲丕賳丿诏丕乇鬲乇蹖賳 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖蹖 亘賵丿 讴賴 亘賴 噩乇丕鬲 鬲丕 讴賳賵賳 禺賵丕賳丿賴鈥屫з�.
丿乇 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 賴賲丕賳 胤毓賲 賵丕賯毓蹖鈥屫ж� 乇丕 亘賴 賲丕 賲蹖鈥屬嗁呚й屫з嗀� 丌賳 乇賵蹖 賳丕賲賴乇亘丕賳蹖 讴賴 丿乇 讴賳丕乇 趩卮丕賳丿賳 毓卮賯蹖 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 夭賴乇 賲乇诏鈥屫⒇池й屰� 乇丕 賳蹖夭 丿乇 丨賱賯鬲 亘乇蹖夭丿.
亘賱賴貙 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴必�. 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕賲乇賳爻 賵 氐丕丨亘鈥屭┴ж必� 讴賴 賴賲丕賳 禺丕賳賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥屰� 乇丕賵蹖 賳蹖夭 賴爻鬲 丌賳趩賳丕賳 倬乇讴卮卮 賵 诏蹖乇丕 亘賵丿 讴賴 鬲賲丕賲 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲 賵 夭賲丕賳 賵 賲讴丕賳 倬蹖乇丕賲賵賳賲 乇丕 賴賳诏丕賲 亘賴 丿爻鬲 诏乇賮鬲賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 禺賵丿 賲蹖鈥屭┴篡屫�. 卮蹖賲蹖 乇丕亘胤賴鈥屰� 丕賲乇賳爻 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇 賵 氐丕丨亘讴丕乇卮 賵 賳賵毓 毓卮賯 賵 毓賱丕賯賴鈥屰� 亘蹖賳 丕蹖賳 丿賵 賵 丕夭 賴賲賴 噩丕賱亘鈥屫� 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽� 亘蹖鈥屬嗁傌� 丕賲乇賳爻 丕夭 賲丕賳丿诏丕乇鬲乇蹖賳 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖蹖 亘賵丿 讴賴 亘賴 噩乇丕鬲 鬲丕 讴賳賵賳 禺賵丕賳丿賴鈥屫з�.
丿乇 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 賴賲丕賳 胤毓賲 賵丕賯毓蹖鈥屫ж� 乇丕 亘賴 賲丕 賲蹖鈥屬嗁呚й屫з嗀� 丌賳 乇賵蹖 賳丕賲賴乇亘丕賳蹖 讴賴 丿乇 讴賳丕乇 趩卮丕賳丿賳 毓卮賯蹖 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 夭賴乇 賲乇诏鈥屫⒇池й屰� 乇丕 賳蹖夭 丿乇 丨賱賯鬲 亘乇蹖夭丿.
May 9, 2021
The Door is a fictionalized account of two Hungarian women, one an intellectual, a writer, and the other an uneducated woman whom the first takes on to be her housekeeper. The story spans years, and as the two women grapple with their relationship, it grows into one that can only be described as love. Ah, but love comes in so many guises, and love is a complicated emotion.
She didn鈥檛 understand that it was because of our mutual love that she went on stabbing me til I fell to my knees, that she did it because I loved her, and she loved me. Only people truly close to me can cause me real pain.
Magda Szabo has written a completely unforgettable character in Emerence; an enigmatic soul; one for whom you cannot help feeling an affinity but for whom you never really come to feel any affection. In the beginning, Emerence seems mostly unlikeable and stubborn, and thoroughly unreasonable, but as the story progresses, we are shown bits and pieces of what has shaped her and what drives her, and feelings begin to turn. At the outset, it is 鈥渢he lady writer鈥�, our narrator, a person of some importance, that appears to be at the center of this story, but along the way it becomes evident that this is really Emerence鈥檚 story.
She was the Snow Queen. She stood for certainty--in summer the first ripening cherry, in autumn the thud of falling chestnuts, the golden roast pumpkin of winter, and, in spring, the first bud on the hedgerow.
In addition to the desire to unravel Emerence鈥檚 strange personality, there is the added element of mystery surrounding Emerence鈥檚 home. What is behind the door? What is she hiding? She will not allow anyone to come into her apartment or even have a glimpse of what lies behind her door. What is there in her past that might explain why she is the most generous and caring when someone is in need and yet she, herself, can never accept the slightest gift or gesture of generosity from another? The symbolism of the closed door of her house and the closed door to her life is evident.
As this novel progressed, I became obsessed with the psychological complexities of this character. I could barely set the book aside for a moment and turn my attention to anything else. I found myself thinking about it incessantly until I could return and pick it up again. The ending took me by surprise as well. Like everything else about the novel, it was not so simple as it might have seemed it should be to decide what was right or wrong, who was most to blame, and what I felt I might have done, myself, in a similar circumstance.
There is a pervasive sense of darkness in Szabo鈥檚 writing. This is my third of her novels, and I find that same ominous aura hangs about them all. Her characters have endured wars and upheaval, and their lives reflect the chaos, even those characters who seem normal or appear to have moved on. Her writing is powerful; her prose is stark; her world is murky, but she is a remarkable dream weaver and well worth exploring.
She didn鈥檛 understand that it was because of our mutual love that she went on stabbing me til I fell to my knees, that she did it because I loved her, and she loved me. Only people truly close to me can cause me real pain.
Magda Szabo has written a completely unforgettable character in Emerence; an enigmatic soul; one for whom you cannot help feeling an affinity but for whom you never really come to feel any affection. In the beginning, Emerence seems mostly unlikeable and stubborn, and thoroughly unreasonable, but as the story progresses, we are shown bits and pieces of what has shaped her and what drives her, and feelings begin to turn. At the outset, it is 鈥渢he lady writer鈥�, our narrator, a person of some importance, that appears to be at the center of this story, but along the way it becomes evident that this is really Emerence鈥檚 story.
She was the Snow Queen. She stood for certainty--in summer the first ripening cherry, in autumn the thud of falling chestnuts, the golden roast pumpkin of winter, and, in spring, the first bud on the hedgerow.
In addition to the desire to unravel Emerence鈥檚 strange personality, there is the added element of mystery surrounding Emerence鈥檚 home. What is behind the door? What is she hiding? She will not allow anyone to come into her apartment or even have a glimpse of what lies behind her door. What is there in her past that might explain why she is the most generous and caring when someone is in need and yet she, herself, can never accept the slightest gift or gesture of generosity from another? The symbolism of the closed door of her house and the closed door to her life is evident.
As this novel progressed, I became obsessed with the psychological complexities of this character. I could barely set the book aside for a moment and turn my attention to anything else. I found myself thinking about it incessantly until I could return and pick it up again. The ending took me by surprise as well. Like everything else about the novel, it was not so simple as it might have seemed it should be to decide what was right or wrong, who was most to blame, and what I felt I might have done, myself, in a similar circumstance.
There is a pervasive sense of darkness in Szabo鈥檚 writing. This is my third of her novels, and I find that same ominous aura hangs about them all. Her characters have endured wars and upheaval, and their lives reflect the chaos, even those characters who seem normal or appear to have moved on. Her writing is powerful; her prose is stark; her world is murky, but she is a remarkable dream weaver and well worth exploring.
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