The Vagabond King

Jun 04, 2013 Underground Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: brian-s-99-cent-reviews

I haven’t finished a book so quickly in a long time because these characters were so intriguing. There were times I had to put the book down and simply reflect on how talented this author is. Conway’s dialogue and narration are often mind-blowing. Unfortunately, this is as close to becoming a masterpiece as this book gets. There are several noteworthy flaws that rob this novel of its true potential.

Conway often gets lost while telling this tale. First, he is overly repetitive. Vagabond could ha...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Roy Gomez rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: writers

Recommended to Roy by: friend

With conflicted sympathies I rate my friend's novel a three - a solid three, but nonetheless a three. I say this because Jim's work offers much more than my own ranking suggests.

Reader interests rule my conscience.

That said, "The Vagabond King" is a serious work. It easily displays the many talents of a young writer and the promise of a successful writing career.

At this stage, however, I have to argue that this novel isn't suited for casual readers. His peers will enjoy it. The work, moreover,...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Lainy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Blurb from Goodreads

When his mother dies and he discovers the man he believed was his father is not, sixteen year old Chris is haunted by a mysterious apparition that forces him to question his pampered existence and embark upon a quest to find himself. Hoping she will “make a man of him”, he seeks sanctuary in the home of Magda, a middle aged waitress with a penchant for sex, only to discover she lives with her father, a cigarette smoking, beer swilling immigrant.

Chris hates his shabby new surr...more Blurb from Goodreads

When his mother dies and he discovers the man he believed was his father is not, sixteen year old Chris is haunted by a mysterious apparition that forces him to question his pampered existence and embark upon a quest to find himself. Hoping she will “make a man of him”, he seeks sanctuary in the home of Magda, a middle aged waitress with a penchant for sex, only to discover she lives with her father, a cigarette smoking, beer swilling immigrant.

Chris hates his shabby new surroundings at the end of the street and the shabby old man at the end of his life who spends his days listening to old blues records and making Chris fetch him fresh cans of beer. But, when the old man tells tales of Communism, torture, escape and the mysterious medallion he wears, Chris learns that, like the old man’s skipping records, history repeats itself and the roles we play have been played many times before.

My review

Another book I fought between a 2 or 3 star rating. It had a fantastic start and a huge hooking line and I thought it was going to be a completely different story than it turned out to be. However I really struggled to get through this book after that until up until I was 70% through. It begins with Chris finding out his father is not his real father by his mother who is dying with cancer. After his mum dies Chris finds himself going from having his whole life planned out and being a straight A student to dropping out of school and leaving home with his belongings and nowhere to go. He finds himself at the mercy of the older but attractive waitresses house of his local diner and ends up staying with her and her father.

What follows is tales from Magda about religion, egyptians and mythology. This is the parts of the story that kept me going as I was really fascinated by the tales and of Magdas fathers stories of his life. Chris however I found a horrible character, he was whiney, self involved and very shallow until spending some quality time and learning life lessons from the Vagabond King.

The way the story came together with the suprise turn at the near end was very well done also and added another star onto my rating as I was torn between a 2 or a 3 as I really struggled to get into it when it was about Chris and found there was a bit of repetition throughout the book aswell. All things considered it is a 3/5 for me and thank you to the author for introducing me to his work.

This book is available for only £0.86 on amazon so worth checking out as other readers have loved it and gave it 5 star ratings.

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Nov 02, 2011 TC rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction

Chris found out, courtesy of his unwitting rowing parents, that the man he thought was his father was not. After his mum dies the 16 year old is haunted by a being urging him to look deeper at himself. His adoptive father is a no - nonsense kind of man who doesn't have any time for finding oneself and Chris leaves home. He seeks out acquaintance & middle-aged waitress Magda, envisioning her as both a lover and guide in life. The reality is that she lives with her immigrant Hungarian father,...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction

This is the story of a teenager, Chris, who turns his own life upside down after the death of his mother and the uncovering of a family secret. Although Chris is 16 years old in the book, I wouldn't consider this book a young adult book as it deals with some pretty adult topics.

Chris lives a fairly pampered lifestyle with his parents before his mother's death. He's spoiled. He doesn't seem to understand how things work in the real world. He doesn't understand why everything and everyone doesn't...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

How can you look at your life the same when you find out the man you grew up thinking is your father really isn’t? Once Chris’ mother dies, he takes off to ‘find himself’ – to look deep inside himself and discover who he really is and what he’s meant for. Along the way he meets Magda and her father, who both end up teaching him some important life lessons. All along, Chris still fights within himself to decide if he should follow the future his adoptive father sees for him or to strike out on hi...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Nicki Markus rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received a review copy of this book from the author and here are my thoughts on it:

I had some initial trouble with this piece as the PDF had some formatting issues and it was impossible to read it on my Kobo and not give myself a headache. That meant I had to read it on the computer in dribs and drabs.

I found it difficult to really engage with the story, but I dislike reading on the computer screen and so I am taking that into account as it may have been that, rather than the book itself, tha...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Pixie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: indies

Review also found on my blog, The Bookaholic: http://the-bookaholic.blogspot.com

The Vagabond King had a unique sense of style that had me immediately turning the pages from the moment I picked it up. The language was rich and the storyline was fresh. My qualms were the formatting and repetition mostly. The characterization didn't entirely reach me on a level I wanted for this type of story either to be honest, but in the end, it was still an engaging enough read to hold my attention throughout....more

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Jan 31, 2012 Courtney (Fuzzy.Coffee.Books) rated it 2 of 5 stars

What I Liked: 1) The overall idea of history repeating itself. This idea was well researched and I thought it was played out very nicely in the story. 2) Chris's convictions. Okay, I may not have agreed with all of his convictions, but he stuck with them, no matter what anyone told him. 3) The ending. There was a lot going on in this book, but everything was nicely packaged at the end. I understood the different plot points a lot better once I reached the end of the book and saw how everything c...more What I Liked: 1) The overall idea of history repeating itself. This idea was well researched and I thought it was played out very nicely in the story. 2) Chris's convictions. Okay, I may not have agreed with all of his convictions, but he stuck with them, no matter what anyone told him. 3) The ending. There was a lot going on in this book, but everything was nicely packaged at the end. I understood the different plot points a lot better once I reached the end of the book and saw how everything came together.

What I Didn't Like: 1) That being said, it took a long time for me to piece this book together. Throughout most of the book, I felt like saying, "this book is way smarter than me." My confusion led me to have a hard time reading it. 2) Additionally, there were other aspects of the book that I found hard to figure out. For example, the time period. I knew it was sometime post-1960, but beyond that, I couldn't figure it out. Often, being confused about small details like that can distract me for the entire book. Also, Chris's age. I was vascilating between 14 and 18. That's a pretty big age difference, but it was never really confirmed until the very end when I think I finally landed on 17-18. There is a big difference between a 14 year old character and an 18 year old character, and not being able to figure out where on the age spectrum he fell was a hindrance in figuring out the book. 3) What kind of timeline did this book cover? That affects his age too, I guess. Did he start of as a young adolescent and end the book as an adult? I still have so many questions about the story, and it led to my not being able to enjoy what I was reading.

Overall thoughts: I have to come back to the fact that this book was too smart for me. It left me confused and wondering what exactly it was all about. Combine that with a cast of characters that really didn't appeal to me, and I'll admit I had a few issues with this book. That being said, I think that there are some who will enjoy this story. It's an interesting examination of the idea that history repeats itself with historical references and a cyclical story. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.

See this and other fun reviews at Fuzzy.Coffee.Books!(less)

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Dec 21, 2011 Kayleigh Murphy rated it 4 of 5 stars

So to expand on the synopsis given, Chris is a 16 year old spoiled brat who is struck hard when his mother dies of cancer. Drowning in grief and missing his only friend (or so it appears, no one else is ever mentioned) Chris finds himself in the grips of an existential crisis, confused as to what he did to deserve losing his mum, and struggling with now being alone and without his support network. When his father, a business minded money-grabbing weiner, reveals that he isn't Chris's biological...more So to expand on the synopsis given, Chris is a 16 year old spoiled brat who is struck hard when his mother dies of cancer. Drowning in grief and missing his only friend (or so it appears, no one else is ever mentioned) Chris finds himself in the grips of an existential crisis, confused as to what he did to deserve losing his mum, and struggling with now being alone and without his support network. When his father, a business minded money-grabbing weiner, reveals that he isn't Chris's biological father, their strained relationship is stretched to the breaking limit and Chris runs away from home. He turns to the only person he can think of, Magda, a middle aged waitress who taught him about ancient myths when he stopped in after visiting his mother in the hospital.

Put in a tough spot, Magda offers Chris the chance to stay for the night, but as you can imagine, one day becomes two, becomes four, becomes several weeks... Once at the house though, things quickly grow more complicated. Magda is clearly uncomfortable with Chris's appearance and their relationship is further strained when Chris snootily looks down at everything in the house. The food, the furniture, the improvised bedroom they provide him, and perhaps most obnoxiously, her father. The rest of the book charts Chris's slow transformation away from the boy who turned up uninvited on Magda's front step.

Before I tackle some of the other aspects of the book I really want to discuss Christopher. My god, did I hate him. He's spoiled, shallow and self-indulgent and completely ungrateful for the effort Magda and her father make to keep Chris safe and fed and warm. He's also completely unable to live in the real world. He's constantly creating these bigger than life situations in his head, romanticising every minute detail to such an extreme that real life could never compare. For example, he wishes to travel to Europe because he sees it as a place of,
"not only of kings and queens, but of rosy cheeked peasants. The street urchins wore ragged but well patched clothes and the chimney sweeps and beggars were smudged but clean. Everything was like the set of a play" (page 119)
While he tries to act like he's an adult with these big, huge adult thoughts his romanticism of everything around him, and his complete inability to adjust to new or strange environments and people really emphasise that he's a little kid thrust into an adult world he's completely unprepared for. Rather justly then, he tends to react like a child. He's unable to grasp why Magda's father would still be upset about his wife's passing because she was ugly, and when he's out of his comfort zone his automatic reaction is to throw a tantrum and blame it on someone else. There were times when I wished he'd materialise in front of me so I could punch him in the face, but it's so blatantly clear that he's a scared little kid reacting in the only way a spoiled rich kid with very few relationships (even with the mother he adored) knows how to.

Chris's salvation begins with Magda, but it's really her father that is responsible for pulling Chris back down to earth and teaching him how life actually is. At a time when Chris believed that he was the only person in the whole world who has truly felt grief or pain, Llaszlo Mihali (often referred to simply as The Old Man) made it pointedly clear that he not only understands pain, but he's felt it at much deeper levels. Still pained by the loss of his wife, The Old Man is a Hungarian migrant who lived through the horrific torment that rocked his home country. Initially, his stories seem to have little effect on Chris, at least not on any lasting level. Even after being told about some horrific crime against an entire village, he still thinks his suffering is more extreme, or more pure. But the old man doesn't give up. He recognises the good buried deep in Chris, and he works hard to help Chris recognise it.

The COA story is blended with poetry, blues music and mythology to create a rich and textured tale quite unlike most stories I've read of this sort. In particular, the mythology is used to emphasise the cyclic nature of life and belief and in regards to Chris's story, does a wonderful job of explaining his pain and where he fits in the world. There are a couple of parts of the novel which progress from regular prose into short prose poetry that is not only gorgeous to read but takes on shapes across the page, reflecting the story not only through the meaning of the text, but through the visual also. Though Chris's behaviour was so extreme that I almost blacked out with rage at times, the story is wonderfully paced and beautifully written, and the journey is interesting enough to encourage a reader to stick with it. A real pleasure to read, I can't wait to read more work by Conway.(less)

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Jul 28, 2012 David Brown rated it 3 of 5 stars

Growing up is never easy for anyone. Our teenage years are often a difficult time and while many thrive, others struggle under the weight of so many pressures. There are no easy solutions to maturity though, it’s simply a case of riding the wave and getting through. In James Conway’s The Vagabond King we have a teenager who is approaching maturity when his life is turned upside down by tragedy and revelation.

Chris is the main character in the novel and at the outset his mother passes away leavin...more Growing up is never easy for anyone. Our teenage years are often a difficult time and while many thrive, others struggle under the weight of so many pressures. There are no easy solutions to maturity though, it’s simply a case of riding the wave and getting through. In James Conway’s The Vagabond King we have a teenager who is approaching maturity when his life is turned upside down by tragedy and revelation.

Chris is the main character in the novel and at the outset his mother passes away leaving him with a father he discovers actually isn’t his real father after all. This becomes too much for Chris who runs away from home and finds a roof with a local waitress, Magda, and her father, simply described as the Old Man. Though much older than him, Chris desires Magda intensely while the Old Man begins to teach him of his past and helps give Chris a new perspective on life.

This is one of those books where events wise not very much happens. A bit like a film such as Lost in Translation or Withnail & I, what is important is what’s said rather than what happens. Chris is devastated at the outset by the death of his mother and he tells us how she embraced many religions in the run up to her death, trying to find and understand herself before breathing her last. When Chris learns that his father isn’t really his father, he feels no reason to stay and goes in search of his own self and wonders about who his real father is.

The local waitress Magda is twice as old as Chris but being in his late teens and full of hormones he lusts after her, though she shows no interest in return despite often going on dates. Magda allows Chris to live with her and she teaches him of world religions, the similarities between the faiths, while her father has many stories from his days in Hungary, encounters with the Soviet Union, his flight overseas and his love of the Blues and beer. While Chris gets himself work he and Magda divide their time between keeping the Old Man company. Chris finds the Old Man somewhat annoying to begin with but over time they become closer and Chris begins to learn about life and as a result begins the final stages of his maturity.

I quite enjoyed The Vagabond King. The Old Man’s reminiscences were the best parts of the book. Other times some of the narrative felt uneventful but there’s no denying this is still a very well written book. The ending was very apt building on the message that history always repeats itself and it is one of the final lessons that Chris learns from his time with the Old Man and with Magda. This won’t appeal to all readers especially if they want an eventful read. This is a more ponderous albeit well executed narrative.

The Vagabond King is an intense yet uneventful read. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing dependent on the sort of books you enjoy but I feel that this will be an acquired taste rather than appealing to the mainstream. I felt it was a good book but some readers will inevitably find it unsatisfying. That said, how is that different to any other book?(less)

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Feb 09, 2012 Jackie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book-edition-for-review, book-from-author-for-review, read-in-2012

Book Synopsis

When his mother dies and he discovers the man he believed was his father is not, sixteen year old Chris is haunted by a mysterious apparition that forces him to question his pampered existence and embark upon a quest to find himself. Hoping she will “make a man of him”, he seeks sanctuary in the home of Magda, a middle aged waitress with a penchant for sex, only to discover she lives with her father, a cigarette smoking, beer swilling immigrant.

Chris hates his shabby new surroundi...more

Book Synopsis

When his mother dies and he discovers the man he believed was his father is not, sixteen year old Chris is haunted by a mysterious apparition that forces him to question his pampered existence and embark upon a quest to find himself. Hoping she will “make a man of him”, he seeks sanctuary in the home of Magda, a middle aged waitress with a penchant for sex, only to discover she lives with her father, a cigarette smoking, beer swilling immigrant.

Chris hates his shabby new surroundings at the end of the street and the shabby old man at the end of his life who spends his days listening to old blues records and making Chris fetch him fresh cans of beer. But, when the old man tells tales of Communism, torture, escape and the mysterious medallion he wears, Chris learns that, like the old man’s skipping records, history repeats itself and the roles we play have been played many times before.

My Thoughts

First I have to admit this is not an easy read, it is not light entertainment rather it is very deeply introspective and at times even somewhat a little too much to understand without re-reading portions of the book.

I also have to admit that I never totally warmed up to 16 year old Chris, he just lacked appeal until almost the very end of the story for me. I did however fall in love with Magda's father, his earthy character reminded me of my own father in some ways and the last scenes before he passed away were some of the hardest to read because it took me back to my own father's demise several years ago.

This is a story that takes the reader deep into the heart, minds and emotions of Chris, Magda and Mihali. It is a book that tears down the walls that we all hide behind and exposes our soft underbelly in the character of Chris. There is not just one plot but several, the story of what is going on in Chris's mind as he looks for himself everywhere but deep inside, the story of Magda the waitress who is also something of a closet philosopher, the story of Mihali Lazlo who is not just an old immigrant but in his own country a former member of the aristocracy.

You at times feel overwhelmed by the spiritual overtones, the mystical references, the sheer efforts that Chris undertakes while trying to understand his own existence and his place in the world.
If you can get past that then you will enjoy the journey that Chris embarks upon which proves that in the end everyone and everything is connected in some way, that there is no universal truth but only the chance to live life to the best of our ability with hope and determination while we have breath left to enjoy it

There is so much going on in this book it is hard to break down without retelling the entire story, suffice to say that it will make you think and sometimes that is the best reason for reading a story as so many times we pick up something that does not make us think at all but allows us just to escape. This is not that kind of read but rather a deeply thoughtful look at why it is better to live our lives than search for answers as to why certain things come to pass and our life is over with nothing to show for it!

A kindle copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Jul 06, 2012 My Book Addiction and More MBA rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Vagabond King was a very interesting and thought-provoking novel. When reading and learning about Chris’ story, you can’t help but feel for this poor kid. When he met up with Magda and her father, he learned some valuable life lessons. I did at first find myself having a hard time getting into this book, but I am glad I persevered. I truly enjoyed the book which did make me think.

Received from the publisher by My Book Addiction and More for an honest review.

Rating: 3

Reviewed by: Kelly

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Feb 10, 2013 Jay Strong marked it as to-read

Nov 06, 2012 Rebekah Cazier rated it 1 of 5 stars

Oct 29, 2012 Melanie marked it as to-read

Shelves: kindle-books, realistic-contemporary-or-literary, young-adult-contemporary-realistic, indie

Aug 01, 2012 Lavinia Thompson marked it as to-read

Aug 01, 2012 Sapphyria marked it as to-read

Jun 06, 2012 Katie Otte marked it as to-read

Mar 07, 2012 Jessica Bronder marked it as to-read

Jan 31, 2012 T.M. marked it as to-read

Jan 15, 2012 Beverly marked it as to-read

Jan 12, 2012 Catherine Coffman marked it as dnf

Shelves: review-copy

Jan 11, 2012 Diana Campos marked it as to-read

Jan 11, 2012 heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jan 01, 2012 Margaret marked it as to-read

Shelves: kindle

Dec 29, 2011 Super-E-Books E-Books added it

Feb 01, 2012 Wendy Ewurum marked it as to-read

Dec 20, 2011 Keryl Raist marked it as to-read

Shelves: indie-book-review

Dec 14, 2011 Shah Wharton rated it 3 of 5 stars

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