From the Bookshelf of Constant Reader…

The Door

Magda Szabó,

Len Rix (Translator)

Start date: December 15, 2015

Finish date: January 1, 2016

Discussion: Reading List

Discussion leader: Barb

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What Members Thought

Sep 09, 2020 Ken added it · review of another edition

Shelves: finished-in-2020, world-literature

I've known readers who have read both this book and Szabo's Abigail. Some of them loved both books, and some of them reserved their love for Abigail.

Small wonder. To me this is less a novel and more a 262-page character study. Seen through that lens, it boils down to this -- can you live with this character for 262 pages?

Apparently I can, and it may be because I've known a few "Emerence" types myself -- deceivingly smart people who shun many of society's mores and expectations to live life thei I've known readers who have read both this book and Szabo's Abigail. Some of them loved both books, and some of them reserved their love for Abigail.

Small wonder. To me this is less a novel and more a 262-page character study. Seen through that lens, it boils down to this -- can you live with this character for 262 pages?

Apparently I can, and it may be because I've known a few "Emerence" types myself -- deceivingly smart people who shun many of society's mores and expectations to live life their own way. In my case it was a Polish man who was brought up as an orphan by an American family and lived his short life doing nothing but hard work. In that sense, he shares a trait with Emerence, who is best known for holding her neighborhood together by constantly bustling about outside, brooming up leaves and brooming off snow, helping people keep house, bringing soup to people who are ill.

If this sounds a lot like Mother Theresa, you're headed the right way because, like Mother Theresas, Emerence can be the hardest of hard asses, obdurately stubborn, a bit of a know-it-all, and almost more magical than South America's realism, especially when it comes to cats and dogs (step aside, Dog Whisperer, this lady will steal your pooch's heartworm).

She also carries an air of mystery. The door refers to her household's, one that opens only for the narrator's dog and any of the neighborhood's abandoned cats. No one but no one gets to see what's in her house, meaning what you see is what you get, and if you don't like it, stuff it.

The poor narrator? She winds up being equal parts enraged and entranced by Emerence -- so much so that she writes this book (I'm making the leap from character to author only because the narrator is a "Writer Lady," as she is referred to in the text). For those who like the thin red line between love and hate, this is a character study for you. The dynamic between Emerence and Magda the Writer is special. A special mess.

But what if it's plot and not stubborn old Hungarian peasant ladies that catches your fancy? I'd give this a wide berth in that case. Meet Szabo through her charming little coming-of-age tale, Abigail. Then quietly exit by the back gate. And don't you dare go near that door. This lady carries an axe! ...more

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May 29, 2016 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: women-in-translation, translated, read2016, around-the-world, nyrb, location-hungary

Last night, I finished this book, and had no idea what to say about it. Somehow it took me longer to read than I expected, because events unfold very slowly while you just know everything points to a specific event that is mentioned in the prologue.

I kept hearing comparisons with this book and that kind of thing drives me crazy. Can anyone describe a book anymore without immediately saying it is like something else? The novel centers around the relationship between the female narrator who often Last night, I finished this book, and had no idea what to say about it. Somehow it took me longer to read than I expected, because events unfold very slowly while you just know everything points to a specific event that is mentioned in the prologue.

I kept hearing comparisons with this book and that kind of thing drives me crazy. Can anyone describe a book anymore without immediately saying it is like something else? The novel centers around the relationship between the female narrator who often feels unnamed (her name is Magda but she is addressed infrequently), although we know she is married, has no children, but has had enough success she needs to devote herself to writing full-time and therefore can't manage her own household* and this is where Emerence comes in. She does much of the domestic work required to run several households, but on her own damn time. Nobody tells her what to do; she tells others what to do. She prepares meals that you'd better like, she brings gifts that you'd better keep... are we really supposed to understand the connection underlying this behavior? I would kick someone to the curb who treated me this way. So it became difficult to understand how these two women at such odds had developed a trust relationship that would have an impact on later events.

Emerence is veiled in many ways - she never shows her hair despite not having any religious beliefs (in fact openly scoffing those who do, including Magda), nobody is allowed inside her house, and for the most part she does not talk about her past, which includes several periods in Hungary's tumultuous history. The stories she reveals made me wish she hadn't! I'll never see lightning the same way again. I know I'm supposed to be thinking about "can a person ever be known" and "what is betrayal" but I'm still stuck on "what is the bond bringing these characters together?"

This book is at least thirty years old in Hungary, and has been translated into English around ten, but this is the first time it was really known to me. Thanks to NYRB Classics for that.

*Somehow this hasn't been a good enough excuse for the state of my household ;) ...more

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Feb 10, 2016 Kirsten added it

Found this treasure at our local book store - Porter Square Books

What a strange and beautiful story. A relationship between two women that evolves from employment to family ... and beyond. Why "The Door"? Because a door both opens and closes. ...more

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Oct 02, 2016 William rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016

A marvellous exploration of the relationship between two women. One, Magda is finding her way as an author as communist influence fades in Hungary. The other is the enigmatic Emerence. She is also a survivor of the communist regime but has many secrets in her past. She is fiercely independent and secretive. As the friendship develops, Emerence has little to give but the knowledge of her past and current life but to Magda, that is enough. Emergence in return asks only the her privacy be respected ...more

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