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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Sep 21, 2018 Laura rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, nyrb-classics, fiction, read-2018, hungarian-literature, mtbr-challenge-2018

This book deserves a full 5 stars rating.

The is the story of the friendship between two woman, Emerence - a domestic servant, and Magda, a young Hungarian writer.

An unforgettable book, no matter what.

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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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