melindamoor's review against another edition
5.0
First of all, let me tell you as a Hungarian who read the novel both in Hungarian and in English that the translation is simply brilliant. Len Rix, did full credit to the original text and Antal Szerb's genius.
So, praising the translation to the skies was the easy part. The hard part is, why I love this book so much.
There are people who like entertaining the idea that they are simply not of this world.
The main character, Mihály certainly likes to think of himself as such a person.
In his youth, he belonged to a very select "gang" of intellectuals pushing things to the limit of morality and beyond: playing weird games sometimes endangering their own lives. He thinks of himself as the Great Outsider who still has the insight into life's mysteries that is denied to ordinary mortals.
During the exposé of his past and his present and his almost picaresque journey, the author first leads the readers to believe it is so, just to rap both us and the MC on the nose sharply and prove that it's nothing of the sort. Mihály is just like a rest of us: thinking of his own inner dramas as something momentous, disparaging other people and in the meantime totally misjudging them (like he does his own wife). He is mercilessly mocked and yet deeply understood & accepted by the author. And that is what makes Antal Szerb such wonderful writer: you truly believe he has The Insight into the human mind & heart & soul.
I think the novel is essentially a comedy, yet it balances on the precarious precipice of the tragic, where you think it will eventually fall, but Antal Szerb handles the narrative wonderfully and never loses the balance or the focus.
So, praising the translation to the skies was the easy part. The hard part is, why I love this book so much.
There are people who like entertaining the idea that they are simply not of this world.
The main character, Mihály certainly likes to think of himself as such a person.
In his youth, he belonged to a very select "gang" of intellectuals pushing things to the limit of morality and beyond: playing weird games sometimes endangering their own lives. He thinks of himself as the Great Outsider who still has the insight into life's mysteries that is denied to ordinary mortals.
During the exposé of his past and his present and his almost picaresque journey, the author first leads the readers to believe it is so, just to rap both us and the MC on the nose sharply and prove that it's nothing of the sort. Mihály is just like a rest of us: thinking of his own inner dramas as something momentous, disparaging other people and in the meantime totally misjudging them (like he does his own wife). He is mercilessly mocked and yet deeply understood & accepted by the author. And that is what makes Antal Szerb such wonderful writer: you truly believe he has The Insight into the human mind & heart & soul.
I think the novel is essentially a comedy, yet it balances on the precarious precipice of the tragic, where you think it will eventually fall, but Antal Szerb handles the narrative wonderfully and never loses the balance or the focus.
szenekfanni's review against another edition
2.0
Minden pozitív kritika erről a könyvről arról szól, hogy Mihály elköteleződési problémáit minden olvasó mennyire át tudja érezni...
Mihály egy önző, gyáva alak és nem érdemel együttérzést. Ennyi.
Erzsiben megvolt a potenciál, de bármikor mutatkoztak nála az emancipáció jelei, az író a következő oldalon gyorsan visszavont mindent.
Mihály egy önző, gyáva alak és nem érdemel együttérzést. Ennyi.
Erzsiben megvolt a potenciál, de bármikor mutatkoztak nála az emancipáció jelei, az író a következő oldalon gyorsan visszavont mindent.
carolineam's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sehr leichtfüßig und gleichzeitig tiefgehend, regt zum Nachdenken an aber ohne Anstrengung.
eperagi's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
madmadder's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
szaboszini's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wolf082's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
marilolerdbeere's review against another edition
4.0
I think I enjoyed it a lot at first because my last book sucked lol ! I loved how completely messed up the protagonist’s thoughts were, it really added to the story. It had been a while since i read a book with an omniscient narrator and it’s so much more interesting !!! cool descriptions of the italian landscape but weird morbid moments at times ??
overall good read
overall good read
agne_sab's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
gacsreka's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75