Book set in Jarkovac, Serbia. Reviewed on 2020/05: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAz8lbFAVzw/
#Abigail by #magdaszabó is probably the most #hungarian of all the Hungarian books I’ve ever read. It’s named after an omnipresent #statuette that spies, gives insightful advice and solves problems. Problem is that Abigail hardly ever “appears” in the story… Why isn’t the book called after #gina or #ginavitay instead which is our main character? This is just one example of the things you would expect to happen and they just don’t. There are many obstacles, limitations, pitfalls which the characters fall prey to and can’t overcome. Szabo makes you realize instead how those same obstacles are sometimes about perception and how the characters create them themselves. This “technique” shows the master storytelling of #szabó which I’ve come to love in some previous books, all published by #nyrb here in the US. However, Abigail does feel different somehow, more #comingofage meets #thriller and #suspense meets Hungarian solitary and auto destructive soul. Personally, I didn’t think it was as philosophical or existential as her other books: #thedoor or #katalinstreet . Having said that, this is still an exhilarating and captivating read by all accounts. A #recommended one from me, for sure! #recommendedbooks #hungarianliterature #budapest #magdaszabo #abigél #abigel #árkod #arkod
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