There can have been few so adamantly bisexual novels. A robust epic of a mitteleuropa lurching out of totalitarianism into. A new york times notable book for 2011 in 1989, the year the wall came down, a university student in berlin on his morni. Gone are the wistful, elegiac confessions, the long and languorous sentences of a book of memories, nadass previous novel. A new york times notable book for 2011 in 1989, the year the wall came down, a university student in berlin on. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good. A new york times notable book for 2011 in 1989, the year the wall came down, a university student in berlin on his morning run finds a corpse.
The outer shell of hungarian author peter nadass ambitious tale concerns a nameless. I was halfway through reading parallel stories, the monumental novel by hungarian author peter nadas, when i took a twoweek trip to budapest and i didnt want to lug the big book around. Other articles where parallel stories is discussed. This scene opens a novel of extraordinary scope and depth. Parallel stories may be bigger, but it is the weaker book. This colossal novel is unstintingly complex in its style and subject matter. Parallel stories book charlotte mecklenburg library. In 1989, the year the wall came down, a university student in berlin on his morning run finds a corpse on a park bench and alerts the authorities. He is forced, in doing so, to jump from the beastly self. Editor elisabeth sifton writes, after his last novel, a book of memories, appeared in english in 1997, many critics and. Otherwise, they are parallel only for short distances, like a train line. Of course, its not nadass fault that sontag was delusional, and while i wasnt bowled over by a book of memories, it was a merciful 700 pages in.
Like both of these books, ps is partly a historical novel which tries to make sense of both recent events and the. For the most part, however, parallel stories is a series of closeups that could have benefitted from the occasional panning shot. Among his works translated into english are the novels a book of memories fsg, 1997, the end of a family story fsg, 1998, and love fsg. Over and again, its apparently straight characters feel the tug of samesex attraction. Among his works translated into english are the novels a book of memories fsg, 1997, the end of a family story fsg, 1998, and love fsg, 2000. Hungarian novelist, essayist, and dramatist, a major central european literary figure. At its best, parallel stories achieves a spectacular mix of history and personality, with the scenes of historical fiction being easily among the best writing in the book. A new york times notable book for 2011 in 1989, the year the wa. Parallel stories, by the hungarian novelist peter nadas, explores the lives of numerous characters as their experiences unfold during the tumultuous history of 20thcentury europe. A novel by nadas, peter and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The agendas of three european men with dubious political histories converge. Parallel stories reads like a series of halfremembered dreams and occasional nightmares and it seems to contain the entirety of 20th century europe. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers.
Published in the print edition of the january 30, 2012. Among his works translated into english are the novels a book of memories, the end of a family story, and love. A new york times notable book for 2011 in 1989, the year the wall came down, a university student in berlin on his morning run finds a corpse on a park bench and. Parhuzamos tortenetek is a 2005 novel in three volumes by the hungarian writer peter nadas.
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