THE DOOR By Magda Szabo (Translated by Len Rix)


Magda Szabo was a Hungarian writer with a unique sensibility. This is on full display in The Door (1987) where a couple hire an eccentric woman to clean for them. The narrator is a writer and her husband is a professor. The cleaning woman, Emerence, is a “peasant.” Her housekeeping skills are wondrous. But friction between the writer and Emerence increases over time. Part of this story concerns class structures and individuality. Another part deals with secrets and truths…and fictions. If you’re in the mood for a challenging novel, just open The Door. GRADE: B+

22 thoughts on “THE DOOR By Magda Szabo (Translated by Len Rix)

  1. Jeff Meyerson

    Definitely not up for a “challenging” novel now. Just the challenge of getting home in one piece.

    Deb, what was the Ruth Rendell book about the illiterate murdering housekeeper?

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Jeff, good luck on your trip home. Do you and Jackie think about ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK? I think you’re referring to Ruth Rendell’s A JUDGEMENT IN STONE.

      Reply
      1. Jeff Meyerson

        Jackie refers to that frequently! She pictures De Blasio standing blocking the bridges with barricades and flame throwers!

      2. george Post author

        Jeff, the U.S./Canadian Border is about to be closed. Today is probably the last day the International Bridges will be open. It looks like the whole world is shutting down!

      3. george Post author

        Rick, Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, was just on live TV here announcing that all “non-essential” travel will be restricted as of today on the International Bridges.

  2. Michael Padgett

    I agree with Jeff. Even if you’e open to something like “The Door”, this just isn’t the time for it. And even aside from the current crisis, literature in translation makes up probably the biggest omission in my reading. If I were 50 years younger I might vow to do something about it, but not now.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Michael, I did read THE DOOR about a month ago–before the coronavirus hijacked our lives–but only posted about it now. I may have to focus on lighter fare during this outbreak.

      Reply
  3. maggie mason

    It sounds interesting, but I also generally don’t like reading translations. For many years, I’ve been just doing comfort reading. I see a lot of PG Wodehouse in my future.

    I’m reading a book by David Rosenfelt now, just having finished a Laura Child “tea shop” mystery (set in Charleston, where I was going next month sigh)

    Reply
  4. Rick Robinson

    With the world in a panic, a challenging book is the last thing I need.

    Barbara just left to go to Costco an hour before they open hoping to get a spot near the front of the line to buy a half-dozen things we need. She’ll also pick up my insulin, which, thank God, is still available.

    Reply
      1. Rick Robinson

        Insurance companies (including mine) are reluctant to cover the dispensing of drugs beyond the usual refill date, unless they are paid in full instead of the copay. So all I can get is the usual supply.

        Barbara was only able to get into a line to wait for The line. They were letting 50 at a time in. She got in on the third wave, found some of what we needed, but no paper products, no rice or pasta or bread items. Interestingly, the candy and ice cream aisles were fully stocked.

        I was wrong earlier about the border, it’s closed to casual travel now.

      2. george Post author

        Rick, a huge part of Western New York economies are based on Canadian business. If you went to one of our still existing malls, you’d see thousands of cars with Canadian license plates. Now, those shoppers are banned from going over the International Bridges. That will really hurt the stores and the State and local sales tax revenue.

    1. Jeff Meyerson

      We found in Florida that later in the afternoon was actually better for beating the crowds at Costco, and they were very good at telling us upfront about the lack of paper products and the availability of water. And they have self-checkout lines with people wearing gloves who took my card, scanned our items, and even scanned my credit card.

      Of course, it doesn’t help you get toilet paper.

      We also renewed our prescriptions for 90 days each.

      Reply
      1. george Post author

        Jeff, one local restaurant, THE GRAPEVINE, is offering a free roll toilet paper with a Take-Out order. Great marketing in the Time of the Coronavirus.

  5. Patti Abbott

    I think I have a book (perhaps this one) somewhere. I do feel like reading a Rendell right now. She manages to be entertaining as well as saying something about society. Few writers can do both. She would be near the top of my list of favorite writers.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Patti, I enjoyed A JUDGEMENT IN STONE when I read it years ago. Like you, I admire Ruth Rendell’s work. Her “Barbara Vine” books are good, too.

      Reply
  6. wolf

    My wife (who is Hungarian) read the book in “Communist” times more than 30 years ago and found it “too dry” – anyway she prefers Fantasy and SF some of which was available even then if it was unpolitical.

    Reply

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