The Door

De: Magda Szabó, Len Rix - translator

Narrado por: Siân Thomas

Duración: 9 h y 12 m

Resumen del Editor

Intense, brilliant and moving, The Door is a compelling story about the relationship between two women of opposing backgrounds and personalities: one, an intellectual and writer; the other, her housekeeper, a mysterious, elderly woman who sets her own rules and abjures religion, education, pretense and any kind of authority. Beneath this hardened exterior of Emerence lies a painful story that must be concealed. One of Hungary's best-known writers, Magda Szabo' here explores themes of love, loyalty, pride and privacy, and the barriers and secrets that govern them.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©1987 Magda Szabo´ Translation © 2005 Len Rix. (P)2016 Naxos AudioBooks

Interesting characters

This story had me listening very closely because the characters confused me at first. I was sad when the story ended. The relationship between the characters has me still thinking about this book.

Loved this book

It has been a while since I have read such a wonderful book. Fabulous language fully develop characters and beautiful descriptions.

Utterly beautiful

Cannot read wait to read more of this beautiful writer’s work. Reminds me of a Lana Ferrante’s work. Takes you to a Nother place and hold you captivated there.

Odd and interesting

Very deep investigation into relationship between two exceptional women— a writer and her servant, though each is much more than her label. It’s not an easy book but it’s a fascinating book.

RIGHT TO DIE

“The Door” is a story of the human psyche, and religious belief. Every human has a locked door in their consciousness, behind which life’s meaning is hidden. Often, neither individuals nor acquaintances have a key to that door. Magda Szabo creates characters searching for that key. To some listener/readers, her primary character has the key. Emerence Szeredas is Szabo’s primary character who, some may argue, has keys to other's doors, as well as her own.

“The Door” appears in Hungary in 1987 and has been translated into French and English. It raises many questions about life, faith, and individual rights. In this age of “right to die”, Szabo’s story has particular relevance.

Leaves a thoughtful residue

This book sticks to the bones in a bit of an existential way, I value having read it as it leaves a thoughtful residue.

Fabuloso!!!!

Un libro sutil, entrañable, donde uno puede leer el alma de las personas. Impredecible, tierno y triste. Simplemente fabuloso !!!!

I need to read more of this author!

What a wonderful surprise to be introduced to this author. I plan to read more of her works.

One of the best books I have ever read.

Truly wonderful characters. These two characters, Emerence and Magda pop off the page and become real people. They both reek of human nature, it smells real. It’s perfect. I miss them like I miss old friends.

An amazing journey into the void

If I were younger and maybe if we were still living in America's Golden Age (The Eisenhower Administration?) then perhaps my rating here would have been more generous.... revised upwards from two stars out of fairness.

This is no story for simpletons wishing to escape into some dreamy, la-la-la, happy times - as an antidote for these Dark Days.
The author is a highly gifted (read: brilliant) enchantress and her main characters are strong willed and as 'large as life', but...

Investing hours of my attention on such a promising narrative by one of the best writers I've read this year, I was left disenchanted / hollowed-out by the same sad theme of how we're all destined, in the end, to fail each other. (In this, I feel the author is equally eccentric and withholding as Emerenc.)
Could she not have at least filled-in-the-blank with something slightly redeeming... finished building a mausoleum or something to console her readers? Make that 2 stars (or maybe 4 - 5 stars... I don't know)