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Review
'Ferociously funny, bitterly sad, and perfectly paced' A.S. Byatt; 'A picaresque romp' San Francisco Chronicle; 'That it is a witty, perfectly charming work takes nothing away from its devastating and tragic irony' The Boston Globe
Book Description
Tibor Fischer's first novel
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book whilst I was waiting for a dental appointment and knew I was in for a treat, having read the Thought Gang. Whilst having my teeth drilled was a painful experience, this book was anything but .The characterisation of this novel is the foundation of its strength. The main character is so believable because he is just like you - you can see yourself thinking his thoughts, feeling his increasing bewilderment. There is absolutely nothing about this novel which dosn't ring true, which is what makes it so funny. It is also what makes it so sad. When I had finished the novel I was so depressed I had to drink a bottle of wine. I became a pacifist almost overnight. It is the humour which makes it all so believable. At the moment I'm trying to force all of my friends to buy this book, a mission I've decided to transfer to the web. Beg, borrow, steal, buy it. You'll finish it in a day.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is quite possibly my favourite novel. Without in any way mitagating the drama and misery of the surounding historical events, Fischer manages to involve you in the humour and lives of the individual characters. I was incredibly impressed by this book and would recomend it unreservedly.
You'll laugh, you'll cry...
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first read this book about six years ago and I've read it twice more since then. Fischer has always been a worthwhile writer but I don't think he's ever bettered his first novel. It's laugh-out-loud funny and sob-into-the-pages moving. Having lived in Hungary I can also say he has a remarkable 'feel' for the place and the people. I can say with a good degree of certainty that if you give this book a chance it will stay with you for ever. Read it. Please!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Flippant, Infantile, Tale of an Oppressed Society
I am afraid that I cannot join in the general eulogising about this book. In fact I found it rather disappointing and at times infantile rather than Rabelaisian as suggested by an... Read more
Published 29 days ago by Dr. R. Brandon
It really happens :-)
I found myself laughing aloud when I read this on the airport bus into Oslo. Then I read the back cover : "you may find yourself laughing aloud on public transport when you read... Read more
Published 7 months ago by D. Beadle
Excellent read - simultaneously funny and tragic
This is the story of the adventures of Hungarian youths, centring on Gyuri and his friend Pataki, starting with the Russian 'liberation' from the Nazi's in 1944 and culminating in... Read more
Published 20 months ago by John M
A tireless search for better food, a comfortable bed and some kind of...
Scurrilous, funny, moving and - in it's own special way - an angry book, about Hungary under the Communist mailed fist. Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2009 by Eileen Shaw
Under the Frog
Interesting picture of life in Hungary in the fifties and of the impact of the Russian invasion and the resulting "people's revolution". Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2009 by E. C. Higgins
A great debut novel
Life in an oppressive regime through the eyes of the ordinary rather than the heroic or tragically downtrodden. Read more
Published on 9 May 2009 by K Denshi
rubbish
If you have ever read the great Skvorecky you will know what a poor novel this is. Laddish and trying too hard to be clever/funny with word play, this book seems derivative and... Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2009 by Matteusz
best book I've ever read
Hands down the best bit of prose that ever found its way into my hands, Tibor Fischer is my favourite find. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2008 by keziah
Hungarian revelation
I've read this book twice, and loved it both times. Tibor Fischer has a way with language and a superb feel for the absurd. Read more
Published on 19 Nov 2006 by Malcolm Gould
Under the Frog
This is undoubtedly the best book I've read in years. a story about serious stuff, but at the same time so funny, you cant help yourself but laugh out loud whilst reading it. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2006
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