Last Impressions tells the story of Zoltan Beck a Hungarian immigrant who came to Canada with his young family seeking a better and stabler life. Now in his eighties Zoltan is seriously ill. He is in hospital and is being visited by his sons.
It turns out Zoltan is quite the character. His three sons are his major source of support with Ben the middle son doing most of care giving. The story is set in two different time periods. The present day story focuses on Zoltan’s health and his philosophy on life.
The second setting is during WWII in Hungary. We learn what happened to the Beck family. The focus is on a teenaged Zoltan and his older brother Bela who is a gifted musician.
Last Impressions is a novel about family and the bonds that come out life’s struggles and losses. I thought the story was well told. There were humorous moments in the present day story. There were serious and somber moments in the historical parts of the story. I think the characters were the best part of the book. Zoltan was eccentric and at times outrageous. While sometimes frustrated by his father’s behaviour Ben tried to be patient and understanding. I felt both characters were portrayed realistically.
I enjoyed Last Impressions and would recommend it. I think it would make a good book club pick.

DNF at 51%

I absolutely HATE not finishing books, but this one has been bogging down my reading for several weeks. If it were to get any better, it probably would've happened by now. I couldn't really tell you what this story is. There is no plot, just rambling reflections and confusing time jumps. The writing style was fine, but the author kept going on random tangents that didn't seem necessary and distracted from whatever was going on. I do wish I could have finished it to have a better opinion, but I just couldn't do it when there's so many other things I want to read.

No spoilers for the secret of Zoltan Beck. Know that it relates to post WWII Hungary (that's no surprise) and that while he thinks revealing it will destroy his family, he's wrong. This moves back and forth between Hungary and Toronto, where he's dying. You have to give his sons Ben and Frank credit (as well as his wife). There are some humorous spot here but on the whole it's a family saga that has as much sadness as anything else. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I received a free electronic ARC of this excellent historical novel from Netgalley, Joseph Kertes, and Viking Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am happy to recommend Joseph Kertes to friends and family. His prose flows, painting intriguing pictures of the past and the present, his protagonists are imperfect but compelling, and we see Hungary as it was, then and now. He is an author I have added to my must-read list. This is a book I would like to chew over for a bit and then read again.

In the last couple of years, we are seeing more historical novels, both from WWI and WWII, that cover the facts of life and joys and hardships in the countries that fell to the German machine early in these wars. For many years we had France and Germany, and England and Russia, and little else. It is good to see this coverage of the everyday populace in those places hit first and hardest by these wars.

That said, you are gonna love this story. Zoltan is a live wire, one you are glad you don't have to live with as did his Hannah, his children. He is so opinionated and so broken that I found myself frustrated with him over and over - until I realized that the things that really set me off he shared with my own father, damaged not by war but by life. Ah, the patience of my mother... And Zoltan's son Ben. I found it interesting that the one with the patience and understanding of Zoltan's way was his middle child. And I was so pleased that Ben was the one to see him through the 'surprise'. Set aside sacred reading time and pots of tea. This is one you cannot put down.

The hard facts are never easier each time you read them. I hadn't really researched the numbers concerning the fate of Hungarian Jews as much of the country suffered late in war.. But they are stark. In June 1944 (only 3 months after orders from Hitler to Hungarian Leader Horthy that he accept the rule of the German Security Police Force in his country) 380,000 Hungarian Jews had been rounded up and deported to labour(concentration) camps. It is estimated that between 200,00-240,000 were gassed or shot within weeks of their arrival.
Zoltan Beck in this novel escaped death at that time. But now as he is dying of cancer he is not just seemingly losing his memories (perhaps some dementia) but recalling the life through which he has travelled to now be with his own family in Toronto Canada - the New World that he and many Hungarian Jews sought sanctuary after the end of the war when the Russians had also invaded and their plight was no easier.
The life of Zoltan (Zolti) and his brother Bela in Budapest makes fascinating reading. Bela is a hugely talented pianist at a leading academy, Zolti is a promising swimmer with Olympic potential. They come from a happy and comfortable family with a chauffeur and maid. But when the Germans begin to take over control of the city their lives will be forever changed.
Much of the focus of the novel is on the minor complications of Zoltan's life in old age. His wife Hannah has died and his lonelinsss seems to highlight his dementia and his loss of control about keeping the past secret from his sons.
Ben, his middle son (and often ignored) is the narrator of his family's view of their father. His wife Lucy is also a wonderful part of the set up as they try to steer Zoltan's erratic behaviour back to some form of normality. The scenes where Zoltan tries to get back his driving licence are wonderful. As are the chapters on the family when they first arrived in Canada, their friends and especially the amazing 50th wedding anniversary party for Zoltan and Hannah.
But when Ben finds things that link to a deeper secret in Zoltan's past the defining truth somehow leads us along another path.
Although we think we all know the story and the terrible destruction and genocide of the Jews often small stories give us a wider grasp of the meaning of those times to us who have only observed from a distance.
Well written, with an intimacy (from a male viewpoint of a wonderful son) this novel draws you in so much. I found it very moving.

I wished the characters and the historical events were more explored. The prose is strikingly simple and at times doesn’t have a good flow. Sometimes it is overburden with dialogue, which doesn’t move the story forward.

If light historical background with contemporary story is something you like to read, then don’t let this review deter your decision.

Humanity is at the core of Kertes' novel, however I was never that invested in the characters' arcs or found the handling of modern day allusions to my liking.

This story focuses on human relations. The historical background is just a shadow. I would not categorize this book under history.

It alternates between modern time and WWII, exactly what transpired at Hernyo Camp (which historically is not even listed as Nazi concentration camp, unless it’s under a different name).

I struggled to connect with any of the modern day characters or events. The talk of colonoscopy appointment and what transpired or a restaurant outing did not keep my interest.

When the story alternates back in time to the outbreak of WWII, the event of boys encountering men in uniforms feels very fake.

Later, towards the end of the war, when Zoltan is 21 and his brother 22, as Hungarian Jews they were informed that they would be sent to a labor camp in Transylvania, where they would make munitions. They were able to arrange passage to Palestine. But they got transported to Hernyo Camp. – This part between them arranging passage and being transported to camp jumps very quickly from one scene to another. I had to reread it to make sure I didn’t miss anything. This part could be a bit clearer.

I was able to connect with the past story, but not the present one. I wished the characters and the historical events were more explored. The prose is strikingly simple and at times doesn’t have a good flow. Sometimes it is overburden with dialogue, which doesn’t move the story forward.

If light historical background with contemporary story is something you like to read, then don’t let this review deter your decision.