In the words of a Hungarian, This is a subject where all has been said but not all have said it.
354672
So after reading the first several books by Dr. Ramendra, you wish to recover from the sorrow of being duped by religions of the world, this is a great read.  Continued...
4065448
Not only keeping track of where Henry is, but also when he is was a bit of an effort. The thing that is a little difficult to comprehend is that saying that something cannot be undone because it has already happened, because it has only happened in the future, so it hasn't actually happened in the present (which might be technical nit picking), but that is to be expected when talking about a concept like time travelling. A good read though.
2211985
The Wooden Tongue Speaks is a collection of short stories and poetry, concerning the lives of various characters in post-communist Romania. Mainly set in Brila, these tales are fragments into the day to day reality of a nation attempting to shake off the yoke of the Ceauescu reign, a regime that was characterized by an increasingly brutal and repressive apparatus and, by some accounts, the most rigidly Stalinist regime in the Soviet bloc. It was also marked by a pervasive cult of personality, nationalism and a deterioration in foreign relations with the Western powers as well as the Soviet Union, isolating it from both East and West. This lead, eventually, to Ceausescu's government being overthrown in the December 1989 revolution, after which he and his wife faced a hastily organised televised trial which ended with their execution.

So, what would make one feel nostalgic for those days? This is one of the questions raised in this book. In a nation that is haemorrhaging out it's youth, as they head for the bright lights and bling culture of the west. The old & infirm are left behind without the support of family, and only past memories for sustenance, and yet with this freedom also comes opportunity, with all the positive and negative connotations in its wake. As an exile from Romania,  Bogdan Tiganov, uses his own experiences to create these fragments of individual life, allowing us a glimpse into the day to day reality of a nation & it's people.

In the introduction to this book the author states that:

"The lives of Romanians in post-communist Romania creates an endless pool of interesting characters and situations and I am determined to throw light on situations that are generally not covered by the media, without being overtly political. The wild democracy of Romania also allows for some absurd moments to occur that are humorous and sad at the same time".

He does this through tales such as A personal history of a city called Brila,  in which he states that the walls of his home were so thin, you couldn't even whisper a joke about Ceauescu, or An Interview, in which an individual is being sold a job as an au pair. Then there is Lost and Found, the tale of a lonely exiled Romanian returning home to find a wife. These are some of the tales in this collection that highlight the reality of a modern Romania with all its complexities, in the process taking us the reader on a guided tour of his birth place & revealing how life is lived in a post communist world.

Apart from the tales, there is also a series of poems that, according to the author, add another dimension to his tales and, having read them I agree with him. They add a more direct, instinctual & in some cases visceral edge, complimenting the stories in this collection. Poetry such as;

A PIECE.

I am not a monkey

  Now

But a piece of my

  Grandfather,

A piece of heart

  Perhaps

I am not a machine

  Now

But a piece of my

  Mother,

A piece of courage

  Perhaps.

  A genetic

  Nameless

  Unspoken

  Underdog piece

  Honest

  To God

  Hidden

  Survival

Spiritual piece, yes

  Spirit.

Death comes quickly and unexpectedly

  And when it comes it comes

  Leaving memories and

Journalists to write their stories

But its the little pieces that live on

  Not the monkeys or machines.

Bogdan Tiganov was born in Braila, Romania, 1981. There he attended the Nicolai Balcescu School of Music at the age of seven, learning to play piano as well as composing. At the age of 11 he was exiled with his family to London, UK, where he wrote and illustrated his first book at the age of just 14. His writing credits include short stories and poems that have appeared in magazines and periodicals worldwide, such as Exiled Ink!, Parmentier, Planet, Delivered, Krax and Bright Journals.
1778057
Helen Fremont's "After Long Silence" is a study in contrasts; written in clear, unexaggerated prose, it tells of story of secrets, an opaque tale of muddled identities and long-repressed memories. Without meaning to, perhaps she has captured a significant difference between life in the U.S. and the old European culture. Here, if one does not practice Catholicism, often one is not labeled a Catholic. In addition to the tale of her parents' struggles, some puzzling tales of her own American life emerge: How could she go through religious instruction, and specifically the preparation for First Communion, and not question her parents' attitude, that communion is not an important part of the mass? Any child who is preparing for First Communion will be able to tell you that communion is the heart of the mass....Perhaps this reinforces an underlying theme of her book: She has been held captive in the tight knot of her family's past, and only by finding the truth of the events that shaped her parents' life, can she become free to be herself.
1698597
A bit repetitious, but sometimes people need to be told over and over again before in sinks in. This is a scary topic that demands much closer attention.
340788
There is a tendency to assume that major issues such as presented here are under control by somebody.  This is a reminder that we all need to be concerned.
2144123
First, I must point out that I am Czech, which inevitably brings two things: I know in detail specifics of Czech soul, and of course I carry with myself (as this book does) slightly biased looking at the matter. Especially because I'm in a second part of my twentieths and virtually don't know how the life used to be during the communist era, which unfortunately negatively affected the older generation. Nevertheless, I spent a lot of time abroad and I have a lot of foreign friends (in Prague and elsewhere), so I think that I can look at the whole matter with a certain amount of detachment.

The book attempts to analyze the specifics of Czech culture and soul, in which --to some extent-- it succeeds. However, especially the first three or four parts of the book are a dangerous mix of excellent points, errors and prejudices. The author spent in the Czech Republic about four years and it seems to me that she often didn't get to the heart of the matter (in understanding the Czechs) and remained only on the surface. Likewise, (especially in the penultimate section of the book) she puts her mind on only one experience, which backfired several times. Generalization is a dangerous thing.

In many cases where I disagree with the book, my age is to blame. Simply put, the young generation that never knew the communism (i.e. 25 years or less), is quite different from my parents' generation. We are more optimistic (i.e. to the question "How are you?" we regularly answer "Well.", which is in contrary to the book), we are not obsessed with titles (again in contrary to the book), we don't mind when others have more/better things (in contrary to the book)... Just to name a few of examples I had on the top of my mind.

Although, some mistakes I found in the book fall within the competence of the author. I can think of some of them:
* "Desire to support Czech culture manifests itself in the dubbing of nearly all programs on Czech television." - This is a habit carried over from the past (communism), which we unfortunately didn't get rid of (yet). I hope it will come soon.
* "Czech law states that one vacation should be at least two weeks in length." - I've never heard of such a thing, nor experienced it with my parents or relatives.
* "Birthdays are celebrated on a smaller scale than name days." - On the contrary.
* "A money belt worn under your clothes is the best way to carry cash, credit cards, and identity documentation."  - Sure, Prague is a very popular city among tourists which unfortunately attracts gangs of pickpockets (as well as any other overcrowded city full of tourists do). However, the Czech Republic is one of the safest countries in the world. Try to google for "Global Peace Index".

All in all, I recommend the book because it contains many good insights. However, the author herself emphasizes the role of the book as a mean of eliminating prejudice, so do not take the content too dogmatically. If you're not sure, ask some Czech. :-) Common sense can tell you as well.
2227842
The title is misleading, however the book itself is quite interesting.
2664838
It's a little wordy . . . but I liked it. Considering he wrote it in 1897 I imagine it caused quite a stir?I TRAVEL A LOT AND ENJOYED LOOKING UP THE ROUTES THEY TRAVELLED. THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE LOCAL LIFE IN Romania, the gypsies.
Sorry about the CAPs hit the wrong 'shift'. Watching the Louis Jourdan version tonight.
2743151
Although the author's English appeared to be a bit off in places, this is still a very informative book.
2015481
Very interesting book, which addresses a topic people don't talk much about in public
33039
though it could be categorized as better than nothing, it's missing at least half the words in the respective languages.
1251029
In each chapter it told the story of two boys, one a German and the other an
 Hungarian Jew. The contrast in the lives of the boys made for an interesting read.
They met later in life and exchanged their different experiences.
4512429
It offers a perspective that is not often expressed. The points of view reflected in this book are varied and appreciated.
1887605
Some things need to be written, and some things need to be spoken about.  The book addresses issues common to most of us Veterans but are too often suppressed.  This book gives some insight into a very special need, and very special people.
874410
Cartledge effectively reiterates throughout the text the key themes of Hungarian history, at numerous points referencing events both past and future, illustrating again and again the unique political throughlines and persistent attitudes of a fascinating but unfortunate nation.  In this book, several decisive moments seem to decide the fate of the nation, but the author argues persuasively that the prevailing circumstances of the preceding decades and centuries have already rendered the outcomes nearly inevitable.  Additionally, although this is mostly a political history, the author makes room for occasional sidebars to focus on economics and culture; these sections manage to complement the narrative without derailing it.

My only criticism is that the mid-point of the book (page-wise) falls at World War I.  I would have enjoyed reading more about medieval, Ottoman, and earlier Hapsburg Hungary before focusing so deeply on the twentieth century.  Still, The Will to Survive is the top of the class of Hungarian histories in English.
1448475
The use of current English idioms and colloquialisms is interesting in that it is sometimes difficult to determine whether these are used by the author or the translator. This is a very funny book.