The Afterlife of Stars

Posted on 09 September 2017 by Joseph Kertes

In the waning months of 1956, while Russian tanks roll into the public squares of Budapest to crush the Hungarian Revolution, brothers Robert and Attila Beck flee with their family to the Paris townhouse of their great aunt Hermina As they travel through minefields both real and imagined, Robert and Attila grapple with sibling rivalry, family secrets, and incalculable loss to arrive at a place they thought they d lost forever home.In beautifully crafted writing that burns with intensity and humour, Joseph Kertes explores displacement and uncertainty in a dark time from the perspective of two boys filled with wonder at the world around them. Free Read The Afterlife of Stars [ Author ] Joseph Kertes [ Kindle ePUB or eBook ] – kino-fada.fr 3.5 When the Russians arrive in Budapest to stop the Hungarian Revolution, there is much terror and bloodshed Men hanging from lampposts, shot in the street Young Robert 9.8 years as he points out and his 13 year old brother Atilla, with their family, leave their home, taking a train to their Great Aunt s house in Paris Along the way they will meet many different people, experience a family heartbreak and separation, until they finally make it to Paris Once there family secrets are exposed, 3.5 When the Russians arrive in Budapest to stop the Hungarian Revolution, there is much terror and bloodshed Men hanging from lampposts, shot in the street Young Robert 9.8 years as he points out and his 13 year old brother Atilla, with their family, leave their home, taking a tra...Some books draw us in immediately, and of these, not all retain the initial zest.Some books seduce us and only at the disappointing finale do we realize a lack of depth, or resolution, or satisfaction There are books we abandon for various reasons, in irritation or disgust or boredom perhaps, an inability to connect,even if we plough on to the end, as a tedious chore Then there a...I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for review.The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 began as a student demonstration against Soviet imposed policies and turned into a nationwide revolt which resulted in the collapse of the government.Next time someone tells you that being a part of any demonstration won t lead to anything, remember the Hungarian Uprising as one amongst many examples of how a few voices can quickly grow into a nationwide revolution.The author escaped Hungary to Canada dur I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for review.The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 began as a student demonstration against Soviet imposed policies and turned into a nationwide revolt which resulted in the collapse of the government.Next time someone tells you that being a part of any demonstration won t lead to anything, remember the Hungarian Uprising as one amongst many examples of how a few voices can quickly grow into a nationwide revolution.The author escaped Hungary to Canada during the Hungarian Revolution when he was just five years old He was slightly younger than the protagonist in his book, Robert Beck, who is very sure to tell the us that he is 9.8 years of age He has just learned decimals in school and does not want us to forget it His older brother, Attila, is 13.7 The relationship between Robert and Attila is as important to the story as the backdrop o...I really did not enjoy this book While the story was well written, I found the two brothers very unlikable The relationship between the two of them seemed very odd not as much brothers as friends, and the way Attila spok...This is one of the most poignant, funny, poetic and gripping novels I have read in the last ten years The harrowing yet hilarious tale of two brothers escaping Communist Hungary will make you laugh and make you cry It will transport you as only the very best novel can Here s what two of my favorite authors, Anne Michaels and Tim O Brien, have to say about this extraordinary and exceptional book The Afterlife of Stars moved methan any novel I ve read in recent memory It hypnotizes It This is one of the most poignant, funny, poetic and gripping novels I have read in the last ten years The harrowing yet hilarious tale of two brothers escaping Communist Hungary will make you laugh and make you cry It will transport you as only the very best novel can Here s what two of my favorite authors, Anne Michaels and Tim O Brien, have to say about this extraordinary and exceptional book The Afterlife of Stars moved methan any novel I ve read in recent memory It hypnotizes It delights It shines on every page with quiet, implacable, blanketing beauty like a snowfall Beyond all else, The Afterlife of Stars reaches into your chest and takes hold of your heart and does not let go, not even after the last page is turned The Afterlife of Stars keeps shining on What an exquisite novel Tim O Brien We meet the Beck brothers at the very moment history lays its claim onthem ...I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend people read it This book is a beautifully told story centering on two young brothers and their family escaping a tumultuous Hungary ...There are not all that many books dealing with the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 and this was one of my reasons for reading it That and the fact that when I was a Girl Scout, we had a young Hungarian man who had escaped from his country speak to us While I don t remember the specifics of what he said I do remember being impressed with his bravery So on to the book I wasn t crazy about it and almost abandoned it a couple of times The narrator, Robert, was just over 9 years old His older brot There are not all that many books dealing with the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 and this was one of my reasons for reading it That and the fact that when I was a Girl Scout, we had a young Hungarian man who had escaped from his country speak to us While I don t remember the specifics of what he said I do remember being impressed with his bravery So on to the book I wasn t crazy about it and almost abandoned it a couple of times The narrator, Robert, was just over 9 years old His older brother, Attila, was a teenager and it was hard to like him I tried to take into account all the horrors these young boys had seen and that helped some, but I still could not warm to this boy or to his father who had a terrible temper The book begins as the boys extended family is evicted from their home by the Russians and f...I gave up on this book about half way through as I didn t like it I usually enjoy World War Two fiction but this novel starts in the middle of the story when a family are forced to leave their home We don t know anything about the family and it s not put into historical context so if you don t know about Hungary and the war, you ll be confused It is a micro focus on family and the minute by minute things they go through as shown through the eyes of a teenage boy I realise a young narrator ca I gave up on this book about half way through as I didn t like it I usually enjoy World War Two fiction but this novel starts in the middle of the story when a family are forced to leave their home We don t know anything about the family and it s not put into historical context so if you don t know about Hungary and the war, you ll be confused It is a micro focus on family and the minute by minute things they go through as shown through th...There is a great story to be told here, but unfortunately the author doesn t really tell it Instead he focuses on what ends up looking like the typical testosterone attack that is inflicted on the typical teenage boy by hi...Highly recommended Fantastic portrayal of siblings.

English
09 September 2017

Joseph Kertes