About the Book
In The Memory Book, a small book sparks a years-long journey of historical discovery and fascination. On a short vacation to Budapest, the author finds a small leather book in an antique store. Opening it she discovers pages filled with watercolors, drawings, and messages. The book turns out to be a memory book--a keepsake album kept by Central European girls at the turn of the twentieth century in which to record advice and remember special events. This one contains evergreen truisms and aphorisms written to the book's owner when she visited places few Americans know. Curiosity and concern propel the author on a multi-year journey into the heart of Old Europe and deep into centuries of art, history, and war. The book lives, the girl lives on, and its message of love finds meaning in our time.
Linda Fischer's The Memory Book is perfect for fans of Danube: A Sentimental Journey from the Source to the Black Sea, Budapest 1900: A Historical Portrait of a City and Its Culture, and Paprika: A Spicy Memoir From Hungary, and for anyone with a sense of adventure and curiosity in their heart.
About the Author :
Linda Fischer is a global traveler with a passion for literature, languages, and most especially the people she encounters along the way. She has spent nine years working on this book, all the while attempting to learn the Hungarian language. Her commitment continues. She lives in New York City.
Review :
"Fischer's passion for and knowledge of the history, genealogy, culture, literature, folklore, cuisine and people of the region is so palpable that one could assert that she turns all these into a magical and mystical atmosphere. This may account for the near-decade it took her to complete this project, but the result is a book that garners a treasure and much pleasure for people who enjoy history, travel and memoirs, and for those wishing to know more about Hungary. It is also a compelling read for lovers of genealogy and nostalgic artifacts." -- Mártha Pereszlényi-Pintér, John Carroll University, Hungarian Cultural Studies. e-Journal of the American Hungarian Educators Association, Volume 10
"As a memoirist, Fischer deftly fills the roles of both author and protagonist as she learns about the life of a young Austro-Hungarian girl. This book is a compelling read for lovers of history, genealogy, and nostalgic artifacts--anyone who's ever stumbled on a topic or object that began a near-obsessive quest. The Memory Book showcases how old historical artifacts and personae can affect modern travelers." --Foreword Reviews
"As a woman of Hungarian birthrite, it was a return trip in spirit and evoked vivid memories and emotions which still tie me to the small nation of Hungary." --Éva Szabó, president, Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society
"A fascinating personal journey starting with the chance discovery of a young lady's 'memory book' in a Budapest bookshop." --Marijana Dworska, Owner, Marijana Dworski Books, Hay-on-Wye, United Kingdom
"Fischer intersperses entries from the memory book with her own impressions of Hungary as she retraces Amalka's life and offers her own very engaging look at modern Hungary, its food, culture, and folklore." --Vanessa Bush, Booklist
"Last summer I traveled and took Eat, Pray, Love. This summer I'd take this one. It's about connections and community, time travel in the best of ways." --Holly Messitt, coeditor, New American Contemporary Literature for a Changing Society
"Of the many ways I have seen people embark to explore the wonderful cultural heritage and magical atmosphere of my homeland and our neighbors, Linda's is probably one of the most imaginative and rewarding." --Magdolna Fekete, Director, Hungarian National Tourist Office, New York
"This is not your average memoir or travelogue . . . Fischer's The Memory Book offers a welcome modern addition to this tradition, admittedly for an adult audience. Her passion for the history, culture, literature and people of the region shine through and readers will find themselves illuminated through her own experiences. While sharing in this once-popular pastime for girls is sure to appeal more to the female-oriented Eat, Pray, Love audience, there is enough insight, intelligence, and introspection to keep even the most knowledgeable Hungarophiles interested." -- Lee Reaney, The Budapest Times
"What a formidable achievement this book represents. There is a palpable pulse--a heartbeat when one reads it. Fischer's passion is apparent, and so too, is her knowledge. The research is mightily impressive." --Esther Bushell, book group facilitator and commentator, Literary Matters
