3 out of 4 stars
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According to My Father by Andrew Grof weaves a circuitous route through and around the life of a nameless father and his maid as told through the eyes of his progeny. His father is both crazy and brilliant, sane and ridiculous. He spoke to ancient Incans about trains, handpicked harams for sultans, and died at the hands of Nazis on multiple occasions. After each death he suffered throughout the eons, his maid always begrudgingly appeared to collect and revive him in body and in mind.
Told in an inventive and poetic style, Grof weaves a tale of the improbable and inevitable, comprising of vignettes following one man through time. The only constants in the life of the father are his deaths, rebelling against the powers that be, and his continual amorous supplications being rebuffed by his maid. The father’s constant search for love and desire to quench his lust throughout the book leads up to an inevitably uncomfortable conversation with Freud during an accidental encounter.
Andrew Grof has put together an interesting philosophical look at life that balances suffering and beauty with a backdrop that often focuses on life in a country at war or under occupation. This perspective is well-earned as the author spent his formative years in communist-controlled Hungary. For me, the highlight of the book was the constant interplay between the incorrigible father and the unflappable maid despite the constant theme of tragedy and oppression.
I was not prepared for what I was getting into when I picked up this book. It is referred to as a novel on the cover; however, so much poetic license was taken with the grammar and style of the book that it read more like abstract art. Some paragraphs spanned two or three pages with only one period making an appearance the entire time. It made the passages feel as if someone was telling a story to you in a rambling fashion. Other portions of the book were told in choppy, one-line sentences. I was initially very taken aback by the style and constant contradictions; I often thought that I, with a degree in literature, was not cerebral enough to appreciate what I was reading.
While some people love the music of Philip Glass, the vast majority of casual listeners think it is just noise. I think this book is very similar in that it is perfect for just the right audience, while the majority will not want to put forth the mental gymnastics to appreciate it fully. I recommend this book to those who enjoy short bursts of intense stories and those who are willing to throw the grammar book out the window. Lovers of the absurdities of the ilk of Gabriel Garcia Marquez would also enjoy According to My Father. It is generally well-edited, but I was able to find a number of minor errors pertaining to punctuation. I rate this riddle of a novel 3 out of 4 stars; in other words, the fictional father would claim that it will appeal to everyone and no one. Of course, if you find this type of logic intriguing, perhaps you should pick up this novel.
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According to my Father
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I am sure I will like the book and will not like the book.
