Dreams, Nightmares, and Reality by Helga Hatvany
One of the benefits of working for a book publisher is that a ton of different books (many outside my usual comfort zone) come across my desk everyday. This was one of them. Just published this month, Dreams, Nightmares, and Reality is the story of the Hatvany family, one of the most prominent Hungarian families of the last few centuries.
Helga was the last family member to be raised in Hungary and she tracks her family from the late 1800s through both World Wars and the Communist Era. As a history buff, this was a fascinating story. But also, you rarely are able to follow a family through this period of time in Eastern Europe. Some of the Hatvany family were in concentration camps due to their Jewish heritage in WWII. Some of the family were staunch communists who support the communist regime. Others built homes that are now museums due to their grandiosity.
It is a unique story, unlike any I’ve read before and Helga’s intimate look at her own relations had me quickly turning the pages for more. While not my favorite book or one that I will ever need to reread, I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
3.5/5 stars
