Clothes on Their Backs (original 2008; edition 2008)

A very unusual book. It is about Jewish immigrants. Two brothers: one called Ervin is timid in his new home, London. He almost forgets to live. And second brother Sandor who is brash is treated as a small-time slum lord. He is greeted by media frenzy as a criminal. Both brothers are estranged. Ervin tries to make life away from shadow of his brother Sandor.

However, Ervin's daughter finds Sandor to seek out her family history. Book is about an immigrant's life and explains Jewish Hungarian life well.

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The Clothes on Their Backs is the Orange- and Booker-nominated book by Linda Grant - and it's certainly worthy of its accolades. Set in London during the 1970's, it's an enthralling look at family relationships, war and growing up in the shadow of family secrets.

Vivien Kovacs is the daughter of her reclusive, refugee parents, who emigrated from Hungary to London during World War II. Vivien's parents shielded her from life's experiences, including a complete avoidance of Vivien's uncle Sandor, who also lived in England after the war. Once Vivien graduated from college, she became more and more curious about her mysterious uncle, who had served time in prison for being a "slum lord." She finally got an opportunity to meet him and forged a relationship with her uncle, despite her father's wishes.

I can't say Vivien was the most likable character, but she was very believable. She was flawed and human, like her uncle. I was most intrigued, though, by Vivien's mother, Berta. She was a minor character in the book, but Grant left enough of a breadcrumb trail to make you wonder more about her. I think there was more there than met the eye.

The Clothes on Their Backs is a superb telling of the World War II refugee experience and the circumstances of family secrets. Most skeletons find their way out of the closet, and Vivien's family was no exception. Grant had me at Word One, and I devoured this novel, eager to learn more about Vivien and her family. I was slightly dissatisfied with the ending, especially the death of Uncle Sandor, but this is a small quibble. All in all, The Clothes on Their Backs was a readable and fascinating story about family relationships. ( )

It was a lovely story how Vivien learned about her origin and her ancestors. Her parents were early refugees from Hungary whereas her uncle her father's brother was coming to London much later. Her parents were always worried about being sent back to Hungary. So they decided to cut off their past and to keep by themselves so there would never be a reason for sending them back to Hungary. Therefore they changed their family name and never told a word about their earlier life to Vivien. Vivien's uncle was the contrary of her parents. He was open minded and with his dark busyness he was walking mostly on the other side of the law. From him she learned all about her ancestry. ( )

I found this story very interesting set in London in the 1970's. The book opens in the present day when Vivien has returned to London and 'accidentally' re-acquaints with her Uncle's fiancée. The author takes us back to Vivien's childhood in Benson Court. Her Jewish parents have fled from Hungary to London and live a quiet, cosy existence keeping the past and the bad outside their door. Her father Ervin, works in the jewellery quarter, Hatton Garden and her mother Berta, has a limp and carries a walking stick, mainly staying indoors keeping house. They are 'plain' people in the sense of living simply, wearing plain clothes and blending in with the furniture. As Vivien grows older, she becomes aware of the world around her, meeting the other residents in Benson Court who seduce and introduce her to colour and clothes. Eventually, Vivien goes to University, marries and when out of work, comes across her Uncle Sandor in the park. Although they both recognise each other, neither admit this to the other and 'Miranda' works for her Uncle, writing his memoir aided by a reel to reel tape recorder.
This is a story about relationships and focusses very much on the two brothers. The Uncle is purported to be bad news. His younger brother hates him for his past crimes and cannot forgive or forget. Uncle Sandor is a man full of life, yes, he takes advantage to better himself and he is a terrible landlord amongst other things. He has had a tough life, deciding to stay in Hungary he has survived the war, been imprisoned for crimes in London. However, we realise that it is Ervin who is mean-spirited and has lived his life as a coiled spring. The reader realises that Ervin wants to protect his daughter from men such as his brother. The reader can look at Vivien as she develops and changes, as she realises how her parents lived their lives, and how she paves her own way through life as life comes to her, rather than having any plan or dream. ( )

An enjoyable read about a woman growing up in London with her Jewish-Hungarian parents who are reluctant to live a full life. While avid to live her own life, she gets to know her uncle who's nver been mentioned by her parents because of his "bad influence". Their history haunts them as the skinheads in London become more and more agressive.
I like this story and the way the main character rather dryly describes her past and the discovery of her uncle and his story. I thought she was a very credible character, being the daughter of these parents and growing up the way she does. She may not have been the most likeable person but she felt real to me. ( )