Battlefields and Playgrounds

by János Nyíri

The story of Jozsef Sondor, a tough, irreverently witty Jewish boy growing up in World War II Hungary, carries readers into the whirl of everyday life in war-torn Budapest, from the eve of the Holocaust in Hungary to Russian liberation in 1945. Through his eyes, we witness history, or, as he sees it, the adult world gone mad. What is this "Jewish problem, " he asks. And what can God be thinking of? Jozsef soon finds that his questions have no simple answers, but they do lead him on a journey to understanding the war, politics, religion, and, in the end, the complexity of human nature.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical

544 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 1997

Reviews

[Fannie Gh. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Due to the lack of time it took me a month to finish this book. I didn’t get the chance to properly immerse myself into it. I might’ve enjoyed it otherwise. :/

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the Holocaust as told by a young Jewish-Hungarian boy who has a surprisingly comical view of the events surrounding him.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my most favorite fictitious memoirs. It's right on up there with The Tin Drum!

[Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book.