В името на Отца

by Immanuel Mifsud, Имануел Мифсуд

Новият роман на издателство „Парадокс“ – „В името на Отца (и Сина)“ от малтийския писател Имануел Мифсуд – ни провокира да се замислим за собственото си минало, оформило ни такива, каквито сме днес. Склонни ли сме да преосмислим връзките с важните хора около нас? И можем ли да видим частица от тях в нас самите? Тези и още много въпроси задава един от водещите съвременни поети и прозаици в Малта в своята малка по обем и огромна по значимост книга.

Когато се връща от погребението на баща си, разказвачът започва да чете неговия войнишки дневник от дните на Втората световна война. Бележките са много оскъдни, почти безлични, но тъкмо това подтиква героя да изследва отново и в дълбочина личните си отношения със своя баща.

В очите на сина бащата е бил просто инвалид, жертва на мотоциклетна катастрофа, който винаги се е опитвал да докаже на околните, че е достатъчно корав, за да се справи с всяко предизвикателство, и е правел всичко възможно да вкара сина си в калъп, оформен според собствените му представи. Разказвачът се връща в миналото на баща си, за да търси пукнатини в тази фасада, да открие признаците на слабост и проявите на чувства. Постепенно той осъзнава възможността да погледне назад и към собственото си минало и най-вече към възпитанието, което го е превърнало в мъж. Забравени епизоди са извадени отново на бял свят в търсене на светлината, която биха могли да хвърлят върху възникващите един след друг въпроси.

Героят не само вече е пораснал, което му позволява да разгледа отминалите събития в нова светлина, но се е променил и в други аспекти, оказващи влияние върху светогледа му – той самият е станал както баща, така и учен. Прочел е неща, които баща му, обикновен работник, никога не би разбрал, но които биха помогнали, самият той да бъде „прочетен“.

Литературата не съществува просто за да се харесва, тя трябва да ни накара да се чувстваме неудобно, да ни накара да мислим.
Имануел Мифсуд

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Travel, International, The World, World War II, Family

68 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Immanuel Mifsud was born in Malta in 1967, the youngest in a working class family of eight children.

He started writing poetry at age 16, when he co-founded the literary group Versarti. At that same age he began to work in experimental theatre groups, directing his own plays and later he directed plays by Chekhov, Dario Fo, Max Frisch, Federico Garcia Lorca, David Mamet, Harold Pinter and Alfred Buttigieg.

Immanuel Mifsud writes poetry and prose, and some of his works have been translated into various languages and published in various European countries and USA.

His 2002 short story collection L-Istejjer Strambi ta' Sara Sue Sammut (Sara Sue Sammut's Strange Stories) won the Malta National Literary Award. The same book was later nominated for the Premio Strega Europa. Mifsud's next collection of stories, Kimika (Chemistry) stirred a controversy for what was deemed as "pornographic literature". The Left leaning press lambasted the book for its "filth", while the leading Right leaning English newspaper never published reviews on this book. In 2008 Klabb Kotba Maltin published his most recent prose work, another short story collection, Stejjer li ma Kellhomx Jinkitbu (Stories Which Shouldn't Have Been Written).

Immanuel Mifsud writes also for children; his latest publication Orqod, Qalbi, Orqod (Sleep My Love, Sleep) being a collection of lullabies.

He has participated in a number of prestigious literature festivals, such as the Festival de Poesia de la Mediterrania (Palma de Mallorca), Dnevi Poezija in Vina (Medana, Slovenia), Terceti Trnovski (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Dni Poezie a Vina (Valtice, Czech Republic), and others. Some of his poems were published in eminent publications such as New European Poets (Graywolf Press), The Echoing Years (Waterford Institute of Technology), and In Our Own Words: A Generation Defining Itself (MWE), among others.

In 2011 Edizzjonijiet Emmadelezio published Bateau Noir, a collection of poems in a bilingual edition, with translations from Maltese into French by Nadia Mifsud and Catherine Camilleri.

On 12 October 2011 it was announced that Immanuel Mifsud won the European Prize for Literature, 2011, with his book Fl-Isem tal-Missier (u tal-Iben).

Reviews

[iva° · Rating 3 out of 5]

kratak prozno poetični tekst, pisan kao reminiscencija na oca i pomiješane osjećaje koje autor gaji prema njemu (od obožavanja i ljubavi, preko čežnje i ovisnosti, do mržnje i prijekora) - vjerojatno je tekst kvalitetniji nego što mi je bio dopadljiv i/li lijep; ne mogu reći da mi je ta forma sjela - unutarnji monolog miješa se s obraćanjem (neprisutnom) ocu i cijeli tekst (nekih 70tak stranica) mogao bi egzistirati i kao pjesma u prozi. intimno pretumbavanje, za poetične duše.

[Peter Cawdron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella won the 2011 European Union Prize for Literature in Malta and has now been translated into English. The translation is flawless, with even the poetry coming across naturally. Readers will be hard pressed to realize this book wasn't written in English to start with. Mifsud's writing is visceral. If you enjoy Hemingway, with his rugged prose and direct style, you'll love this.

I struggled with the ending, not fully grasping what transpired, but the generational conflict and sense of life awakening was brilliantly portrayed. It's not for everyone, but it is masterfully written.

[Ends of the Word · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2006, the author was present at the birth of his son. Just a few months later, in 2007, the author’s father died. These two momentous events, which he lived as a father and as a son, led Immanuel Mifsud to write Fl-Isem tal-Missier (u tal-Iben) (later translated into several languages, including English as “In the Name of the Father (and of the Son)”). Another source of inspiration for the author was the discovery of a “war diary”that his father started to write when he joined the King’s Own Malta Regiment in 1939. Brief extracts from the diary are included in the text and the image of Mifsud’s father as “soldier”, in both a literal and figurative sense is a running theme of this short book.

Immanuel Mifsud is best-known as the writer of short stories which break taboos by focussing on less savoury aspects of Maltese society. Fl-Isem tal-Missier (U tal-Iben), for which Mifsud won the European Literature Prize in 2011, is not very typical of the author. One could say that it is also quite an unusual sort of work in the Maltese literary context. More than a novel, I would describe it as a meditation on fatherhood – a Sebaldian mix of essay, autobiography and (possibly?) fiction, rendered in a highly poetic prose. It is also, very evidently, a personal project close to the author’s heart.

Tellingly, in its introduction, Mifsud voices his concern, via a reference to Roland Barthes, that this book, completed as a “promise” might not speak to its readers as it does to him. This observation is well-placed. The searing emotion of the text is often moving but sometimes made me feel uncomfortably like a voyeur.

3.5*

https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...

[نوري · Rating 3 out of 5]

هذه المرة الأولى التي أقرأ فيها رواية من مالطا، هي مونولوج طويل بين الابن وأبيه، أبيه المتوفي والذي كان يهابه بشدة حتى أنه يجب أن يبكي في وجوده، الذي يقرأ النص جيداً يدرك أنه شعرياً بالمقام الأول.. فالابن يلوم والأب يبرر وكم تذكرت أشعار أحمد نجم حين قال "حقك على عيني يابني يا نور عيني/لجل الوفا بديني لك عندي بعض كلام"

[Jesmond Sharples · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ktieb intimu li jitratta r-relazzjonijiet kultant kumplessi bejn missier u iben, iben u missier fuq medda ta' tliet ġenerazzjonijiet. Ktieb li telaq minn kitba fuq djarju ta' missier l-awtur, l-awtur li jsawwar il-ħsieb ta' xinhu u jistħajjel xinhu l-missier - is-suġġett ta' din ir-relazzjoni hi ċentali għan-nisġa tan-narrattiva. Ktieb li jħallik taħseb, u taħseb.

[Jadranka Milenković · Rating 5 out of 5]

„U ime oca i sina“, Imanuela Mifsuda

Negde sam naišla na podatak da je u vreme nastajanja antičkih epova kao što je „Ilijada“ najvažniji odnos koji se opisuje – odnos između sinova i očeva. U to ime, dugački i današnjoj publici naporni opisi bitaka prepuni su konstrukcija sledećeg tipa: taj i taj junak, sin tog i tog vrlog junaka iz te i te oblasti, napade tog i tog junaka, sina slavnog oca zvanog imenom tim i tim, iz one druge oblasti, te mu taj junak razglobi koleno ili ga udari jako kopljem te ovaj pade i sa dušom se rastade... Najveći junaci „Ilijade“ i sami su sinovi junaka; najgore što je moglo da se desi jeste da ne budu dostojni junačkog očevog imena po kome se među drugima raspoznaju. Jer, oni svoje ime tek treba da steknu. Moraju ga, neokaljano kukavičlukom ili slabošću, ostaviti svojim sinovima.
Iako je vreme nastanka tog epa veoma udaljeno od savremenog trenutka, tema odnosa između oca i sina i dalje sadrži određeni potencijal koji je čini nezaobilaznom temom književnosti. Njena savremenost leži u samoj prirodi tog odnosa, koju ni današnje prilike ne mogu bitno da izmene – u jednom psihološkom obrascu koji dečaka stavlja u poziciju samoposmatranja u odnosu na oca. Otac je veoma često zagonetna figura sve do momenta kad bivši dečak i sam ne prođe kroz roditeljsko iskustvo. Ponekad se takav odnos produži sve do očeve smrti, kad nastupa začuđenost (zar otac nije besmrtan?), žaljenje, a zatim potreba za upoznavanjem onog čoveka koji se tako uspešno godinama sakrivao iza očinske uloge koja je ljudske slabosti sasvim prikrila.
Roman „U ime oca i sina“ Imanuela Mifsuda jedan je među mnogim romanima nastao kao svedočanstvo nemogućnosti da se prevaziđe ta veštačka daljina koju nameće sama priroda odnosa otac-sin, kao i potrebe da se divljenje i ljubav upućena oca, a nikad zaista obelodanjena, jednom ipak obeleži i zavešta. Autor započinje knjigu sumnjom da određene sličice iz očevog života, zapisi iz njegovog ratnog dnevnika, lična sećanja koja je sačuvao – mogu još nekom nešto značiti. On ih ipak ispisuje, kao „razmišljanja o muževnosti i očinstvu“, upućujući ih na taj način jednovremeno i ocu, ali i malom sinu u sad izmenjenoj ulozi.
Kolaž uspomena o odrastanju sa očevom neprikosnovenom figurom nadvijenom nad njegovim dečačkim univerzumom donosi dobro poznatu sliku, toliko puta ponovljenu - otac svog osetljivka i plačljivka pokušava da načini muškarcem, budućim herojem spremnim da otrpi stvari kakve život nosi, kakve je sam bio u stanju da podnese i preživi. Iz tih iskustava otac ima trajno oštećenje leve noge. No, on je ipak heroj i muškarčina, osoba koja ne plače (osim, možda, ipak – u nekim sasvim posebnim okolnostima). Dečaku je suviše teško da zadovolji ta očeva očekivanja. Prva napetost, prva trajna, teško savladiva muka mališana je upravo očeva autoritativna i naizgled nedostižna figura – o tome je i neizmerno teško govoriti, možda sve do očeve smrti.

Nisam znao da čak i vojnici plaču.
Mislio sam da su vojnici od čelika.
Mislio sam da uvek imaju strog i snažan i odlučan izraz lica.
Mislio sam da samo ja plačem, da samo ja radim ono što ne bi trebalo da se radi.

(...)

Ali ja plačem. I sramota me je kad plačem. I sramota me je jer ne bi trebalo da plačem. I onda me je još više sramota jer – stvarno želiš da čuješ ovo? – zapravo volim da plačem. Volim da osetim kako mi ona topla voda curi niz lice. Volim onaj osećaj kad mi se zapuši nos, i oči čvrsto stisnu. Volim kad mi se pomuti vid.
Volim da te ne poslušam.
Volim da te se plašim jer si strašan. Jer me gledaš, a tvoj me prezrivi pogled plaši. Pa se povlačim i sklanjam.
I ti plačeš.
Vojniče, i ti plačeš.

Knjiga opisuje očevu mladost, socijalističku orijentaciju mladog proletera, venčanje u skloništu, ratno iskustvo u Drugom svetskom ratu učešćem u Kraljevom malteškom puku od 1939. godine, siromaštvo u ranom detinjstvu, brigu o osmoro dece posle rata, život sa hendikepom i prva razočarenja u sistem kome je verovao. Opisuje čoveka koji uprkos ratnoj ozledi ne posrće i ne posustaje (u jednoj od najlepših scena taj otac igra fudbal sa svojim sinom). Paralelno s tim, pratimo odrastanje dečaka u senci hrabrog oca, snove ispunjene očevim ratnim uspomenama, i prva izdajstva od onih koja se čine na putu odrastanja.

Bio si glava porodice, vođa čopora, poglavica, svemogući, muškarac, potentni falus kojem su se svi klanjali. Uprkos tvojoj deminutivnoj visini. Uprkos hendikepu zbog kojeg si bio još niži. Bio si ratni veteran, ovenčan ordenjem koje ti je Britanija prikačila na grudi u znak zahvalnosti za tvoju službu, odanost i iznad svega, tvoju hrabrost u vreme opsade.
Ja, ja sam ti bio kamen u cipeli.
Ja sam ti bio kamen u cipeli s kojim si bio vrlo zadovoljan, mada te je žuljao.

U trenutku kad otac umire, narator ima malog sina (sličnost, slučajna, sa situacijom u romanu „Otkrivanje samoće“ Pola Ostera, koja se bavi sličnom temom). Očevom smrću, narator prestaje da bude sin; sada je samo otac. Unapred mu je poznato sve šta nameće jednom već proživljeni obrazac – ovoga puta može samo da posmatra kako se stvari ponavljaju dok je on smešten sa druge strane, i ne može iz toga nikako pobeći.

Onoga dana kad sam te dotakao, još si drhtao. Obojica smo drhtali. Bili smo svesni jedan drugog. To nam je bio prvi put. Prvi put da sam te video nagog i dodirnuo sam te. Veruj mi, od svih golih tela koja sam dotakao, tvoje je bilo najlepše. Koliko su puta moji prsti dotakli tuđu nagost, koliko puta me je obuzela fizička čežnja za telom. Ta lakoća, taj prazni prostor koji mi je nekako ispunio naručje. Dotakao sam te i uzeo u naručje: tvoje smežurano telo, taj elokventni, nemi pogled. Možda ove reči ne bi trebalo da se izgovaraju. Naposletku, ja te nisam nosio u sebi, mada bih voleo da jesam. Budući muškarac, ne mogu da osetim tu krhkost kako, očvrsla, izlazi iz mene. Nisam sebe razotkrio da bih tebe najzad rodio, iscrpljen.

(...)

Tvoja majka nije tvoja, sine, iako ti je bila dom – dom tebi. Tu si započeo – unutar nje koja ti je majka, majka tebe. Hranio si se njenim sistemom dok si formirao vlastiti. Bili ste samo vas dvoje zajedno: ti i ona. Sami. Sami zajedno. A onda mi je babica dodala makaze i ja sam presekao sponu koja vas je vezivala jednom za svagda. Nemoj da se ljutiš. I ja moram da imam neku ulogu u ovoj priči. Nemoj da te zaprepasti što sam bio tu pre tebe; i moj otac je bio tu pre mene. Znam šta to znači, znam pogled koji mi upućuješ dok je grliš. Uputio sam takav pogled pre nego ti, čoveku kog nikad nisi upoznao, premda si video njegove beživotne, prazne oči dva puta. Više niste samo vas dvoje, postali ste troje. Postali smo troje: ti, ona i ja. Znam šta to znači, taj pogled koji mi upućuješ. Uputio sam takav pogled pre nego ti. Uputio sam takav pogled kad sam i ja zamišljao falus.
Postoji Ime Oca, sine. Kad te gledam kako sediš na podu, oduševljava me tvoja snaga. Držiš se pravo kao klin nabijen u tlo. Padneš na pod i pružiš ruke da dohvatiš svoju lutku. Oduševljava me poezija koju mrmljaš. Oduševljava me tvoj smeh kad si sam. Oduševljava me kad te ispratim na putu za vrtić. Smeškam se setno kad plačeš jer sam došao da te podignem umesto nje. Plačeš jer misliš da te je napustila. Plačeš jer misliš da sam joj vredniji od tebe. Plačeš jer osećaš da ti je teško Ime Oca koje te pritiska. Znam šta to znači, tvoje insistiranje da budeš s nama dvoma sve vreme. Prepoznajem ton kojim mi naređuješ da odem u svoju sobu, da nestanem, da te ostavim da uživaš u nečemu što sam obeležio kao svoje. Neću popustiti pred tobom, jer takav je Zakon Oca.

Knjiga „U ime oca i sina“ je potresno, iskreno, poetično svedočanstvo o iskrenoj ljubavi između sina i oca, oca i sina, o snazi odnosa koji značajno (možda najznačajnije od svih drugih) utiče na formiranje jednog mladog bića, o odgovornosti, hrabrosti i postepenom spoznavanju važnih životnih istina. Iako se radi o temi koja je u književnosti često puta ponavljana, sama knjiga nije samo još jedna u nizu, već je na svoj način ponovo nova i drugačija, kao što je svaki odnos, koliko god da ponavlja izvesne obrasce, u nečemu nov i specifičan, dragocen i neponovljiv, a istovremeno i neprenosiv u potpunosti u formu koju nudi jezik. Svakako, kao i roman „Juta Hajm“ od istog autora, knjiga koju vredi imati u svojoj biblioteci i pročitati više puta.
Knjigu je objavila izdavačka kuća "Kontrast izdavaštvo" u prevodu Igora Cvijanovića.

[Razvan Zamfirescu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spicuiri din recenzia finala care se gaseste pe blogul meu



................................................

Nu am înțeles poeziaproză pe care Mifsud a mestecat-o în c��rțulia asta a lui. A mestecat-o bine de tot pentru că bolul alimentar creat de el a alunecat pe gât ușor însă a picat în stomac atât de greu încât mi-a făcut pietre la ficat, rinichi, duoden și ce alte organe mai sună bine și care nu-mi vin acum în minte.

Hai să vă dau un exemplu de proezie misfudiană:

Trepidațiile de la împușcătură ți-au cutremurat pieptul. Aproape că te-au aruncat pe spate. Dar ești solid, puternic și viguros; prin venele tale curg limbi de foc. Rămâi dârz pe poziție și încarci arma cât să ai timp să închizi un ochi, să țintești la comandă și să tragi: FOC! Și tragi.

Deci: pentru un poet nu e suficientă metaforă, iar pentru un prozator liric e prea multă claritate în nebuloasa imagine pe care încerci să o transmiți cititorului. Ne organizăm și noi puțin ca să putem prinde firul narațiunii dumneavoastră astfel încât să nu ne vină să strigăm și noi FOC! pentru a ne împrăștia creierii pe pereți din cauza volumașului?


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[Allan Farmer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Solo lo leí porque el autor es de Malta, la premisa es interesante pero el desarrollo es fatal. Si tienes la oportunidad de leerlo, desaprovechala.

[Michelle Zhuang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a memorial of the author's father after he died. The author's father was a soldier in the second world war for Malta. Malta was under British rule, and became a socialist state. The author is read in gender studies, and has become a father when his dad passed away. The book meditates on masculinity, and expresses the author's feelings towards his father. He is a writer, a playwright, a professor at the University of Malta. His language, Maltese, has evolved over the history under Arabs, Spaniards, Brittons... And he is skilled in using this language that does not limit his expression but that has a limited community of speakers. The English version is translated by Albert Gatt. The book is poetic and split into chapters. Each chapter focuses on a different theme. "The First Time I saw You Cry" thinks about the author's dad's masculinity. I think "In the Name of The Father" talks about the author growing up. In "Square," the author seems to say that he hopes that his son will remember a better childhood than he did. In "Stabbat Father," the author's son is born, and his mom and dad pass away one after the other. He hires gravediggers and pulls his parents out of the grave, packs them into boxes, two years after their death. He expresses his feelings about putting his son in this world, just as himself was in this world. I think he becomes the "almighty figure" like his dad was. One can feel that Mifsud really tries to understand his dad, but he "acts" and his dad does not know him. He likes to cry, even though his dad tells him not to. I think the very fact that he is not numb to fear and pain makes him a good writer and author. The book made me think about my relationship with my dad, and I hope I understand my dad.

[Tia Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In the Name of the Father (and of the Son)" brings the reader along with Immanuel Mifsud as he discovers more about his father through the father's diary that he began writing after joining the King's Own Malta Regiment in 1939. I really liked the fact that this book covers Mifsud's life experiences as both a father and a son; the various perspectives were very interesting to read. The father-son dynamic truly kept me engaged from start to finish. This father-son and child-parent dynamic particularly piqued my interest because I do not have a close relationship with my father, but I would love to learn more about him and what we may have in common just as Mifsud is doing with his father. Overall, this book is well written; the use of several literary devices enhanced my personal reading experience. It was not until I finished the book that I had realized that this was a translated version of the original work. This made me gain even a greater appreciation for the novel. However, I must admit there were times I had difficulty keeping up with the story since it jumped back and forth from son to father throughout different points in time. Aside from that, I enjoyed how personal this book was to the author. The Maltese culture was beautifully intertwined with excerpts from the father's diary and Mifsud's own memories. It was honest, true, intimate, and raw -- all aspects I appreciate finding in a book.

[Ahmed Osama · Rating 4 out of 5]

الأدب الجيد ليس له انتماء معين، ليس له جنسية بعينها، ليس له اية مقاييس أو معايير، لا يميزه الا جودته!
في نصوص نثرية، ذات طابع و أجواء شعرية، قدم لنا الكاتب، مقطوعة، غاية في الرقة و الشاعرية، حيث تحدث عن علاقته بأبيه، و مزج ذلك، بمحاولة لبناء علاقة جيدة، مع ابنه، حيث يسترجع تلك العلاقة، والتي يبدو فيها تعلقه بوالده بشدة، في محاولة منه، لأن يكون نسخة منه، بالنسبة لابنه.
"قبل وفاة والدي بسنوات قليلة، وبينما كنت انتقل إلى منزل جديد، عثرت مصادفة على دفتر صغير بغلاف بُنّي سميك، حوى يوميّات قصيرة لأبي.
في جنازة والدي بينما كنت أقوم بهز ابني بين ذراعيّ، وكان لايزال رضيعاً، كي ينام، التقطت المفكرة البنية مرة أخرى.
بدلا من النّص المدوّن فيها، وجدتني استشف نصاً آخر، بدأ يطفو على السطح تدريجياً نصاً لايتألف من الذكريات فحسب، بل يضم أفكاراً وخواطر عميقة عن الرجولة و الأبوة"

[Cecy Olvera]

Malta

[Stan Georgiana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neah.

[Cristina Boncea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tema paternității este puternic abordată în acest scurt volum de memorii, deopotrivă ale autorului, cât și ale tatălui său din perioada războiului. Mi-a amintit de „Dead Dad” a lui Louie Andreson, cu care împărtășește câteva elemente comune.

Stilul de scriere a fost suficient de clar, însă trecerile de la perspectiva tatălui la cea a fiului m-au luat adeseori prin surprindere, cu atât mai mult cu cât în ultima parte autorul face referire la nașterea propriului său fiu. Însemnările din jurnalul de război al tatălui său sunt într-adevăr marcate cu italic, însă tema principală este mai degrabă relația dintre cei doi pe parcursul copilăriei și adolescenței lui Manuel. Fiind un soldat maltez desăvârșit, tatăl său era genul care îi spunea că bărbații nu plâng niciodată, că „nu ai motive se plângi atunci când știi că ai putea să-i dobori pe toți”. Cu toate acestea, Manuel s-a răzvrătit mereu împotriva învățămintelor primite și și-a urmat propriul destin, având experiențe contrastante credințelor religioase ale tatălui său.

De la milă la furie, avem parte de un registru larg de emoții resimțite de protagonist, ceea ce oferă complexitate volumului. Cu siguranță mulți fii încă rezonează cu aceste sentimente vizavi de tații lor, căci dintotdeauna se păstrează acea aversiune oedipiană față de alesul mamelor – cel puțin, așa ar părea, în contextul masculinității toxice, zic eu. În orice caz, sunt descrise câteva evenimente definitorii pentru copilăria autorului, cât și pentru caracterul tatălui său. Această carte vine atât ca omagiu, cât și ca un fel de confesiune a lucrurilor pe care nu a putut să i le spună niciodată în timp ce trăia. Observăm cum lucrurile trăite în copilărie urmăresc adultul tot restul vieții sale și, mai mult decât atât, cum, deși reușim să ne schimbăm pattern-urile de gândire, anumite reziduuri moștenite rămân adânc implantate în noi.

Nu pot spune că e o lectură „relaxantă”, chiar dacă se citește repede și ușor, ci cred că poate fi privită într-un fel ca o incursiune psihologică, o cercetare în profunzime a ideii de paternitate. Ne poate trimite în propriile noastre căutări lăuntrice cu privire la relația dintre copil și părinte, mai ales când părintele a fost unul greu accesibil din punct de vedere emoțional. Fundalul războiului este doar atât, un fundal, chiar dacă există și multe referințe politice la situația de atunci din Malta. Mai importante am găsit a fi consecințele asupra fiului unui soldat, un om pregătit să îndure moartea altora fără să schițeze un gest – deși aici e „șmecheria”, nimeni nu e de oțel.

Pot spune că m-am bucurat de această carte scrisă cu o sfâșietoare sinceritate, acest volum autobiografic atât de înduioșător. Nu aduce cu sine genul de revelații care să-ți schimbe viața, dar cu siguranță există niște teme de gândire de mare importanță printre pagini. O lectură de câteva ore, povestea unui fiu suferind, circularitatea vieții unui tată. Nu există o anumită concluzie, ci poate doar întrebarea: care sunt lucrurile pe care nu le poți spune părinților tăi?

[ElenaSquareEyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

At under 70 pages this novella manages to be impactful and almost whimsical at the same time. It can be a little hard to follow at times as the unnamed narrator tends to jump back and forth in his memories of his father. Sometimes he’s recounting a story of when he was a young child, and what he felt in that moment, while in others he’s then looking back on an event with through the eyes of his adult self, offering a different perspective to the one he had as a child.

The first chapter was the most interesting to me as that contained extracts from the father’s diary from when he joined the British army, in the King’s Own Malta Regiment in December 1939 at age nineteen. A lot of it was just the everyday goings on of life in the army but the diary is the springboard for the son’s thoughts about his father’s time in the military and how that shaped him as a man.

What it means to be a man and how soldiers and men don’t cry is a big factor. How the father’s attitude towards his son for any perceived weakness, how the son likes the feeling of tears running down his face, and how he only ever saw his father cry twice and both times his father had tried to hide it from everyone. It’s clear to see how this strict masculinity has affected the son and caused him to rethink certain elements of himself. It’s something he also muses about, masculinity and the role of a father, when he has his own son.

One thing that was a bit unusual, was how the narrator would bring in quotes or ideas from different writers and theorists and then relate them to his father and his memories of him. This little novella had footnotes with references to textbooks and it made the reading experience a real mix of things.

With the theory stuff it sometimes seemed academic, then there was the historical aspect, giving a brief rundown of the political landscape in Malta and how his father interacted with it, and then there’s the family and relationship history making it a condensed memoir. All these elements means that when reading it, there’s a distance to In the Name of the Father (and of the Son). It’s like the narrator is looking through the fog of memory, trying to work through his grief and thoughts. It’s an interesting and thoughtful reading experience and one that cant help but leave you feeling a little melancholy.

[Noha Walaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

رواية شديدة الشاعرية عن الدائرة التي ترسمها علاقة الجد والأب والابن.


❞ ثمّ أكتشف أنّ كلّ شيء مرتبط باسم الأبّ أوّل ذكرى أوّل بكاء أول توتّر وأول شـجار كلّ شيء باسم الأبّ......كم وددتُ إخبارك بأشياء لم أروها أبدًا لك، كم رغبتُ بإخبارك مَن أكون ولكـنّي تردّدت دائمًا. أردتُ أن أخـبرك أنّك في كهولتك، صنعتَ ولدًا أكـثر تعقيدًا مما ظننت❝

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❞ ‫أوّل مرة رأيتُك تبكي فيها ..... على قبر والدتِك ‫ من خلف عدسات نظارتيك السميكتين، أبصرتُ الدمعة تنحدر، لم يكن لها أن تفعل ذلك، لكنّ ذلك قد حدث، تكورَت ثم انزلقت، ظننتَ أنّي لم ألحظ شيئًا، لكنّي كنت أراقبك.
‫ دائمًا ما كنتُ أراقبُك، وأتجسّس عليك، كي أرى كيف تتصرّف❝

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❞عندما لمستك لأوّل مرّة، كنتَ ما زلتَ مرتعدًا، نحن الاثنان كنّا نرتعد. كلانا بَدَا حذرًا من الآخر. كانت تلك أوّل مواجهة لنا معاً، وأوّل مرة أراك فيها عاريًا وألمسك صدقني، من بين جميع الأجساد العارية التي لمستها، كان جسدك هو الأجمل لا أدري كم من المرّات لمَست أصابعي عُرْيًا آخر، وكم من المرات جرفتـني رغبة الـجسد في الـجسد لكن ليس بتلك الـخفّة، والفراغ الذي بطريقة ما ملأ أحضاني، لمستك بتوجّس ثمّ أخذتك بين ذراعيّ. ذلك الـجسد الطريّ، وتلك النظرة الـتي تخاطبني بلا كلمات. ربما لا ليس م�� العدل أن أتبجّح بهذا الكلام. في النّهاية أنا لم أحملك في أحشائي كما تمنّيت. وكرجلٍ لا يمكنـني الإحساس بهذا الدفق الهشّ، الخارج بصلابة من دهاليز الـجوف. لم أتجرّد من ملابسي وأتمددّ من أجلك.
‫ في الصباح الباكر، في المكتب، بجوار علم الجمهورية، تطلب مـنّي امرأة بأحمر شفاه فاقع ونظارات فيرسيس أن أُطلقَ عليك اسمًا.❝


❞ حين تصل هناك، ستكون شمسٌ جديدة قد أشرقت، وسيكون الذئبُ الشرير على الأرجح، قد تاه بين الأشجار التي تغطيها الثلوج، وسيكون بلمبتون قد بـنى بيتًا من الطوب بوسعه مقاومة الريح سيعيش هناك سعيدًا حـتّى يكـبر ويموت اجلس وأغمض عينيك يا ولدي وإذا ما انهمرت دموعك، دع الريح تجففها. وإذا سمعت الموسيقى، غنّ معها.❝

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[Candace Ignacio]

This book was definitely challenging for me to read however, I am very appreciative of the creativity and poetry that is expressed through the Maltese culture. Something that I was able to relate to my personal life was how the author was held to this expectation of being a strong man. Although I am a woman, I feel as though throughout my family, they all hold me to a standard of being strong and it makes me feel like I cannot show weakness just like Gużeppi. He also find a rarity in seeing his father cry because in their time frame, crying was unmanly. In my whole life span, I have never seen with my own eyes, my own father cry either. I've seen him tear up about to shed a tear, but I have never seen them fall from his face because he fights so hard to not cry. In summary, I would have to say that Gużeppi and I both share the lack vulnerability in our families. I found the section where Gużeppi is questioning his father asking him if he was aware of all the events and kinds of things that make him afraid. For example, he asks his father in the writing if he was disappointment for being afraid of the dark or of the old stories he used to share. This was powerful because it was a time for Gużeppi expressing his fears and all that he with held from his father because he was constantly expected to never show weakness. This book although takes place in a different time, is still applicable and relatable to some because although gender roles are starting to change, men are still afraid to show vulnerability or softness. Even though this book was tougher to finish, I am glad I was able to read it!

[Idi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nel 2011 con questo libro, ''Fl-Isem tal-Missier (u tal-Iben)'', il maltese Immanuel Mifsud ha vinto il premio Europeo della Letteratura. Il testo è stato tradotto in diverse lingue, ma non in italiano.
In una novella tra prosa e poesia l’autore riprende un diario del padre recentemente scomparso. Ci presenta un uomo di una generazione diversa, figlio del patriarcato, un combattente coronato durante la Seconda Guerra. Una figura esemplare e contraddittoria, ammirata da un figlio ridotto al costante sentimento di inadeguatezza, che cerca di compiacere il genitore recitando un ruolo che non gli è congeniale.
Alla morte del patriarca, l’autore racconta di quando diviene padre a sua volta.
Tra le righe si percepiscono la volontà di omaggiare la figura paterna e la scrittura ad uso catartico.

''Toi, tu étais le pater familias, le maître, le chef, le tout-puissant, l’homme, le phallus omnipotent devant qui tous devaient s’incliner. Et cela, en dépit de ton petit gabarit. En dépit de ton handicap, qui te rendait encore moins grand. Tu étais l’ancien combattant, avec des médailles sur la poitrine, décoré par la Grande-Bretagne en récompense du service rendu, de ta loyauté, et surtout du courage dont tu as fait preuve pendant le dernier siège.
Moi, j’étais l’épine.
J’étais l’épine dont tu étais bien content, même si elle piquait.''

Around the world reading challenge: Malta ✔️

[Mackenzie Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "In the Name of the Father (and of the Son) is a heavy and reflective read of the life of a son who has lost his father. In this book, he touches on the idea of masculinity in "The first time I saw you cry" and throughout the rest of the book, he reflects on now being a father himself and how his father raised him as well as the life of being a soldier and life's traumas. The part that stood out to me in this book and particularly grabbed my attention and heart is the inward battle the author expresses with showing emotion. Even though he is physically strong, he still feels like he is weak because of his emotions, which shows the negative effect of living in a society where crying and expressing emotion is seen as unmasculine and a sign of weakness. One quote that stood out to me was when he writes "but I break down and cry. I cry because I've lost again. And I realize that my ultimate battle isn't against Barbara's gang, or against Franky, but against you." (21) The author realizes where his emotional battle is rooted and reflects on this throughout the book which is heavy to read about yet beautiful. Overall, "In the Name of the Father (and of the Son)" was a beautiful read and displayed some real-life issues that men face as well as reflecting on a father-son relationship and how childhood memories shape the person you become.

[Madison Berggren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written by a son about his father and their relationship, and it later discusses this son with his own son. I struggled a bit with the structure of the book, as it was difficult to differentiate who the author was talking about. Some parts talked about the son's past and some were about the father's past from his own journal. Despite the somewhat confusing structure, I did enjoy the overall message of the book. It discussed the author's disconnect with his father. The father was a veteran, and the son felt as if the father never truly knew him. The father was very stoic and expected the same from his son. This is shown in the chapter called "The first time I saw you cry." In that chapter the author talks about his father always told him he was too old to cry, but the son cried anyway. Throughout the book, there seems to be a void between the father and the son, sometimes created by the father and other times the son.

Although I struggled a bit getting through the book, I think the author does do a good job at getting his point across. And the translator does a good job at portraying that message and keeping a good rhythm. This is not necessarily the type of book I pick to read, but I do appreciate this work that was created.

[Hannah Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this novel was at times hard to follow, it perfectly painted a picture of a father-son relationship and the characteristics passed down and seemingly neglected generationally. The story follows a son, after his father's passing, reading his father's journal entries about his past following his joining of the King's Own Malta Regiment in 1939. I found it really interesting reading the son's perspective of his father's stories. Though there were stories about his own life included in the journal entries, looking back and recollecting even those stories allowed him to gain a new perspective and draw new conclusions about himself. In some instances he would compare his father's characteristics to his own and through this, we are able to see differences that are very likely a result of their unlike life experiences and contrasting generational expectations on themselves as men. On top of this, the entire novel was brilliantly translated by Albert Gatt. However, this translation (and in turn, transfer of cultures) does explain much of the difficulty in the overall understanding of the novel that I experienced while reading.

[Kyle Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book, a father's journey of raising his son after World War 2, and then the funeral and the son's possession of the father's journal that depict his hardships of the war. "There is the name of the Father, son. When I watch you sitting on the floor, I'm fascinated by your strength. You hold yourself as uptight as a peg being driven into the ground. You hit the floor and reach out for your doll. I'm fascinated by the poetry you mutter. I'm fascinated by your solitary laughter. I'm fascinated when I see you on your way to nursery school."(P.32). It is a sad book in a way, because the Son loves his Father and the Father his Son, and we learn that the Father is dead. From a wedding being held in a bomb shelter to the birth of a son, this book will jerk your emotions. At only 39 pages, its a great read for not a whole lot of time needed to invest in the book. The way that the war is described and what the Father went through at such a young age is very hard to read, as I said before the emotions are flowing, and plus the poetry only amplifies it. Definitely would recommend this book 100%.

[Camden Painton]

In the Name of the Father (and the Son) is a deeply personal and reflective read, which begs the reader to ask the question, “what truly makes a man?” Mifsud is given the rare opportunity to unfold and discover a new layer to his father’s identity; the man he called a hero. Through the reading of his late father’s journal entries, the author is able to gain a fresh perspective on the childhood events that shaped his identity. It is a story of pain, revelation, discovery, and redemption. It challenges the reader to reflect on their own relationships with the men that gave them life-whether that relationship be strenuous or greatly celebrated. What most compels me to recommend this book is the sense of connectivity I felt after reading it. We are the product of our ancestors teachings, beliefs, and great love. My mother’s legacy will be carried through me, and mine through my children. This book reminds me that we have a greater impact on people than we will ever know. For anyone looking to discover a deeper sense of purpose, I suggest this book.

[Bryan Watowich · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the name of the Father (And of the Son) by Immanuel Mifsud was a profound read that captured the emotions and relationships between the author’s firm veteran father and his own son. The book highlights the in-depth feelings that come with a disconnected family relationship. It was very interesting to see how the father, a resolute and solemn man, tried to raise his son who evidently was more expressive in emotions and differing in manners of life. Mifsud’s writing is intentional and effective. It allows the reader to touch the vivid emotions and realism of Mifsud’s past and the prominence of the Maltese culture The book’s path is somewhat difficult to follow; however, as the reader travels through, it becomes clear - the emotions of the father, and of the son. This book resonated with me as I have had a very complicated relationship with my father as well. It is really interesting to see the development in the book, as well as how it resonates with my personal relational developments. I would absolutely recommend this book to other readers!

[Izzy Younkers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was both beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. As someone who identifies as a female, I obviously cannot fully grasp what toxic masculinity must feel like, however I do think that the way Immanuel Mifsud articulated it was breathtakingly honest and I appreciated how he did not shy away from saying things that might be uncomfortable to read. Child/Parent relationships can be complicated and I think this is a good book to read to show someone they might not be alone in their anger towards those that raised them. It is also an inspiring read, as Mifud writes about his imperfect, yet awesome transformation into the man HE wants to be vs. the man his father wanted him to be. I also really resonated with Mifsud's desire for his stories to "speak" to his readers. I feel like I have a similar desire when I do things. I want them to count. However, like Mifsud, I need to accept the fact that writing the story is a good thing in itself. How people respond or appreciate it has nothing to do with its worth.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Name of the Father of the Son tells a story through the voice of a grieving son who is reading his fathers old diaries. The book is a translation of a Maltese short story collection. The author is able to recall many times in his life where his father’s experiences played a big role in the lessons he taught his son. He analyses the complicated emotions of their relationship, but the abundance of love is still so apparent. The book goes beyond the story of the author’s father when he is able to relate these experiences to his own son. It is as touching as it is profound. The Maltese writing style is so beautiful to see even in the English translation. I haven’t read the original, but I can only imagine how beautiful the stories are in it’s most authentic form. This book is small but deep, so even though there aren’t many pages I still wouldn’t classify it as an “easy read”. The substance is so great and it might take more analysis than the average novel. I highly recommend it to those who value knowledge of other cultures and lifestyles.

[Lbergmann316]

This book depicts a complex relationship between a father and son. While it can be confusing in terms of who the author is talking about sometimes, this problem could be cured by reading the chapters over and over--an action necessary for wisdom, as well as clarification. A son who wants to measure up to the terrifying image of his father fights inwardly to discover himself outside of his father's expectations. There is a constant argument of what defines true masculinity and whether tears are the measure of a boy or a man. As the author then steps into the position of father himself when his own son is born, he realizes what the world looks like through a father's eyes. Through the poetic visions that dip between reality, wishful thinking, Biblical parallels, confusion, memory, and journal entries, this book pulls at the limits of the reader's imagination to place them into the clunky, disability-hiding boots of a father who simply wanted to know how to love and discern whether he himself was loved.

[Emma Stanphill]

‘In the Name of the Father (& of the Son)’ was a very thoughtful read. I appreciated the expressive and poetic writing that reflected the dynamic of a father-son relationship. Although I appreciated the impactful and reflective nature of this story, I found it somewhat difficult to follow what was happening since the narrator jumped around quite a lot. This being said, the thematic elements of this read, including masculinity and the role of a father, were uniquely depicted through the Maltese culture.

Immanuel Mifsud allowed us into a deeply personal part of his life, and I am honored to have walked alongside his heart as I read this story.

I am also impressed at the intentionality of translator Albert Gatt, since this novella was originally written in Maltese and was later translated into English. The ability to bring a story into another language while still maintaining the original intent of the author is nothing short of miraculous. I thank Gatt for working on this project and for his translating expertise.

[Bogdan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel gave me a lot to think of.

Firstly, I had to decide under which shelf I should put it in my mixture of geographical and language shelves split. I have decided based on the fact that ~40% of the Maltese words are of Italian and Sicilian origin, to put it under neo-latin. Linguists, I know this is wrong, as this is a Semitic language, but please accept this from me.

Secondly, I had little clue of what kind of book it is. A novel? An essay? Autofiction? Hard to tell and I believe it crosses the boundaries between all these 3 types of books.

Lastly, I am still not certain about my overall impression regarding it. It is short and concise, but not at all short on meaning. I liked a lot the idea behind the novel and I think the writer had a point to make, but as he stated it in the beginning, it could be way too personal to be easily understand by others.

Anyhow a kind of book which is very original in both format and the conveyed message.

[Jordan Roby · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Name of the Father is a touching story that tells about a grieving son who is reading his father's old diaries. I loved how the son reflected on his past and childhood from reading his father's stories to discover how it made him the man he is today. This book was a little challenging to read, as I couldn't tell who was speaking sometimes. In addition, I thought the part where to son told his father not to cry was a great way to show the stereotypes of a "man". In modern society, many men are taught to be tough and hide their emotions and the fact that the little boy brought it up to his dad showed how this stereotype goes deep. I thought that part of the story was very touching and beautiful. When we lose someone in our lives, we wish we had known more about that person before they were gone. This story shows the perfect example of a son who had the chance to do that with openness and vulnerability. Great book!