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Memento Park    by Mark Sarvas Amazon.com order for
Memento Park
by Mark Sarvas
Order:  USA  Can
Picador, 2019 (2018)
Hardcover, Softcover, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Barbara Lingens

All night long a man contemplates a painting about to be auctioned off in the morning, and during this time his life, particularly his relationship with his father, comes back to him in pieces, until at the end, things finally make sense.

This is a very interesting work that covers so many things. We learn about the restitution of artworks that have been taken illegally from owners and how difficult it can be to find out who the rightful owner is. We learn about Hungarian Jews, who had to make a quick exit if they were going to save themselves. We learn how a boy's view of his father has affected his life and other relationships and how difficult it is for him to discover what the truth of his father really is. And we also learn about faith from a person who has none, but sees it in others.

There are many surprises here, especially at the end, but the story is made even more interesting by the man's ongoing meditation on the painting and its painter, both of which the man has thoroughly researched. This is truly an imaginative and unusual work. Definitely recommended.

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