THE SPOON: The Story of Two Families’ Survival of the Hungarian Revolution by Lisa Voelker – Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Hungary

Lisa Voelker’s historical fiction novel, The Spoon, takes us back to the 1950s in Hungary during the daring student uprising, and attempted revolution, in Buda and Pest. The author weaves historical facts with fiction in the form of family lore that has been handed down for generations.

We follow scores of people whose lives intersected during this uprising of 1956. The revolution was, at its inception, a time of joyous upheaval, but in less than two weeks became one of devastating dissolution. People fled Hungary by the thousands, but not before giving the Soviet Union a taste of their discontent.

Voelker introduces Rebeka, a member of the Varga family with old ties to the bourgeoisie, who lived a life of privilege on a farm east of Buda and Pest. As well as Peter, a member of the Turea family who attends Budapest Technical University, where students began demonstrating against the Hungarian Government that was under Soviet control.

Voelker’s cast of characters stems from over a dozen families, some involving four generations, so even as this story focuses on Rebeka and Peter, we get the sense that it is truly the story of a nation. It’s the story of a people who are embroiled in the ramifications of a revolution attempt that was less than two weeks long but reverberated for decades.

The national pride and courage of the demonstrators stands out.

Their resilience and continued opposition against the Soviet super-power, pushed forward by the resistance fighters, never wavered. Voelker captures that loyalty and bravery on every page, just as her well-researched novel captures the imagination.

The ultimate mystery of the book is based on actual family lore, and Voelker keeps us turning the pages to find out what the significance and importance of a particular object is. She gives clues that whet our appetites, and with perfect timing reveals the satisfying conclusion.

Rebeka and Peter move through the uprising along with friends, family, and people they meet along the way. Voelker’s mastery in developing these interesting individuals keeps us invested in their stories and their successes— and yes, sometimes their failures.

There are tragedies, as with any war-like situation, and this is an underdog story, much like many international news stories that we see today.

As philosopher George Santayana wrote: “Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.” This idea has been paraphrased and passed down in many variations, but the truth behind it remains, and we commit this error at our own peril.

Voelker plays with themes of liberty, freedom, nationality, family bonds, first love, war, and more.

Her ambitious novel delivers an excellent read while also making connections between the past and the present, and showing us the strength of the family myth— stories that we pass down through generations.

Lisa Voelker’s The Spoon matches the interest of any history buff, any war novel aficionado, or any reader who loves learning while they enjoy a good book.

The Spoon by Lisa Voelker won First Place in the 2023 CIBA Goethe Awards for Late Historical Fiction.