This is a beautifully written story of two generations of family members in post-Communist Hungary, both struggling to reconcile their differences in worldview. The book opens with the death of Iza’s father Vince, leaving Iza with the problem-to-be-solved of what to do with mother. Iza, a well-respected rheumatologist who left her country cottage long ago for big city Budapest, is convinced she knows what’s best for “the old woman” and sweeps her off to her city flat, leaving her dog and most of her possessions behind. As the story unspools, Szabo approaches Iza and her mother from every angle, as seen by neighbors, Iza’s ex-husband Antal, and her boyfriend Domokos. What emerges is a cold, difficult professional woman who has forgotten the human touch in her quest to make change, improve life, and preserve her quality of life. The characters are so subtly drawn that the book is like a master class in telling a story sensitively from multiple viewpoints. A hidden gem.