BOOKS
Charles McTague, “Father Charlie” to those who knew him, was an unforgettable man, a kind and caring Catholic priest who began his life as a sailor and kept a special care for sailors during his priesthood. George Pereny was on his own spiritual quest when he met Father Charlie, and the two formed a bond that lasted for decades.
A mixture of memory, history and poetry, this book starts with Pereny’s life under repression Soviet rule in Hungary. His family made a brave and dangerous escape when Pereny was a boy, eventually landing in the United States after a momentous decision to take the bus for America rather than the bus for Canada.
The child of Holocaust survivors, George Pereny he and his family escape from Hungary during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and end up in America. Pereny teaches English in the inner cities of Jersey City, Passaic, Paterson and the Bronx for thirty-five years, where he develops unique teaching methods to help disenfranchised youth.
Having written songs with George for 30 years, I can honestly say he writes from the heart. There is nothing phony or contrived about his lyrics. They are a reflection of his experiences, loves, hates, and fears. After reading about his family, beliefs, and struggles (or just songs about fun and good times) you’ll know George as well as I do. —Lou Leo
“George Pereny is the real shit,” says Jim Klein in his intro to this book. It may seem like a strange intro, but he has his reasons — Klein has known George since 1972. In this apparently effortlessness work, George has distilled the complexities of who he is, and was, and yearns to be, into the a testimony that you should get into your hands soonest if you want to become inspired.
Pereny’s mother’s family, godfather, and confirmation sponsor, were all from a small Hungarian town called Gyongyos, a mountainous county an hour North of Budapest. In 1944, the population was 22,000, including 2,500 Jews, most of whom, like his mother’s family, perished. A handful, including his mother, survived. This is their story.
A novel about Pereny’s experience teaching in the Bronx. He soon learns the challenges of teaching in a harsh environment and begins writing inspirational rhymes to motivate his students. At first they make fun of his rap style and label him “MC Nerd,” but over the years grow to love him, earning him the title “Grand Master P.”