These were supposed to be short bookreviews...

[beelikej]

I finished a lot of books these past weeks. It would take more time to review than to read, but since I would like to have my opinion on record, here are "short" summaries and my grade for each book.

The Xenophobe's Guide To The Dutch
Publisher: Oval projects, 1995, revised 2006
Short summary and opinion:It's one of those booklets you would give as a joke to someone going on vacation. Since I'm always curious to know what the rest of the world thinks of The Netherlands, I couldn't resist. To my surprise it's strangely accurate in its depiction of the Dutch. There are of course a couple of things I don't agree with, but I fear they might be true as well;) This was educational for me, I'm sure it's a necessary read if you plan to visit.
Consider yourself warned when traveling here (Quotes): The Dutch are open about everything. Preserved vegetables come in glass jars rather than in tins. Lavatories have a shelf in the bowl, ensuring that even your internal workins are open to daily inspection. (I didn't realize this is not common in other parts of the world;)
Contrary to popular belief, selling marijuana is not legal in the Netherlands. This, and many such activities, are 'gedoogd' - not legal but nevertheless 'allowed' in certain controled areas, to reduce the crime and nastiness that often surround them - [it's an] example of the Dutch letting in a little evil to keep out the bigger one. In like manner, most Dutch people will agree that it is simply common sense to allow prostitutes to work openly, protected from pimps and with access to free medical check-ups. In the Netherlands, prostitutes find themseleves at loggerheads not with the moralists or the Law, but with feminists, who feel that they are letting the side down. True. Prostitutes even have their own union.
Rating: 8/10
Curious? Available here!

Bruiloft Zonder Bruidspaar
Author: Gerbrand Bakker
Short summary and opinion: Four short stories in one tiny booklet, published as an introduction to the author. First one about a wedding that is called off for reasons unrevealed. Point of view of the brother of the bride, who seems to be very occupied with his physical experience; there are some very graphic descriptions of how his pants are tight around his groin. The other stories involve an old woman dying, a trip to Teheran and a short fairytale about a girl and some animals. The stories are very different in tone, but have one thing in common: they abruptly end where the author apparently ran out of imagination. My opinion? You can't just stop writing and consider your story finished. Even an open ending has to have some sort of closure. Dissapointing.
Rating: 6/10
Curious? There is a book in English by this writer

Voor Een Echt Succesvol Leven (For a Successful Life)
Author: Bas Haring
Short summary and opinion: Young Bas (well, he is my age;) is a Dutch philosopher and writer of popular science books. In this book he ponders about the importance of ambition and wonders if you need to be successfull to enjoy life. And what exactly is being succesfull?
Bas is my hero. I loved his previous books and the way he chatters about his thoughts on any given subject. This book is a bit silly compared to his more scientific earlier work. I liked it, but for a first time reader, I would recommend Cheese and the Theory of Evolution (Kaas & de Evolutietheorie - I'll happily lend it to you:).
Rating: 7/10
Curious? It's available in English!

Black Swan Green
Author: David Mitchell
Short summary and opinion: I got this as a present from tanisafan. She has knowledge of the good stuff;) The book is about a year in the life of thirteen-year old Jason Taylor. Written from his point of view we learn how he deals with his stuttering, writing poetry, facing bullies, his sister leaving for college and his parents heading for divorce. Some parts made me so very proud of Jason, others made me sad. In all it's painfully beautiful and I highly recommend this.
Rating: 8/10
Curious? It's available at Amazon (but if you want to borrow my copy, just come and pick it up;)

Bestiarium
Author: J.J. Voskuil
Short summary and opinion: Short stories about animals in one tiny booklet, published as an introduction to the author. J.J. Voskuil is the writer of the 'longest novel in world literature' (Het Bureau, 5.000 pages about life in an office). Some of the very short stories in this booklet are taken from that novel. All are about observation of animals, from pigeons nesting in front of his window to trying to save a little bird and witnessing a cow running from the slaughterhouse.
I didn't need an introduction, but I collect these booklets (there is one every month and it only costs one euro: bargain book!) Although I have not read his famous novel, I did read De Moeder Van Nicolien which tells the story of Nicolien's mother going senile. That book spans thirty years. (it also includes fragments from the big novel's universe) I remember that book impressed me. This tiny booklet? Not so much.
Rating: 6/10
Curious? Too bad. Although he is the writer of one of the most famous pieces of literature in The Netherlands (Het Bureau), there are no translations of his books available at the moment.

Schaduwkind (Shadow Child)
Author: P.G. Thomése
Short summary and opinion: Chapters of various length each containing trains of thought about the loss of his baby-girl. Raw and honest. Very painful to read, but some of the memories of her very short life did bring a smile to my face. Highly recommended.
Rating: 9/10
Curious? It's available in English. Go get it.

De Verdronkene
Author: Margriet de Moor
Short summary and opinion: January 31st, 1953. A date well known to every Dutch person. It was the night of the North Sea flood; a high spring tide and windstorm killed 1,835 people in the south-western province of Zeeland. This novel is about two sisters: one who got caught in the storm, the other safely up North in Amsterdam. It was supposed to be the other way around and the sister who's left behind feels like she's living her life on borrowed time.
While the sisters' struggles with life and death are intriguing, the author often gets lost in very technical descriptions of the storm, which is distracting. Her writing style annoyed me immensely.
Rating: 6/10
Curious? Some of her books are translated. Not this one though.

De Pianoman
Author: Bernlef
Short summary and opinion: Inspired by a newspaper article about a man who washed up on the shores of England, this is the story of farmer son Thomas who meets the same fate. Thomas doesn't talk until he is three; his parents don't talk to each other. When he goes to school, teacher Jenny tries to interest him in language, but he prefers to be silent. The only time she manages to get him interested is when lets him play the piano. When Thomas is eighteen he leaves his abusive father and quiet mother and plans to travel. Thomas is very naive, so I didn't trust the people he meets along the way. I was right about some of them.
This is a lovely story and it went in a different direction than I suspected. What I like most of all was the comfortable way of writing. Now I understand why Bernlef is considered one of the best writers in The Netherlands. (When I was in highschool his debut was on everybody's readinglist but mine). I will gladly lend this book to anyone who missed it.
Rating: 8/10
Curious? This book was written for Dutch Bookweek, so it's not translated, but the awesome language has inspired me: I will now buy Bernlef's most famous book: Out Of Mind (Hersenschimmen) About a man suffering Alzheimer. I understand it's written from the main character's perspective. I'm told it's a must read.
FYI: I believe that newspaper story was also the inspiration for the very sweet film Ladies In Lavender with the lovely Dame Judy Dench, the marvelous Dame Maggie Smith and the adorable Daniel Brühl. Two elderly sisters find a young man on the beach in pre-war England. He doesn't speak English, but eventually they find a way to communicate.

X-posted in bookcommunity thej2bee, beelikej and My library

Ehm, I promised pretty, but got sidetracked while babbling about books. Fanfiction post with pictures will follow sometime this week. Feel free to poke me if you get tired of waiting;)

Comments

[tanisafan.livejournal.com]

Ooo, the last two books in particular sound appealing - too bad De Verdronkene was disappointing. I loved reading about the North Sea Flood when I was little (I was an odd child). Would love to read De Pianoman, if only so I can picture him as Daniel Brühl, hehe. I might just take you up on that offer when I get back from Canadah ;)!

I am going to do book posts and comments some day soon. As soon as RL stops kicking my ass. *looks pitiful*

Also, *pokes you for teh pretty ;)*

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Maybe you will like Margriet de Moor's style, if you're fascinated by the Flood, you definitely have to read it. I remember feeling bad vibes even before I bought the book and only remembered later I had read one of those 'introduction'-booklets with some of Margriet's stories and that didn't appeal to me either. See why I have to keep a record of the things I read?

Well, the character in the novel is nothing like the character in the film, so if you want Daniel, you'll have to watch the film:-p

I'll put both books on the Tanni-pile:)

Ahw, baby, you busy? Will comment with cuddles in your post of woe.

Oi, stop poking, I'm sleepy. No pretty tonight. Tomorrow. For sure.

[tanisafan.livejournal.com]

Hehehe, you won't ever hear me say bad things about keeping lists ;)!

I will watch the film! Like, eventually. I was already gifted with a copy, now I just need to find the time. Or, you know, to stop getting distracted by shiny things.

*waits all patient like for the pretty, gneh*