Quick reviews: Nilgün Yerli & Hugo Claus

Title: Weg Van Nederland
(Away from/Nuts about The Netherlands)
Author: Nilgün Yerli
Genre: Short Story
Publisher: B for Books
Pages: Hardcover, 62
Language: Dutch
Rating: 6,5/10

Summary: A couple of columns and a short story written especially for this series of tiny booklets that are published to introduce people to reading. Nilgün Yerli tells us what it’s like living in The Netherlands, while not being born there.

Review
I was not impressed by these short stories. They read like essays for a school-assignment. A highschool-assignment. I didn’t learn anything new and insightful. A failed attempt to make me care.


Title: Een Slaapwandeling (Sleepwalking)
Author: Hugo Claus
Genre: Short Story
Publisher: De Bijenkorf 2000
Pages: Paperback, 73
Language: Dutch
Rating: 8/10

Summary: Luc is sleepwalking through the long hallways of his deteriorating mind. (I know. I’m sorry. Taken from the backcover;)

Review
It’s a good thing the title already explains Luc’s state of mind, otherwise this story would be very confusing. Although it starts rather normal with small talk in the kitchen, where he tells his wife about his morning. Meeting an old friend triggers memories and those force Luc to wander around through the past and present trying to find answers to questions long forgotten. (See, what this story made me do?) Well written and enjoyable, even if the structure feels a little ‘done before’.

Title: De Zwaardvis (The Swordfish)
Author: Hugo Claus
Genre: Short Story
Publisher: De Bezige Bij 1989
Pages: Paperback, 95
Language: Dutch
Rating: 7,5/10

Summary: A young divorcee and her messed up kid, a small town teacher and a drunk handyman, who used to be a respected veterinarian. Four points of view on the events during one slow summerday in the country. Someone has commited a crime, but it’s not clear who the real victim is.

Review
A reread from the eighties, that had left me apprehensive of Hugo Claus’ writing. I have forgotten why; I thought it was because of his foul language, but to my surprise this book has nothing of the shocking sort. Not that filth isn’t something I could have handled, but I remember labeling him as some kind of disgusting writer. Maybe my opinion was based on an interview, maybe i was just in a bad mood when I read the book back then. Either way: it’s time to admit my mistake.
This is an intruiging story about misunderstanding and lust. What a lovely combination. Not one character comes away with their behavior. I was especially hit by the thoughts of little kid Maarten, who is severely indoctrinated by a religious teacher (not the one telling part of the story). The way he regards his mother after learning about sin is very disturbing. But most of the characters left me a little shaken. Human nature at its worst. Just as I suspect people to be.

BOOK: De Tuin Der Onschuldigen - Kristien Hemmerechts

Title: De Tuin Der Onschuldigen (The Garden Of The Innocent)
Author: Kristien Hemmerechts
Genre: Family saga
Publisher: Pandora 1999
Pages: Paperback, 223
Language: Dutch
Rating: 7/10

Summary: Three sisters are on their way to a small village in Spain where they used to spent their summervacations wth their parents. Behind the wheel is Judith, the eldest, who organized the trip. She feels overly protective for Heleen, the sister in the middle, who’s very nervous when she’s not taken care of by her mother or husband; she needs structure to survive. In the backseat sits actress Nora, always the main character in the family dramas. During the long ride they travel through their childhood memories.

Review
Bought in a second hand store because I read my name on the back;) I tend to stay away from stories about sisters, since I really can’t relate.This book was no exception. The whole dynamic between women is utterly strange to me; the petty bickering always gets on my nerves.
Although the women are shown at their worst during the roadtrip, most of the book deals with the different points of view of the sisters on the events that happened in the past. As it turns out their personalities as kids shine through in their adult behaviour. Even though they are related, they have their own memories and way of dealing. The family secret that is eventually revealed is not that spectacular, but I was mostly annoyed by their characters. Judith is too controlling (obviously the eldest daughter;), Heleen is too brainless and Nora is too selfabsorbed for me to care about either one of them. Even though they complement each other (a little too) perfectly, I’m so glad I never had to deal with sisters.

BOOK: Two Women - Harry Mulisch

Title: Twee Vrouwen (Two Women)
Author: Harry Mulisch
Genre: Romance
Publisher: De Bezige Bij 1975
Pages: Paperback, 131
Language: Dutch
Rating: 7,5/10

Summary: Laura, whose husband left her for another woman, meets Sylvia, a young woman from the provinces: they become lovers. The relationship soon strains under the weight of their differences in upbringing, age and education.

Review
Published for ‘The Netherlands is reading 2008’, this book was handed out at libraries for free, so we as a nation could read and discuss it. Obviously there was a lot of media-attention for it, which is usually a reason for me to avoid a book. I’m not a member of the library because I prefer to keep the books I read, but my mom got an extra copy and despite my dislike of Harry Mulisch (I was rather disappointed with the ending of ‘The Discovery Of Heaven’) I decided to give it a go. Once again I learned that my preconceptions often prevent me from discovering beauty. *slaps head* While reading it I knew why Mr. Mulisch is considered one of our great writers; his language and story-structure is simply brilliant. Again the ending fell a bit short for me, but I enjoyed getting there immensely.