BOOK: De Zwarte Met Het Witte Hart - Arthur Japin

Title: De Zwarte Met Het Witte Hart (The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi)
Author: Arthur Japin
Genre: Novel, history, family
Publisher: Arbeiderspers (1997)
Pages: Paperback, 430
Language: Dutch
Rating: 9/10
Summary: Arthur Japin debut novel tells the formerly unknown story about two young princes from Ghana who were given to King William The First in the early nineteenth century.

Spoilerfree review
I ignored this first book by Arthur Japin for a long time and not just because the original Dutch title made me a little uncomfortable ("The Black Man With The White Heart"). Back then I had a strong prejudice against Mr. Japin himself for being an actor on a soap-opera. Only after he was commissioned to write a novel for bookweek in 2006 (a free gift to buyers of books), did I manage to change my preconceived notions of him as a writer. Since then I have caught up with all the books he wrote, but I saved The Two Hearts Of Kwasi Boachi until last. I'm glad I did, because now I was aware of Japin's different writing styles. Although this book is not one of his most difficult to read, it does require focus.
The story is told by Kwasi himself in a flashback style that's not completely chronological, so the reader needs to pay attention to the timeline to work out Kwasi's life experience.
The book is based on the true story of Kwasi and his cousin Kwame, two Ghanese princes who arrived in The Netherlands in 1837. They were being given to King William to show the good will of their own King (and father and uncle) in negotiations about a weapons sale and (illegal) slave trading. They were promised an education that would benefit their country when they would eventually return.
Kwame and Kwasi -who were about ten years old at the time- did go to school and were taken care of by the Dutch authorities, but the boys had a very different way of handling the situation. While Kwasi tried to adjust to the society that he was forced to live in, Kwame refused to deny his roots and kept longing to go back to Ghana.
It is this different point of view that the book makes you think about. Is Kwasi's way of dealing better than Kwame's? Is one way of living better than the other? The answer is not as clear cut as I initially thought. On both sides there are more issues to consider before you can pick a side, if that is possible at all.

It is painful to read about the slave trade (that by then was illegal, but still in practice thanks to loopholes in the law) and about the boys struggling to find an identity in a society very different from the one they were born into. It's also a fascinating read with a lot of personal background information about Dutch history. Japin based his novel on the diaries of Kwame and official documents from the government. The story is not limited to the relationship between Africa and The Netherlands, but includes parts of Europe and Indonesia (The West Indies) as well. It overlaps with a famous Dutch novel by Multatuli (The Max Havelaar) that everyone in The Netherlands is required to read in highschool and I think the story of Kwasi and Kwami should also be included on the readinglist. Because despite, or more likely, thanks to the personal tone of voice it taught me a lot about my country and that dark period in our history.

BOOK: Alle Verhalen - Arthur Japin

Title: Alle Verhalen
Author: Arthur Japin
Genre: Short stories
Publisher: Singel Pockets, 2005 (1996)
Pages: Paperback, 412
Language: Dutch
Rating: 8/10
Summary: A collection of all stories written by Arthur Japin, including travelstories but also Magonian stories about his childhood, partly set in the imaginary world created by his father (who killed himself when Arthur was twelve).

Spoilerfree review
There are many different stories and it's hard to tell which parts are true personal anekdotes and which parts are made up. Most stories have a bitter twist and it's extra painful to realize that they feature actual people.
If you've read Japin's diaries you have some background information that is helpful. It doesn't make the stories hurt any less, but at least you know that the little boy who's the maincharacter in a lot of stories turns out to be okay. Although that one story about grown up Arthur meeting two of his 'characters' while traveling the GoldCoast makes you aware that reality doesn't always end with a happily ever after.

BOOK: Een Schitterend Gebrek - Arthur Japin

Title: Een Schitterend Gebrek (In Lucia's Eyes)
Author: Arthur Japin
Genre: novel, historic figures
Publisher: SingelPocket 2009 (2003)
Pages: Paperback 239
Language: Dutch
Rating: 7/10
Summary: 18th century Venice: 14 year old Lucia falls for 17 year old Casanova. For both of them it's their first big love, but then Lucia suddenly disappears and Casanova feels betrayed. Lucia's life takes a turn for the worst. What happened?

Spoilerfree review
It took me a while to understand who was telling the story, but as the English title reveals, that turned out to be Lucia looking back on her teenage experience. But she starts telling about her life somewhere in the middle, which was a little confusing. Through her eyes we learn how her running away influenced Casanova's view of women.
I didn't find the writing as accesible as the short stories by Japin I read before and Lucia is not an easy girl to care about. I didn't like her decisions very much, even though she seems to be grown into a very smart woman. In the end I did find it to be a heartbreaking story, though.

10 Word Reviews: We believe the glory of the word

STATISTICS:
Title: Onmacht
Author: Charles Den Tex
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: De Geus / St.CPNB (for Thrillerbookmonth 2010)
Pages: Paperback, 92
Language: Dutch
Rating: 7/10
5 WORDS SUMMARY: Son knows about stepfather's cheating
10 WORDS REVIEW
A lot of interesting storylines, but author missed a turn.


STATISTICS:
Title: Inherit The Wind
Author: Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
Genre: Play, Religion
Publisher: Dramatists Play Service Inc. 2000 (1951)
Pages: Paperback, 90
Language: English
Rating: 7/10
5 WORDS SUMMARY: Evolution on trial in Biblebelt
10 WORDS REVIEW
Saw the play earlier; too many characters, but good stuff.


STATISTICS:
Title: De Klank Van Sneeuw
Author: Arthur Japin
Genre: Short stories
Publisher: SingelPocket 2009 (2004)
Pages: Paperback, 119
Language: Dutch
Rating: 8/10
5 WORDS SUMMARY: Two women in the spotlights
10 WORDS REVIEW
Fascinating point of view on showbusiness and state of mind.


STATISTICS:
Title: Duel
Author: Joost Zwagerman
Genre: novel
Publisher: De Arbeiderspers/ St.CPNB (for Bookweek 2010)
Pages: Hardcover, 95
Language: Dutch
Rating: 8/10
5 WORDS SUMMARY: Museum director's art project derails
10 WORDS REVIEW
In-depth set up leads to very interesting turn of events.


STATISTICS:
Title: xkcd: vol O
Author: Randall Munroe
Genre: comic, science
Publisher: Breadpig, 2009
Pages: Paperback, 111001 ;)
Language: English
Rating: 10/10
5 WORDS SUMMARY: Collection of webcomic plus additions
10 WORDS REVIEW
Jokes are occasionally too nerdy, often recognizable and always brilliant.


STATISTICS:
Title: Mobilhome
Author: Dirk van Weelden
Genre: novel
Publisher: De Bezige Bij / ECI
Pages: Hardcover, 210
Language: Dutch
Rating: 5/10
5 WORDS SUMMARY: Explorations of town and mind
10 WORDS REVIEW
Starts off promising, but author soon loses himself in drivel.

BOOK: Zoals Dat Gaat Met Wonderen - Arthur Japin

Title: Zoals Dat Gaat Met Wonderen, Diaries 2000-2007
Author: Arthur Japin
Genre: Autobiography, diary
Publisher: privé-domein, De Arbeiderspers (2008)
Pages: paperback, 454
Language: Dutch
Rating: 9/10
Summary: A chronological collection of impressions and thoughts written down between 2000 and 2007 when actor/author Arthur Japin was working on his next books after his succesful debut 'The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi' an unknown story about two young princes from Ghana who were given to King William The First in the early nineteenth century.

Review
Arthur Japin reminds me of Stephen Fry; he is as charming and erudite and despite reassurance from everyone surrounding him, still very insecure about his appearance. He presented the Dutch edition of QI. He was originally famous as an actor in a daily soap-opera but never really felt comfortable as an idol. Eventually he quit acting and started writing. His first novel was a worldwide succes and although he does now occasionally act again, he is mainly a well respected author.
After his book debuted, it was translated in several other languages and he travelled all over the world to promote it. In his diaries there are many fragments about his travels and conversations he had with various (unknown and famous) people along the way.
While traveling he was also working on several books. If you've read any of his novels, you will recognize where he found his inspiration and how he researched the background of his characters.
My favorite snippets are his personal observations and thoughts about the loves of his life. Arthur has been together with publisher Lex Jansen since 1979 and in 2000 he also fell in love with -young- American author Ben Moser. I was mesmerized by Arthur's emotional struggle and how they eventually handled the issue really shook up my previous point of view on the subject. The three of them currently live together in Amsterdam.
I've learned so much from Japin's approach of life. He is able to capture a lot in just a few sentences and nearly every paragraph made me think. Mostly about how I perceive other people. It's a little disconcerting to feel my inner cynic melt.
Not that Arthur is always positive or optimistic, but he does emphasize constantly that love is the most important thing in the world. Like I said: it's a little disconcerting, but I'm definitely inspired to read his books.