BOOK: Sneeuw - J. Bernlef

Title: Sneeuw (Snow)
Author: J. Bernlef
Genre: Family saga
Publisher: Salamander 1973
Pages: Paperback, 126
Language: Dutch
Rating: 7,5/10

Summary: Jan Razelius is lying in the hospital after barely surviving a car-crash in which his wife died. He doesn't remember what happened, although every time he comes near the place of the accident memories come floating back. But he still can't make sense of it even after he is discharged and gets back home in care of his daughter An and nurse Margaretha. Jan tries to go on living as best as he can, he even starts a physical -but not emotional- relationship with Margaretha. She stays with him after he is healthy again. But Jan never really gets over his wife. Daughter An is the spitting image of her mom and he gets more and more confused about his feelings for her.

Spoilerfree and therefore slightly cryptic review
This was the third book of Bernlef on my bookpile of 2008, after I succesfully ignored his work ever since his bestseller Out Of Mind was read by everyone in highschool. But when I read the Dutch bookweek-present The Pianoman which he wrote last year, I got addicted to his comfortable way of telling a story. So after reading that I finally put the aforementioned Out Of Mind on my readinglist. I borrowed it from my mom together with this older book 'Snow'.
This story is rather awkward in comparison with the other two books I read. Jan Razelius is clearly very unhappy and can't get a grip on his life anymore. He feels guilty about the accident and is aware he's neither a good lover nor a good father to the women who take care of him. What happens when his thoughts finally spin out of control doesnt' really come as a surprise. Although his actions may be understandable, they certainly aren't acceptable to both the protagonist as well as the reader. This book left me feeling sad and a little disgusted. I imagine that is what Jan felt too. Read at your own risk.

BOOK: Hersenschimmen - J. Bernlef

Title: Hersenschimmen (Out Of Mind*)
Author: J. Bernlef
Genre: Stream of consciousness
Publisher: Querido 1984
Pages: 160
Language: Dutch
Rating: 9/10

Summary: This story is told from the perspective of Maarten Klein, 72 year old pensioner, who moved from the Netherlands to the U.S.A. after WorldWar II. He lives with his wife Vera in small seatown Gloucester, Massachusetts. Maarten doesn't realize he is suffering from Alzheimer. He does initially manage to cover up his forgetfullnes and messy mind. It takes his wife and his doctor some time to figure out what the problem is. Eventually they hire a nurse to keep an eye on Maarten, but changes from his daily routine make him even more confused and scared. He doesn't understand what's going on and is afraid his wife will leave him.

Spoilerfree Review: When I was in highschool this book was on everyone else's reading list, so of course I didn't want to read it. I'm glad I didn't give it a try back then, because I'm convinced the story wouldn't have had the impact on me it had now. Not to dismiss the brain of every 17 year old girl, but I certainly am more capable of dealing with this subject after a couple of extra years of life experience.

Bernlef manages to pull you into the brain of Maarten while it is falling apart. Because the point of view is coming from within Maarten, it's not immediately obvious what is going on with him. As a reader you share his initial irritation about this silly forgetfullness. When Maarten's condition gets worse and his memories mix with unrecognizable present times, it feels like you can follow him. You can almost understand what it must be like and you feel Maarten's fear of the unknown.
Both Maarten and Vera are trying very hard to keep on caring for each other. But you know they will eventually reach the point where they can't continue together. Despite the tragic subject, this story is written with a lot of comfort and it's a beautiful read; but it did leave me feeling very hopeless.

*The title translates literally to 'Brain shadows', but is available in English as 'Out Of Mind', which somehow feels a little disrespectful to me.

Quick review: De Pianoman by Bernlef

De Pianoman
Author: Bernlef
Language: Dutch
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.