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.

BOOK: The Female Eunuch - Germaine Greer

Title: The Female Eunuch
Author: Germaine Greer
Genre: Essay (on feminism)
Publisher: Harper Perennial 1970
Pages: Paperback, 371
Language: English
Rating: 8/10

Summary: When Germaine Greer's The Female Eunuch was first published it created a shock wave of recognition in women, one that could be felt around the world. It went on to become an international bestseller, and a landmark in the history of the women's movement. Positing that sexual liberation is the key to women's liberation, Greer looks at the inherent and unalterable biological differences between men and women as well as at the profound psychological differences that result from social conditioning.

Review
I stole the summary, because I couldn't find the words myself. I had wanted to read this book ever since I read the follow up The Whole Woman. That book analyses the invasive ways in which the health industry persuades women into having their bodies and reproductive systems "managed" and it infuriated me. So I had high expectations for the book that made Germaine Greer famous; the one that inspired women to make themselves be heard.

The language was sometimes a little too scientific for me and the amount of data and subjects is overwhelming, but even if some parts went over my head, I did recognize most of the situations Greer uses as examples. I found it to be an intriguing document of its time. It didn't so much make me angry as sad, because I realized it's not even dated yet on a lot of subjects.
To recommend this book and show how relevant it still is, I copied part of the foreword Germaine Greer wrote for the 21st Anniversary Edition. She talks about how much we seem to have achieved in the past twenty-odd years: it's now possible for women to compete in sports, run businesses and talk openly about sex and more. So...
"What more could women want?
Freedom, that's what.
Freedom from being the thing looked at rather than the person looking back. Freedom from self-consciousness. Freedom from the duty of sexual stimulation of jaded male appetite, for which no breast ever bulges hard enough and no leg is ever long enough. Freedom from the uncomfortable clothes that must be worn to titillate.[...]
The freedom I pleaded for twenty years ago was freedom to be a person, with the dignity, integrity, nobility, passion, pride that constitute personhood. Freedom to run, shout, to talk loudly and sit with your knees apart. [...] Freedom to learn and freedom to teach. Freedom from fear, freedom from hunger, freedom of speech and freedom of belief. Most of the women in the world are still afraid, still hungry, still mute and loaded by religion with all kinds of fetters, masked, muzzled, mutilated and beaten. The Female Eunuch does not deal with poor women (for when I wrote it I did not know them) but with the women of the rich world, whose oppression is seen by poor women as freedom.
[...]
You can now see the female Eunuch the world over; all the time we thought we were driving her out of our minds and hearts she was spreading herself wherever blue jeans and Coca-Cola may go. Wherever you see nail varnish, lipstick, brassieres and high heels, the Eunuch has set up her camp. You can find her triumphant even under the veil."

BOOK: Vlammen - Hans Hagen

Title: Vlammen (Flames)
Author: Hans Hagen
Genre: Children's tragedy
Publisher: Querido 2008
Pages: Paperback, 95
Language: Dutch
Rating: 7,5/10
Notes: This book was written for 'Kinderboekenweek 2008'; (children's bookweek 2008) and was a gift with a purchase of a children's book.

Summary: An exciting week in the life of young Bo; he watches his grandfather's houseboat go up in flames, his big brother makes him hide an envelope with hundreds of euros and on top of it all he falls in love with Rachèlle.

Spoilerfree Review:
It's a rather harsh story, especially for younger kids, but despite the painfully true to life events, it mostly reads as a big adventure. Bo has a lot of issues to solve, both good and bad. It's not a fairytale, so not all ends well, but it's more inspiring than a happily ever after.

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.