85th Annual Boekenweek
In the Netherlands, Boekenweek (Book Week) is an annual celebration of literature, happening every Spring since 1935. Events are held across the country during Boekenweek, and include book signings, readings, and panel discussions.
This year's theme is REBELS &DISSENTERS
Authored by Renate Dorrestein
* Paperback: 336 pages
* Publisher: World Editions
*Translated from Dutch by Hester Velmans
* Pub. Date: May 21, 2019
* Language: English
Editorial Reviews
"A stunning mixture of many genres. The criminal story provides popular, psychological, folkloric, parodic, and psychological hints of secret codes to solve the murder case" ―American Book Review
"An interesting study in how we intuitively know things aren't right and how we cope with the lies and subsequent trauma; we are not so much in control of events, as we like to think we are"―The Bookseller
"The plot holds tightly together, tempting the reader further to uncover the secrets hidden in later pages. Highly recommended" ―Dutch News
"What particularly appeals―and where her strength lies―is the drive that Dorrestein gives her characters. Their survival spirit and courage are unlimited, and their loneliness is therefore all the more tangible" ―De Volkskrant
"A complex and unusual story that, whilst heart-rending, is never sentimental. Thought-provoking and engaging: a recommended read" ―Never Imitate
My Review
“A haunting family secret holds everyone hostage… can the truth set them free?”
This riveting plot is driven by a mysterious murder, unforgettable characters, ruthless bullying, lies and deceit. The author has done a masterful job of penning word pictures that play out in your mind as a well-scripted movie. Once you read the first page you’re hooked.
The book is formatted into three sections, each documenting the growth and phycological development of the main character, Lucy. She appears at age six, age twelve, and at age eighteen.The story is told in the alternating voices of the bullies and Lucy herself.
Lucy, her mother and two male lodgers live on the periphery of a peaceful, respectable Dutch housing estate. Her mother is a free-spirited, bohemian type allowing everyone in the house to live by their own set of rules.
A new family arrives in the community and their son Thomas and Lucy become steadfast friends. One night Lucy overhears her mother arguing loudly saying she wants the family to move away to a new city. Lucy rebels and her solution is to run away from home to show her dissent. On a dark stormy night she puts her plan into action. She heads straight to Thomas’s house and upon her arrival she encounters not her friend but his father.
The next morning the whole community is in shock because Thomas’s father is discovered… dead. He’s been murdered. All fingers point towards Lucy’s mother as the perpetrator. The interrogation begins and the family makes a solemn vow to each other to never speak about that fateful night again. Ever.
Her mother is hauled off to prison for six long years leaving Lucy in the custody of the two male lodgers Ludo and Duco. No one in the community knows exactly why the two men get guardianship of Lucy while her mother is away doing her time. During her mother’s incarceration Lucy is subjected to merciless bullying and vicious ridicule by her peers and the adults around her. Her little heart is bruised and scarred deeply but she shares the abuse with no one. Her response is always the same. Silence.
When her mother is released from prison and returns home she fails to assimilate back into the village. Lucy, her mom and Luco and Duco all agree it is best to relocate to some place far, far away where no one knows of their dark past. They escape to an isolated Scottish island and it is there that Lucy finds out that the past never lets go; it will always have a pit-bull grip upon her.
At age eighteen Lucy leaves the island and starts a new life of her own, hoping that she will finally break away and start afresh. Will she find peace of mind? Will the truth set her free if the silence is broken?
This well-written book stays with you long after you close it and is back on the shelf. It is a family drama, a murder mystery with an unsuspected twist at the end. I enjoyed the book immensely and highly recommend it.
About the Author
Renate Dorrestein (1954 - 2018) has been internationally praised for the force of her imagination, her sharp psychological insight, her suspenseful plots and her ironic sense of humour. Her books have been nominated for the AKO Literature Prize, the Libris Literature Prize and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Her international breakthrough came in 1998 with A Heart of Stone, published by Viking. Renate Dorrestein’s books have been translated from the Dutch into a dozen languages.
Website
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Every so often I feature an adult book that I have been reading with you on my blog. Today's book was special because it was part of the North American Boekenweek celebration. I want to thank World Editions for asking me to participate again this year. It was my pleasure to do so. My only problem? All the books that they recommended were exemplary and it was hard to choose only one from the list that they provided to review. Now that's a great problem isn't it?
Please have a wonderful weekend everyone and thank you for visiting me again this week. I love sharing my passion of great children's literature with you every day. Join me again on Monday as Storywraps unwraps and reviews more wonderful books for you to share with your children. Reading is a beautiful gift to enjoy each and every day no matter what your age. Together may we impart that truth into our children encouraging them to become lifelong readers. That truth is sure to set them free!
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