Cees Nooteboom

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i was underwhelmed by The Following Story. just read it and didn't get anything from it all. did you? or perhaps from other nootebooms?

― gareth, Tuesday, 6 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The dutch writah? Can't be bothered. I only read English/American lit.

― nathalie, Saturday, 10 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I only read English/American lit.

Is that a joke? I honestly can't tell

― halo halo, Saturday, 10 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I really enjoyed that one, although I think it goes a bit heavily on unrevealed implication without ever paying off. You coast through the final pages and then:

"Oh, so that was the metaphor?"
"Yeah, looks like it."
"Oh."
"Okay, then."
"I'm hungry, let's get something to eat."

Really the whole trick of the book only really becomes concrete after all of the material that would be profitably read with that trick in mind -- so I imagine it'd be much better the second time through.

― nabisco, Saturday, 10 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah I thought TFS was a bit unsatisfying, too. "Rituals" is better but unremittingly miserable, probably the second most depressing novel I've read*. I enjoyed "In The Dutch Mountains" more again: it manages to be a bit goofy and a bit unsettling, a fine combination.

Any other Dutch writing recommendations? I've been mostly reading Italians recently...

*After Caryl Phillips's "The Nature Of Blood" which is marvellous but horrible.

― Tim, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

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