this post was submitted on 26 Jul 2023
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Thee recommendations from the Netherlands:
Casanova kept extensive memoirs and only briefly mentions Lucia, his first love. He names her as one of the few women he wronged, but offers no explanation. In Lucia's eyes by Arthur Japin tells the (fictional) story of Lucia and offers a story that fits into the gap that Casanova left in his memoires. It's one of my favorites to recommend as an introduction into literature. The Dutch title is Een schitterend gebrek.
A true Dutch classic is The Assault by Harry Mulisch. It covers 35 years in the life of the lone survivor of a night in Haarlem during World War II when the Nazi occupation forces, finding a Dutch collaborator murdered, retaliate by killing most of the family in front of whose home the body was found.
And if you really feel like sinking your teeth in some literature you would have to read The Discovery of Heaven, the magnum opus of Harry Mulisch. I can't really manage to give a summary, I think it would be best if you just start reading without any spoilers about the story. Maybe read the other books first and then decide if you trust me ;)
If you end up reading one of those, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Thank you for all the suggestions and descriptions! Already very curious on getting to experience some dutch writing. Will definetly come back to you with my thoughts on them!