A Heart of Stone

Beautifully written, very unique style. Boldly described perspectives, painful to absorb, thus "Well done" Ms Dorrestein!

A terrific example of a deft translation, "Een Hart en Steen," or "A Heart of Stone," is moving family fiction. A horror befalls a close family in the Netherlands, and a mother dies. Through most of this book, I maintained the mantra, "Ann Tyler meets Alfred Hitchcock." This is a clear, vivid book, at the end of which we don't necessarily have redemption, but hope. This book recalls Kennedy's "Ironweed" at the end, where the life-worth-living is a work in progress. The "Heart" of the title is a play on the emotional problems of the mother, and a natural fixture at the family home.

I recommend this very highly. I don't know what other works by Ms. Dorrestein may have been translated into English, but this one is very definitely worth show more taking up.

http://bassoprofundo1.blogspot.com/2010/06/heart-of-stone-by-renate-dorrestein.h... show less

This compelling Dutch novel is written from the point of view of troubled adult, Ellen Van Bemmel. The narrative alternates between the present and Ellen's recollections of her childhood. The snippets from the past begin with glimpses into an idyllic childhood, but lead up to a horrific tragedy. As an adult, Ellen struggles with survivor guilt and tries to make sense of the events which so drastically changed her life. Very powerful.

Written in 1998 in Dutch. Wonderfully written. How an interesting, idyllic childhood gone wrong due to a frightening tragedy can affect a persons life for ever

i found the narrator so irritating. she's such a smart alec. i can't believe these smart sociable kids didn't ask anyone for help. ellen tried a teacher but didn't communicate her problem well. i can't believe that the father would rape the mother. i had a very difficult brother. if i had ever seen bruises on him, i would have suspected abuse not leukemia and sought help. why couldn't ellen call her siblings by their correct names? what kind of mother is she going to be? she's bonkers. why would she take up with some old fart? as i write this i realize how annoying the book was . i'm going to lower my rating.

Zeer knappe vertelling, ingenieus hoe Dorrestein het verhaal gefragmenteerd brengt in een 6-tal dooreengeweven tijdslagen, waardoor het verhaal maar heel geleidelijk groeit en we samen met hoofdfiguur Ellen tot een catharsis komen. Centraal staat niet de gruweldaad die aan de oorsprong ligt van Ellen’s trauma, maar haar omgang met dat verleden, en vooral dan hoe haar hart versteend is geraakt door het dramatisch gebeuren. Ik zie een heel duidelijke parrallel met “Beloved” van Toni Morrisson, waar ook door de hoofdfiguur verzonnen personages een (hoofd)rol spelen.
Er zitten een paar zwakke elementen in, zoals de plotse jaloezievlaag van de vader, en het voor mij toch wel wat kleffe einde; maar – nogmaals – de manier waarop show more Dorrestein haar verhaal (dat blijkbaar teruggaat op een waar gebeurd feit) heeft opgebouwd, de psychologische diepgang en de vlotte vertelstijl maken van dit werk echt wel wereldliteratuur. show less

Dorrestein on taas tarttunut vaikeaan aiheeseen, perhesurmaan. Tämä on aikuisen, lapsuuskodin murhasta selvinneen tyttären tarina. Syyllisyys selviämisestä riivaa ja tapahtumien selvittäminen tuntuu välttämättömältä, että omaa elämää voisi jatkaa. Synkkä tarina synnytyksen jälkeisestä psykoosista, mutta lukijalle jää kuitenkin positiivinen olo.