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Childhood: Two Novellas

by Gerard Reve

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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1421193,327 (3.77)2
From the author of the hit The Evenings - two classic novellas that are considered among Gerard Reve's best work Young Elmer longs to make friends and tries to control the world around him by forming secret clubs, of which he is always the president. When he invites Werther to become a member, a game of attraction and repulsion begins. What follows is a psychological masterpiece; Reve brilliantly conjures up a child's whole world, full of oppression and enchantment. During the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, a boy watches as the family of one of his friends slowly loses everything and is then taken away. This is a deceptively simple story imbued with subtle horror. These two classic novellas, from the giant of post-war Dutch literature Gerard Reve, have all of the uncanny atmosphere and the incisive, dark wit of The Evenings.… (more)
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These stories are set in 20th century Netherlands featuring a boy that desperately wants friends, but finds himself frustrated and angry when they do not fit into his idea of a friend and a boy that is witnessing the dawn of World War II with the excitement and turmoil that it brings to his neighbors.
Readers that hold a soft spot for the Netherlands, like myself, will enjoy the setting. While the first story that features the boy seeking friends on his own terms may be accurate, I was disturbed by the animal torture and it prevented me from relating to or sympathizing with the narrator, which may have been the author's intention.
TRIGGER WARNING: Incest, molestation, animal torture. ( )
  Bibliophilly | Oct 22, 2019 |
no reviews | add a review

» Add other authors (4 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Gerard Reveprimary authorall editionscalculated
Bragg, BillCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Garrett, SamTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Skeats, ClareCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Met de familie Boslowits kwam ik voor het eerst in aanraking op een kinderpartijtje, een kerstfeest bij kennissen.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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From the author of the hit The Evenings - two classic novellas that are considered among Gerard Reve's best work Young Elmer longs to make friends and tries to control the world around him by forming secret clubs, of which he is always the president. When he invites Werther to become a member, a game of attraction and repulsion begins. What follows is a psychological masterpiece; Reve brilliantly conjures up a child's whole world, full of oppression and enchantment. During the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, a boy watches as the family of one of his friends slowly loses everything and is then taken away. This is a deceptively simple story imbued with subtle horror. These two classic novellas, from the giant of post-war Dutch literature Gerard Reve, have all of the uncanny atmosphere and the incisive, dark wit of The Evenings.

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