#Dublin Literary Award 2019 Peter Terrin (Belgian)
- Author: Peter Terrin
- Genre: Novella
- Language: Dutch (read it in my second language!)
- Published: 2014
- Table of Contents: 165 pages
- Setting: Monte Carlo, Monaco, Alstead, England
- Timeline: May 1968 – July 1969 – some flashbacks to Jack’s youth.
- Theme: misplaced heroism
- List of Challenges 2019
- Monthly plan
Quickscan:
- 1968 race in Monte Carlo is a
- …turning point Jack Preston’s life.
- He saves the life of actress Deedee from an horrific explosion.
- Jack is scarred for life.
- At home he waits for a sign of gratitude from Deedee.
- The press announces that Deedee’s bodyguard saved her.
- Jack ends up being ‘nobody’s’ hero.
Conclusion:
- Peter Terrin tries to make a statement
- …by writing too poetically.
- It feels forced, belabored.
- There are difficult words, choppy sentences
- ….that did not ‘grab my interest’.
- After reading the first page the book felt like work and not pleasure!
- For example: sentences with
- …79-89-68-131-111-101-79-110 words in one sentence!!
- OMG…what is Peter Terrin trying to prove?
- I want the writer to lead me through the story,
- nudge me in the right direction, pluck a heart string.
- Terrin manages to drag me along with the windy orations
- …that bore me to death!
- I just lost all interest.
- Part 2 and 3 could not save this book.
Last thoughts:
- S. Hertmans War and Turpentine.
- This is a wonderful examples of great writing by Dutch/Belgian writer.
- Why didn’t Dublin Literary Award longlist Hertmans?
- I can barely crawl through 165 pages of Monte Carlo by Peter Terrin.
- I keep asking myself: “Am I so hard to please?”
- This book was like watching the old lady
- …in front of you pay for her groceries
- …one nickel at a time…so excruciating.
- There is NO way this book will be shortlisted for
- Dublin Literary Award 2019.
- If it DOES…get shortlisted…” I’ll eat my hat!”
- Update: It did not make the shortlist on 04 April 2019!
- So I still have my hat!
- NOTE: there is a reason I don’t read many
- …Dutch/Belgian authors
- …books are boring
- …and it is the same group of writers
- …that keep getting nominated over and over!
- Example:
- Arnon Grunberg, Esther Gerritzen, Connie Palmen
- Ilja Pfeiffer, Tommy Wierenga.
- More interesting are the multicultural voices that have emerged!
- Murat Isik, Ozcan Akyol and Alfred Birney (Indonesian)
Peter Terrin
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