The Discomfort of Evening | Book review
Vložit
- čas přidán 3. 09. 2020
- I read the 2020 Booker International Prize winner THE DISCOMFORT OF EVENING by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, translated by Michele Hutchison, and it made me very uncomfortable.
*Not sure what's up with my video quality lately but I am working to figure it out!*
- - Join me elsewhere! - -
Goodreads: / thebookbully_
Instagram: @thebookbully_
Twitter: @Jillisant - Zábava
I liked this book because it evokes the uncomfortable feelings of our childhood and makes us look at them with compassion. For me the disturbing sequences worked like therapy.
That's a really good perspective and point - the ignorance of childhood forgives some of the creepiness.
I literally just read it, and LOVED it. The word discomfort in the title is so on point. It was definitely unique, albeit dark, and my only thoughts were that it’s a very gritty take on the human condition and human behaviour.
My wonderful Literature teacher encouraged us to read this book and soon after it became our set book! The story is very unique, as you've mentioned, very intimidating and sometimes extremely triggering. Even though I haven't finished it yet, I feel as though I've already passed through this point where I could feel exactly the same emotions as you! It does really put you in Discomfort
Wow I am so fascinated that a teacher assigned this book. I bet there will be some very compelling class discussions about it.
@@TheBookBully All of my teachers love the book, but they warned me!
Great review!! I just finished this book and am doing a fair amount of processing; I think it's the longest that I've had to sit with a book after reading it before having conclusive feelings. Such a dark/uncomfortable/disturbing/etc read!
Ummm...Phew. I'm so grateful you read this and gave a detailed review so I don't have to read it. I was going back and forth about it. Animal and child abuse/neglect are topics that deeply disturb me, especially in fiction. I mean, it took me 3 months to finish From the Ashes because of the turnip scene, my friend. Anyhoo, many thanks!
I don't know what that turnip scene is and it sounds like I don't want to!
I've read this book in Dutch. And I can't imagine what it would be like in English, perhaps I should check it out because I can't wrap my head about that concept. I wouldn't really 'feel' it in another language because it's so typically Dutch and everything in Jas' childhood is related to mine (I'm currently 16). I don't know if you've heard about Rijnevelds newest novel, but it is even more disturbing and deals with pedophelia as the centre. But definitely worth reading. Rijneveld is amazing and I don't know how they do it.
As someone who isn’t Dutch and read it in English, it’s amazingly written!
I haven’t read the book yet (and I actually might after watching this), but it feels like the type of book that will reveal its value once the reader has had some distance. Because it deals with such difficult subject matter, it’s hard to “enjoy” it. But like you said, it’s incredibly effective at what it’s trying to do. So I wonder if the farther away you get from it, the more you’ll appreciate it? If that makes sense? Just a thought 🤷🏻♂️
PS this video was GREAT
I definitely am feeling this more and more - distance makes the heart grow fonder, and all that. I do think its a sort of masterpiece!
why, thank you kindly :D
One of the best novels I've ever read
I haven't read it yet, but I'm going to. I bought this book thinking there will be a bit of angst, but now after the review I'm in a bit of shook. I bought the book because I have to make a book presentation for school and it was the only book that sparked interest in me. Now thinking about it, it may be to much for a 9th grade. Am I still going to read for myself ? Definetly, but for School?
Its definitely a book with some seriously heavy and difficult content. I'm not a teacher (and I certainly read my fair share of age-inappropriate books in my youth) but I can't in good faith recommend it for a 9th grade class.
If you'd like a book with some similar themes (losing a family member, sibling relationships, reckoning with faith, coming of age) but perhaps better suited for school, I'd recommend The Promise by Damon Galgut, The Mothers by Brit Bennett, A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson, Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi, A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews.
@@TheBookBully Thank you, I'll check out the other books^^
Great hearing your honest thoughts about this. Personally I hated the very ending.
I actually really loved the ending - it took me by surprise but it seemed like the only logical solution in the end. What did you hate about it?
This book sounds very hard but very interesting as well.
Would love to know what you think if you pick it up!
I'm so glad I watched this review, I'm staying far away from this book. yikes.
Incredible review, though!
💚💚💚
"Welcome to my kitchen" 😂😂 After listening to your review, I am now very clear there's nothing appealing about this book for me. It sounds awful. I find myself questioning the motivations of this type of book on every level.
It's definitely a marmite book, and absolutely makes someone question the purpose of its existence! haha.
I felt physically sick while reading it.
why?
I had to read it for a school thing... and i all i can say is... what. The. Fuck
Yeah I think many people have had very similar reactions!!
Just finished The Discomfort of Evening few minutes back and wanted to see what others think about it. And here I see your video. The language is vivid and poetic. But it feels that its written by a very sick poet bordering on being a psychopath, and not in a good way psychopath. If only it was written by a man he would be burnt on a stake for writing child pornography and animal violence. Very poor taste both Rijneveld and the entire Booker judges panel. This book seems to have a criminal intent in its core. I felt sick.
You raise an interesting point about what if this book had been written by a man? I'm not sure I agree he would be burned at the stake, because men have written some pretty nasty stuff that has received far more praise than it ever deserved, but it raises some really interesting questions about authorship and intent, for sure! I found much of it very hard to stomach, too.
It's an autobiographical novel, the writer went through a very similar thing. I think that the feeling that you got from it was exactly the reaction they wanted to have. I don't think if a male writer would write this from a male perspective, he would be burned at a stake. If we look at Lolita, written by a male author of course, we don't want to burn the man. But it's still deeply disturbing. I also feel, while I don't know if you're American, that Americans would find this more disturbing than Europeans.
It's an autobiographical novel, the writer went through a very similar thing. I think that the feeling that you got from it was exactly the reaction they wanted to have. I don't think if a male writer would write this from a male perspective, he would be burned at a stake. If we look at Lolita, written by a male author of course, we don't want to burn the man. But it's still deeply disturbing. I also feel, while I don't know if you're American, that Americans would find this more disturbing than Europeans.
I want to point out that actually, childhood sexual exploratory behaviour even between siblings is actually NORMAL. In the book it is taken a step further and is clearly tinged in violence from grief, but I absolutely disagree that the person writing it is borderline psychopath. It’s graphic, and often repulsive, but it’s actually a wonderfully unique book and quite cleverly written, as well as cleverly thought of.
I have only read few chapters so far and this book literally causes all kinds of discomfort! I'm sorry but that girl was a real pervert! I never liked it. So, I decided to put it aside.