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A review by bethreadsandnaps
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
4.5 stars
I must say I was hesitant to read this debut THE SAFEKEEP by Yael van der Wouden, which I read translated from Dutch. I was unsure I'd like it, but - yes - the reviews are correct, and it's really good!
Why did I like it?
* It had some great tension. It always felt like a big blow-up was right around the corner. While I'd say this novel is firmly in the literary fiction genre, I'm always intrigued (and surprised!) when a literary novel can deliver tension.
* The characters were complicated. I wanted to know so much more about Isabel's mother. Isabel herself is quite a character, and I felt that I'd have even more insight into her if the author had revealed even more than she did about Isabel's mother.
* I loved Part III, particularly the diary entries.
* I find estates and inheritances fascinating.
The three siblings Isabel, Hendrick, and Louis are not particularly close. Isabel is living in the family home, and she's perturbed when Louis brings his girl of the month Eva to stay with her in 1961. Soon, that annoyance turns into something more passionate (there are some lesbian sex scenes), and they both have motivations for their behavior that summer.
I thought this was a really unique and strong debut!
I must say I was hesitant to read this debut THE SAFEKEEP by Yael van der Wouden, which I read translated from Dutch. I was unsure I'd like it, but - yes - the reviews are correct, and it's really good!
Why did I like it?
* It had some great tension. It always felt like a big blow-up was right around the corner. While I'd say this novel is firmly in the literary fiction genre, I'm always intrigued (and surprised!) when a literary novel can deliver tension.
* The characters were complicated. I wanted to know so much more about Isabel's mother. Isabel herself is quite a character, and I felt that I'd have even more insight into her if the author had revealed even more than she did about Isabel's mother.
* I loved Part III, particularly the diary entries.
* I find estates and inheritances fascinating.
The three siblings Isabel, Hendrick, and Louis are not particularly close. Isabel is living in the family home, and she's perturbed when Louis brings his girl of the month Eva to stay with her in 1961. Soon, that annoyance turns into something more passionate (there are some lesbian sex scenes), and they both have motivations for their behavior that summer.
I thought this was a really unique and strong debut!