One of my literature classes deals with current literature and examines various trends in Dutch literature. One of those trends is that well-written thrillers are more often seen as literature and also get marketed as 'literary thriller'. So for a class on that particular subject in two weeks we had to read one of these literary thrillers. It was Esther Verhoef's Alles te Verliezen (Everything to Loose). Since this is not a genre I generally enjoy, I bought the book second hand. It arrived yesterday and I started reading it around 1 pm today. It's now 4pm and I finished the book about half an hour ago. I've already put the book back up for sale.

I think that says enough about what I think about it. It's not a bad book in itself, it's just very much not my genre and not my style of book. I also found the pace to be on the slow side and the way the descriptions were done to be of the 'look how nicely I can describe the surroundings' variety. It felt as if she really wanted to rub it in how well-to-do her main characters were and how lovely the house and grounds and the stable and so on. I know it was part of the story, to emphasize all that Claire stands to loose, but it felt stilted.

The ending was kinda expected but the actual climax evoked an 'oh, come on!' reaction.

Edit: I just realised, maybe I should say a few words more about the actual plot? Well, here goes. Main character is Claire, married to rich realtor Harald and mother of their two young children. They're rich, they live in a big house with lots of space around, stable, horse, you know, the works. Claire's basically perfect: a stay at home mom, volunteer at the kids' school, and excellent at entertaining her husband's business associates when he throws a party. Claire however, has a shady past which came to an end when her lover in that period was sent to jail. Now, ten years later, he's out and has come back to make trouble.


2009 (so far)
01. Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear - A Companion to Wolves
02. P. Nowee - Arendsoog. Vogelvrij {Eagle-Eye Outlaw} [Dutch]
03. Maggie Tallerman - Understanding Syntax (translated into Dutch and edited for Dutch students by Jan-Wouter Zwart) [Dutch] [school]
04. Hanneke Houtkoop & Tom Koole - Taal in Actie. Hoe Mensen Communiceren met Taal {Language in Action. How People Communicate with Language} [Dutch] [school]
05. Erica van Boven & Gillis Dorleijn - Literair Mechaniek. Inleiding tot de Analyse van Verhalen en Gedichten. {Literary Mechanics. Introduction to the Analysis of Stories and Poetry.} [Dutch] [school]

06. Star Trek: DS9 - Relaunch 1-5 - Twist of Faith (S.D. Perry, David Weddle & Jeffrey Lang, Keith R.A. DeCandido)
07. Esther Verhoef - Alles te Verliezen {Everything to Loose} [Dutch] [School]