Reviews

De donkere kamer van Damokles by Willem Frederik Hermans

marco5599's review against another edition

challenging funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

marsfeverdreams's review against another edition

3.0

"I can seek for him when he's not there, but not hang him when he's not there. One would like to say: 'Then he has to be there when I'm looking for him.' Then he also needs to be there when I don't find him and also when he doesn't exist."


This book tells the story of Osewoudt, who meets a man called Dorbeck in the beginning of World War Two in the Netherlands. These two men resemble each other like two drops of water, there are a few differences between the two: Osewoudt can't grow a beard and Dorbeck can, Osewoudt's hair is blonde and Dorbeck's is black and lastly Osewoudt is a nobody and Dorbeck a hero. Everything Osewoudt ever wanted to be is staring right back at him, so he listens and does whatever Dorbeck asks him to, in the hope of finally becoming who he wants to be. But as time goes by things no longer add up and everything is not what it seems.


A beautiful story that was written brilliantly. However there are very racist remarks in this book which were widely seen as acceptable when the book was written, but that's no excuse. That's why I can only give this book 3 stars.

channa_555's review against another edition

4.0

Spannend

chiel's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

elena6705's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

There are quite a few pace changes in the book. The story moves quite quickly in the beginning and it is not always clear what is relevant. Later the story slows down and an event seems to be told in too much detail, while it actually has little value for the story. Sometimes something important is only told in a single sentence, which makes it a bit difficult to follow. What I really appreciate about the book is the ending, which I think is fitting.

isavdv's review against another edition

3.0

Read this for my Dutch Lit class

laurabritals's review against another edition

2.0

So I read this book, because I had to for school. But that does not change my opinion that the writing was hard to understand and just bad. I’m sorry but the story was good overall, but the writing was just not it.

reneeminten's review against another edition

1.0

1.5*?

beethebee's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

fjodretta's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75