A review by marleens
De helaasheid der dingen by Dimitri Verhulst

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

3.0

I picked this one up on impulse in a second hand bookstore. It’s far outside my usual reading comfort zone, being Flemish literary fiction. I enjoyed the episodic nature of the story, little peeks into this childhood in a dysfunctional but strong family, in a small town, surrounded by lots of bars. I think Verhulst is an excellent author, capable of setting a vivid scene and writing memorable characters. But a lot of of the stories got a bit too much for me with all the drinking and grossness that came along with that. Still, I enjoyed my time with it.
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