A Belgian Assortment: Brussels Short Stories

by T.D. Arkenberg

A Belgian Assortment transports readers to contemporary Belgium, a vibrant and multifaceted nation in the heart of Europe. The country plays host to legions of expatriates. Award-winning author T.D. Arkenberg draws on his own experience as an expat in Brussels to craft this collection of twelve vivid and enticing short stories. The characters who populate the stories are as unique and as diverse as the inhabitants of Belgium. Among these is Sabine, an idealistic Flemish woman. Relocating to Brussels to teach young immigrants, she soon finds her broad-minded ideals compromised. An unexpected lover revives her wounded spirit, but can the couple escape the bias and terror that grip the city? Brothers Hasan and Kadar, transplants from Lebanon, struggle to assimilate. A dark secret threatens to isolate them even further, this time from each other. American Jack Ramsey, free of the fetters of his Catholic upbringing, lives openly as a gay man in Brussels. But a visit from his mother could push him back into the closet. Marion is a shop clerk who finds refuge from her lonely, drab life in the carnival atmosphere of Chatelain, one of Brussels' afternoon markets. A chance encounter offers her a lifeline, but will she grab it? Then there's Marguerite, a charming octogenarian whose quest to recreate the lavish dinner where she first met her late husband inspires an unexpected detour. These are just a few of the colorful and complex characters who await readers in the pages of A Belgian Assortment.

220 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2018

About the author

T.D. Arkenberg was born in Chicago and raised in the suburb of Arlington Heights. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University, majoring in English Literature & History. T.D. received a Master of Business Administration from The University of Chicago, concentrating in Finance & Accounting with additional studies at The London Business School.

After 23 years working for a global airline T.D. left the corporate executive world behind to pursue his dream of becoming an author. He has published three novels. His first, Final Descent is the story of a airline in chaos, and the three men who battle for the company’s soul. His second, Jell-O and Jackie O is a poignant coming-of-age tale set in the late 1960s. A little boy escapes family struggles with the aid of an active imagination and Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The book was awarded a Bronze Medal by Independent Publishers for best regional fiction. The same book was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Faulkner-Wisdom literary competition. T.D.’s latest novel is None Shall Sleep. The book’s heroine declares that Opera is Life as she sets out to re-invent herself from management consultant to opera singer. The story, set in London and Italy, inspires and delights. An early draft of the novel was a short-list finalist in the Faulkner-Wisdom literary competition. For his next project, a memoir entitled, Two Towers, T.D. covers the catastrophic consequences of the events of September 11, 2001 on his employer, United Airlines and the near simultaneous deaths of his parents.

T.D. is an alumnus of Chicago’s two oldest writers groups, Off Campus Writers Workshop, and the Barrington Writers Workshop as well as the Brussels Writers Circle in Belgium. He also served on the board of the Barrington Chapter of The Lyric Opera of Chicago as the Program co-chair.

T.D., his spouse, and their Golden Retriever moved to Brussels, Belgium in January 2014. T.D. captured their adventures in his blog. In January of 2016, the couple, their Golden Retriever and a new addition, a cat named Puhi returned to their home in Chicago.

Reviews

[Georgann Prochaska · Rating 5 out of 5]

People watching is a favorite activity when I travel, and T.D. Arkenberg not only shares glimpses of the people he observed in Belgium but also their struggles and strengths as expats. In his collection of short stories, A Belgian Assortment, Arkenberg captures the dynamic setting of Brussels along with people gathering for chocolate and pastry. Narrow streets lead to neighborhood cafés. Belgium is filled with expats constantly on the move, sometimes churning. That alone brings caution and loneliness in reshuffling relationships. In “Recycled Promises” Sam and Nick come to Belgium with problems and questions. Sam looks for a support group. Her new experiences help her to adapt and grow. In “Parvis de Saint-Giles” Arkenberg describes expats as “migrant birds,” and captures the possible transience of relationships wherever we are. For me the best description for many of these expats is “waiting for the Lisbon plane.” Love this memory of other expats waiting to embrace change! The short stories are set in a beautiful setting, both old and new, with a diverse population puzzling out their new identity, putting the past in its place and looking forward. Even Marguerite at 90 wonders what shoes to wear to create her own style at a special dinner party with very special friends.

[Diane Bellizzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining short stories, felt like a mini vacation in Brussels.

[Kathleen Loftus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful peak into interesting lives using Brussels as the backdrop…