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Bitter Herbs
When the Nazis invade the Netherlands in May 1940 it's clear that life is changing for the girl and her family. Step by step, the Nazis close in on the Dutch Jews. But when the authorities finally come to the family home a split decision will have devastating consequences.
121 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1957
86 people are currently reading
2033 people want to read
About the author
Marga Minco
32 books16 followersMarga Minco (pseudoniem van Sara Minco) debuteerde in 1957 met Het bittere kruid, bekroond met de Vijverbergprijs (nu F. Bordewijkprijs). Ook haar latere werk, De andere kant (1959), Een leeg huis (1966), De val (1983), De glazen brug (1986), Nagelaten dagen (1997) en de bundel verzamelde verhalen Achter de muur (2010), had veelal de Tweede Wereldoorlog en de nasleep daarvan als onderwerp. Voor haar oeuvre ontving Minco de Annie Romeinprijs (1999), de Constantijn Huygensprijs (2005) en de P. C. Hooftprijs (2019). Haar boeken zijn in vele talen vertaald.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
February 17, 2024
”Not one ever comes back from there, they say.”
Marga Minco's 1957 debut has become a classic in Dutch Holocaust literature. Bitter Herbs is a minimalist and unsentimental autobiographical account of the persecution of the Jews in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands, told from the perspective of a young Jewish girl living in Breda with her parents, her brother and her sister.
In 22 short chapters Minco chronicles how the noose is tightening on the family by the various restrictions put on them in order to organise their systematic deportation. In their attempts to escape, the girl gets separated from her siblings and parents, ultimately ending up on the run and alone until she is helped by resistance networks to go into hiding. Some of the specified survival mechanisms in the Netherlands echo the ones I encountered in memoirs from Holocaust survivors in Poland and Germany, like dying the hair blonde (also mentioned in Hanna Krall’s Chasing the King of Hearts) and the suitcase that is kept ready fully packed next door to cope with the perpetual threat of dislocation (mentioned in Marcel Reich-Ranicki’s The Author Of Himself: The Life Of Marcel Reich-Ranicki and in a lecture on the Jewish quarter in Antwerp).
Written in restrained, factual prose, the chronicle is deeply disturbing. Minco uses the contrast between the ignorance and innocence of the girl’s thoughts and beliefs, strengthened by her father who cannot imagine the confinements put on their family can lead to any serious harm (who could imagine the unimaginable?) and the harrowing reality of which the reader is aware effectively, skilfully wielding omission and ominous understatement.
Minco alludes recurrently to the Bible and to Jewish religious and cultural traditions. The title for instance refers to the bitter herbs (maror) on the plate at the Passover Seder in keeping with the biblical commandment "with bitter herbs they shall eat it." (Exodus 12:8), symbolizing and holding into remembrance the suffering inflicted on the Jewish people. The division of the book into 22 chapters is significant as well, the Hebrew alphabet containing 22 letters and the Lamentations consisting of 22 verses each.
By dedicating the book to her parents and siblings who didn't return from the camps, the reader knows what to expect from the first page on. Still the postwar epilogue hits hard:
”I slowly made my way to the tram stop. I stopped to look at the people getting out, as if I were waiting for someone. Someone with a familiar face who would suddenly be standing right in front of me. But I lacked my uncle's faith. They would never come back. Not my father, not my mother, not Bettie, not Dave and not Lotte, either.”
A sobering and subtle testimonial of a tragedy which Marga Minco decided to express in as few words as possible.
Marga Minco's 1957 debut has become a classic in Dutch Holocaust literature. Bitter Herbs is a minimalist and unsentimental autobiographical account of the persecution of the Jews in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands, told from the perspective of a young Jewish girl living in Breda with her parents, her brother and her sister.
In 22 short chapters Minco chronicles how the noose is tightening on the family by the various restrictions put on them in order to organise their systematic deportation. In their attempts to escape, the girl gets separated from her siblings and parents, ultimately ending up on the run and alone until she is helped by resistance networks to go into hiding. Some of the specified survival mechanisms in the Netherlands echo the ones I encountered in memoirs from Holocaust survivors in Poland and Germany, like dying the hair blonde (also mentioned in Hanna Krall’s Chasing the King of Hearts) and the suitcase that is kept ready fully packed next door to cope with the perpetual threat of dislocation (mentioned in Marcel Reich-Ranicki’s The Author Of Himself: The Life Of Marcel Reich-Ranicki and in a lecture on the Jewish quarter in Antwerp).
Written in restrained, factual prose, the chronicle is deeply disturbing. Minco uses the contrast between the ignorance and innocence of the girl’s thoughts and beliefs, strengthened by her father who cannot imagine the confinements put on their family can lead to any serious harm (who could imagine the unimaginable?) and the harrowing reality of which the reader is aware effectively, skilfully wielding omission and ominous understatement.
Minco alludes recurrently to the Bible and to Jewish religious and cultural traditions. The title for instance refers to the bitter herbs (maror) on the plate at the Passover Seder in keeping with the biblical commandment "with bitter herbs they shall eat it." (Exodus 12:8), symbolizing and holding into remembrance the suffering inflicted on the Jewish people. The division of the book into 22 chapters is significant as well, the Hebrew alphabet containing 22 letters and the Lamentations consisting of 22 verses each.
By dedicating the book to her parents and siblings who didn't return from the camps, the reader knows what to expect from the first page on. Still the postwar epilogue hits hard:
”I slowly made my way to the tram stop. I stopped to look at the people getting out, as if I were waiting for someone. Someone with a familiar face who would suddenly be standing right in front of me. But I lacked my uncle's faith. They would never come back. Not my father, not my mother, not Bettie, not Dave and not Lotte, either.”
A sobering and subtle testimonial of a tragedy which Marga Minco decided to express in as few words as possible.
July 15, 2023
Marga Minco passed away a few days ago (at the age of 103!). This is her most remarkable novel(lette), also her debut. I repost my review.
This short, originally Dutch novel is a modest, little gem in holocaust literature, especially through the detached, almost clinical registration of what happens to the story telling-person, which I assume is the author Marga Minco herself. Mind-boggling is the resigned and, at the same time marveling way she and her family experience the nazi persecution. The holocaust is never explicitly mentioned, the big world events remain in the background, but their negative effects translate into shocking repercussions in the life of ordinary people.
Remarkably this was the debut of Minco, published in 1957, and immediately received much attention, which is rather early for holocaust testimonial literature. She kept on writing and publishing, though in a less detached way.
This short, originally Dutch novel is a modest, little gem in holocaust literature, especially through the detached, almost clinical registration of what happens to the story telling-person, which I assume is the author Marga Minco herself. Mind-boggling is the resigned and, at the same time marveling way she and her family experience the nazi persecution. The holocaust is never explicitly mentioned, the big world events remain in the background, but their negative effects translate into shocking repercussions in the life of ordinary people.
Remarkably this was the debut of Minco, published in 1957, and immediately received much attention, which is rather early for holocaust testimonial literature. She kept on writing and publishing, though in a less detached way.
April 16, 2024
‘I would have preferred not to have had a reason to write Bitter Herbs. But the facts are there, as is the book. And what counts for me is that those to whom I dedicated the book will now perhaps live on, and not only in my memory.’
-Excerpt from Minco’s acceptance speech at the Vijverberg Prize ceremony.
In this semi-autobiographical story, our narrator who is a young girl, recounts what she and her Jewish family went through during the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands.
-Excerpt from Minco’s acceptance speech at the Vijverberg Prize ceremony.
In this semi-autobiographical story, our narrator who is a young girl, recounts what she and her Jewish family went through during the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands.
April 23, 2019
Een jong Joods meisje vertelt in simpele bewoordingen het verhaal van haar jeugd in de oorlogsjaren. Hoe intens indrukwekkend weet Marga Minco de realiteit van de geleidelijke afzondering van de joodse inwoners weer te geven en hoe simpel het was om hen daarna per straat af te voeren. Zoals al zo vaak wordt opgemerkt, hing het vaak van puur toeval af of je overleefde. Het meisje overleefde. Haar familie niet. Een ingrijpende leeservaring.
July 2, 2021
The translation of this story gives a realistic picture of events surrounding the Nazi invasion of Holland. The book is simplistic by English reading standards, however this doesn't take anything away from this incredible story.
The book is narrated by a young Dutch Jewish girl of about fourteen years. The Germans have invaded Holland but for most of the Jewish community their awareness of what evil lies ahead of them does not enter their thinking. The book opens with the family returning from a forced evacuation, leaving, going to the border and then simply returning.
There is insight into this Jewish family's everyday life describing how they follow the traditional Jewish protocols of everyday worship. Interestingly they are living within a Dutch secular, mainly Protestant Society and the narrator describes how her sister and herself as school children are taunted by other school children regarding their religion. The Catholic housekeeper needed to get special dispensation from the Priest to work in the household, one close childhood friend is not allowed to enter their home for which the young girl jokes that her father "eats a soup of small children". However, this doesn't stop the same friend, later on in the read and probably aware that soon her neighbours will be forced to go and as a result starts to ask for several of her friends possessions. Their neighbours point out that many Jewish families have already left Holland for safety in other countries but this doesn't seem to ring a bell with this Jewish family.
The father returns one day with a bunch of yellow stars that they must have attached to their clothing for which creates much excitement. It appears that Dave, the eldest son is more aware of events and when called up for the German work camps he swallows a potion to make him ill enough not to qualify, along with the father who doesn't qualify. Our young narrator becomes ill with TB for which she spends a long time convalescing in a special hospital. She returns home and along with her brother also with a medical certificate both spend time resting in bed. This however does not stop the Nazis from demanding the parents relocate to Amsterdam.
This young girl's life changes dramatically, when the men come to take her and her parents away having travelled to be with them, she slips out by the back and simply walks away. She ends up where her brother and his wife are hiding, the girls dye their hair blonde and make plans for a further escape. However, events do not turn out as planned and the narrator ends up by herself. Feeling totally alone she begins to not care what the outcome will be for her, however, seemingly she has a guardian angel, people from all walks of life ensure that she is cared for, kept safe and she is given forged identity papers along with a new name. Surviving the war she finally visits an Uncle who still looks out everyday to the tram stop waiting for his brother's return even after receiving notification that all the family are dead.
The book is narrated by a young Dutch Jewish girl of about fourteen years. The Germans have invaded Holland but for most of the Jewish community their awareness of what evil lies ahead of them does not enter their thinking. The book opens with the family returning from a forced evacuation, leaving, going to the border and then simply returning.
There is insight into this Jewish family's everyday life describing how they follow the traditional Jewish protocols of everyday worship. Interestingly they are living within a Dutch secular, mainly Protestant Society and the narrator describes how her sister and herself as school children are taunted by other school children regarding their religion. The Catholic housekeeper needed to get special dispensation from the Priest to work in the household, one close childhood friend is not allowed to enter their home for which the young girl jokes that her father "eats a soup of small children". However, this doesn't stop the same friend, later on in the read and probably aware that soon her neighbours will be forced to go and as a result starts to ask for several of her friends possessions. Their neighbours point out that many Jewish families have already left Holland for safety in other countries but this doesn't seem to ring a bell with this Jewish family.
The father returns one day with a bunch of yellow stars that they must have attached to their clothing for which creates much excitement. It appears that Dave, the eldest son is more aware of events and when called up for the German work camps he swallows a potion to make him ill enough not to qualify, along with the father who doesn't qualify. Our young narrator becomes ill with TB for which she spends a long time convalescing in a special hospital. She returns home and along with her brother also with a medical certificate both spend time resting in bed. This however does not stop the Nazis from demanding the parents relocate to Amsterdam.
This young girl's life changes dramatically, when the men come to take her and her parents away having travelled to be with them, she slips out by the back and simply walks away. She ends up where her brother and his wife are hiding, the girls dye their hair blonde and make plans for a further escape. However, events do not turn out as planned and the narrator ends up by herself. Feeling totally alone she begins to not care what the outcome will be for her, however, seemingly she has a guardian angel, people from all walks of life ensure that she is cared for, kept safe and she is given forged identity papers along with a new name. Surviving the war she finally visits an Uncle who still looks out everyday to the tram stop waiting for his brother's return even after receiving notification that all the family are dead.
December 15, 2018
Dit is wat het is, achterblijven.
1957 verscheen dit stukje proza van Marga Minco, ik las het toen ik 20 was en ik las het nu. Het heeft niets van zijn intensiteit verloren, in weinig woorden vallen levens uiteen. De breekbaarheid van de mens.
Marga Minco kreeg deze week te horen dat haar werk de P.C. Hooftprijs heeft gewonnen, zij is 98 jaar oud.
1957 verscheen dit stukje proza van Marga Minco, ik las het toen ik 20 was en ik las het nu. Het heeft niets van zijn intensiteit verloren, in weinig woorden vallen levens uiteen. De breekbaarheid van de mens.
Marga Minco kreeg deze week te horen dat haar werk de P.C. Hooftprijs heeft gewonnen, zij is 98 jaar oud.
"Ik dacht aan de tijd toen ik nog werkelijk gewoon was. Ik vroeg me af hoe dat geweest was. Ik was vergeten hoe ik keek als ik op straat liep, hoe ik me voelde als ik in de trein stapte, wat ik zei als ik een winkel binnenging."
November 8, 2025
2• Dünya Savaşına ait oldukça farklı kısa bir anılar toplamı. Nazi işgali altındaki Hollanda’daki bir yahudi ailesinden geriye sağ kalan tek kişi olan yazarın, Marga Minco’nun çocukluğuna ait anılar. Savaş sırasındaki gündelik yaşamı anlatıyor adeta. Savaşın vahşetini simgeleyen tanklar, tüfekler, bombalar, ölü ve yaralılar yok kitapta, insanlık halleri var, bir de Nazilerden korunma çabaları. Buna rağmen trajik, iç yakan bir kısa belge kitabı. Biraz abartılı tanıtımı var.
October 3, 2023
Het bittere kruid is het eerste boek dat Marga Minco publiceerde, in 1957, twaalf jaar na de oorlog. Ze beschrijft hierin in korte hoofdstukken hoe ze als jong meisje in Breda leefde, met haar ouders, broer en zus. Ze had met hen een vredige jeugd. Door het antisemitisme werden Joodse mensen steeds meer apart gezet en geïsoleerd. Haar vader dacht aanvankelijk dat het niet zo’n vaart zou lopen met de vervolging, maar de joden moesten eerst naar Amsterdam en later naar Westerbork om van daaruit naar Duitse vernietigingskampen te worden gestuurd. Marga wist als enige van het gezin te overleven, door onder te duiken. Ze liet haar haar blond bleken om maar geen Joods uiterlijk te hebben. Het boek zit vol kleine, vaak wrange observaties. Een buurmeisje uit Breda komt voor het vertrek naar Amsterdam nog wat dure persoonlijke spullen bij het gezin Minco halen onder het motto ‘dat jullie er toch niks meer aan hebben.’Het boek roept veel emotie op, juist omdat het zo kaal en onderkoeld is geschreven. De sobere en indringende tekeningen van Herman Dijkstra ondersteunen het verhaal, zonder zich op de voorgrond te dringen.
Het boek blijft een waardevol document over de geschiedenis van de jodenvervolging in Nederland en ook over de houding van veel Nederlanders in de oorlogstijd en ook al voor de oorlog toen er hier ook een voedingsbodem voor antisemitisme was. Mensen zoals de ouders van Marga wilden eerst niet in het extreme kwaad geloven dat hun leven kapot zou maken. Het is ook bijna niet te bevatten, ook zoveel jaren later.
Trefwoorden: #jodenvervolging, #onderduik, tweede Wereldoorlog
Het boek blijft een waardevol document over de geschiedenis van de jodenvervolging in Nederland en ook over de houding van veel Nederlanders in de oorlogstijd en ook al voor de oorlog toen er hier ook een voedingsbodem voor antisemitisme was. Mensen zoals de ouders van Marga wilden eerst niet in het extreme kwaad geloven dat hun leven kapot zou maken. Het is ook bijna niet te bevatten, ook zoveel jaren later.
Trefwoorden: #jodenvervolging, #onderduik, tweede Wereldoorlog
December 4, 2024
“Gel içeri girelim” dedi. Tırnağıyla kapının aralığındaki mührü ikiye böldü. Yabancı bir odaya girmişiz gibi bir his vardı bizde. Birilerinin bizi işiteceğinden korkarcasına dikkatle masanın etrafında döndük, bir sandalyeye, bir dolaba hafifçe dokunduk.
“Her şeyi not aldılar” diye fısıldadı. “Buradan hiçbir şey çıkaramayız artık.”
Bir vazoyu yerinden oynattım. “Sanki bunlar artık bizim değil” diye fısıldadım ben de. “Acaba neden öyle?”
“Çünkü her şeye elleriyle dokundular.”
//
Farklı zaman ve mekanlarda, başına talihsiz şeyler gelmesine rağmen “bize bir şey olmaz” iyiliğine tutunan ve ne yazık ki yanılan babalar. Dünya bir şeylerin hatırına dönüyor olsaydı bunun bir kısmı buradan geliyor olurdu. Ve elbette kız çocuklarından.
Bu kitabı kaleme alma ve yaşama cesaretini gösterenlerden özellikle.
İşgal, savaş, yurtsuzluk. Bugün bile yaşadığımız ve durduramadığımız onca şey. 100 yıl sonra benzer bir başlıkla okuyucusu olacak insanlardan şimdiden özür diliyorum. Konunun hem çok içindeydim hem de çok dışında ve evet hiçbirimiz bir şey yapamadık.
“Her şeyi not aldılar” diye fısıldadı. “Buradan hiçbir şey çıkaramayız artık.”
Bir vazoyu yerinden oynattım. “Sanki bunlar artık bizim değil” diye fısıldadım ben de. “Acaba neden öyle?”
“Çünkü her şeye elleriyle dokundular.”
//
Farklı zaman ve mekanlarda, başına talihsiz şeyler gelmesine rağmen “bize bir şey olmaz” iyiliğine tutunan ve ne yazık ki yanılan babalar. Dünya bir şeylerin hatırına dönüyor olsaydı bunun bir kısmı buradan geliyor olurdu. Ve elbette kız çocuklarından.
Bu kitabı kaleme alma ve yaşama cesaretini gösterenlerden özellikle.
İşgal, savaş, yurtsuzluk. Bugün bile yaşadığımız ve durduramadığımız onca şey. 100 yıl sonra benzer bir başlıkla okuyucusu olacak insanlardan şimdiden özür diliyorum. Konunun hem çok içindeydim hem de çok dışında ve evet hiçbirimiz bir şey yapamadık.
March 7, 2023
Eindelijk las ik deze klassieke novelle. In zulke precieze, spaarzame (ik zou bijna schrijven: Spartaanse) taal noteert Minco de afschuwelijke werkelijkheid van de Jodenvervolging in Breda en Amsterdam in de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Haast onderkoeld soms, de emotie bij de lezer latend. Tijdens mijn stage in Amsterdam kwam ik aan het Merwedeplein en ook veelvuldig in de Sarphatistraat, twee straten die regelmatig in het boek genoemd worden. Weten dat iets is gebeurd en erover lezen uit de eerste hand blijkt dan toch weer iets heel erg anders. Het Merwedeplein zal altijd aan Anne Frank doen denken, maar loop ik in de toekomst door de Sarphatistraat, dan denk ik aan Het bittere kruid, dat diepe indruk op me maakte.
January 31, 2024
How do you put into words the horrors of the Holocaust? Various writers have taken up the gauntlet and dealt with it in different ways. Marga Minco has chosen the most neutral, almost bald style of writing (as it says on the back of the book, the text is written: met een maximum aan soberheid). It is admirable.
For advanced learners it is quite reasonable but does offer you some interesting vocabulary!
For advanced learners it is quite reasonable but does offer you some interesting vocabulary!
September 4, 2022
Door de uitspraken van de CPNB-directeur in een NOS-artikel over TikTok waarbij 'Het bittere kruid' van Marga Minco werd genoemd, bedacht ik dat ik nog nooit iets van haar gelezen had. Nu snap ik nog minder waarom juist dit boekje in het artikel naar boven kwam als een voorbeeld van het tegenovergestelde van leesplezier.
Het onderwerp is inderdaad niet vrolijk, jodenvervolging in Nederland vanuit een joods meisje beschreven, maar het verhaal kan in een klas goede gesprekken opleveren. Welke oorlogsgebeurtenissen komen erin voor; waarom lijkt de schrijfstijl enigszins koel; hoe werkt dat voor de leeservaring? Waar ik ook wel benieuwd naar ben: hoe vond Minco om 'Het bittere kruid' te schrijven, slechts 12 jaar na het eind van de oorlog, in een tijd waarin men voornamelijk gericht was op dóórgaan? En hoe zou het nu zijn met deze 103-jarige schrijfster?
Zoals andere lezers al zeiden: inderdaad een verhaal om vaak te herlezen. Om de herinnering aan de oorlog levend te houden.
Deze versie is nr. 56 uit de Ooievaarreeks, uitgegeven door Bert Bakker.
Het onderwerp is inderdaad niet vrolijk, jodenvervolging in Nederland vanuit een joods meisje beschreven, maar het verhaal kan in een klas goede gesprekken opleveren. Welke oorlogsgebeurtenissen komen erin voor; waarom lijkt de schrijfstijl enigszins koel; hoe werkt dat voor de leeservaring? Waar ik ook wel benieuwd naar ben: hoe vond Minco om 'Het bittere kruid' te schrijven, slechts 12 jaar na het eind van de oorlog, in een tijd waarin men voornamelijk gericht was op dóórgaan? En hoe zou het nu zijn met deze 103-jarige schrijfster?
Zoals andere lezers al zeiden: inderdaad een verhaal om vaak te herlezen. Om de herinnering aan de oorlog levend te houden.
Deze versie is nr. 56 uit de Ooievaarreeks, uitgegeven door Bert Bakker.
March 4, 2024
Deze novelle telt nog geen 100 pagina's en las ik binnen een dag uit. Marga Minco, een 11 jarig joods meisje bij het begin van WOII en door stom toeval de enige overlever van de Holocaust uit een gezin van vader, moeder, broer Dave, zus Betty en schoonzus Lotte. Met sprongetjes in de tijd door de bezettingsjaren, door naïviteit, optimisme en ongeloof, door Breda, Amersfoort, Amsterdam, Utrecht en de Noord-Hollandse polder, zo beeldend en levendig beschreven ....
“Hier kan het nooit gebeuren”, zei mijn vader. “Hier is het iets anders.” ... de manier waarop Davidssterren worden opgehaald, verdeeld en met enthousiasme op kledingstukken worden genaaid! ...
Het deed me wat denken aan Het Achterhuis, het blinkt uit door eenvoud maar grijpt je juist daardoor naar de strot. Het zindert nog na en zojuist las ik, dat komende week bij de Nederlandse Publieke Omroep de televisieserie "De Joodse Raad" begint. Ik kijk er naar uit en geïnspireerd door Minco heb ik vast talloze boeken over bezetting, razzia's tijdens WOII op mijn leeslijst naar voren getrokken.
“Hier kan het nooit gebeuren”, zei mijn vader. “Hier is het iets anders.” ... de manier waarop Davidssterren worden opgehaald, verdeeld en met enthousiasme op kledingstukken worden genaaid! ...
Het deed me wat denken aan Het Achterhuis, het blinkt uit door eenvoud maar grijpt je juist daardoor naar de strot. Het zindert nog na en zojuist las ik, dat komende week bij de Nederlandse Publieke Omroep de televisieserie "De Joodse Raad" begint. Ik kijk er naar uit en geïnspireerd door Minco heb ik vast talloze boeken over bezetting, razzia's tijdens WOII op mijn leeslijst naar voren getrokken.
June 19, 2024
Waarschijnlijk herkennen al mijn volgers wel dat de boekenlijsten op de middelbare school werden aangevoerd door Het Bittere Kruid. Lekker dun, maar wel een indrukwekkend verhaal. Ik had zelf de fout gemaakt om wat dikkere boeken op mijn lijst te zetten, zodat ik aardig wat extra uurtjes heb moeten maken. Nou ja, het zal ertoe hebben bijgedragen dat ik nu mijn hand ook niet omdraai voor 500+sers. Maar ondertussen had ik dus Het Bittere Kruid nog steeds niet gelezen. Vorig jaar is Minco overleden. Gelukkig op respectabele leeftijd, wat haar familieleden helaas niet was gegeven. Voor mij was dit weer een reminder om Het Bittere Kruid nu ook snel te gaan lezen. In korte krachtige hoofdstukken neemt Minco de lezer mee van het begin van de oorlog tot de eerste onderduikervaringen. Ze heeft niet veel woorden nodig om toch diepe indruk te maken. Must-read dus. Ik zal zorgen dat mijn meisjes hem al met de boekenlijst lezen, want dit is duidelijk een onmisbaar stukje opvoeding als je in Nederland geboren bent.
January 30, 2024
1920’de Hollanda’da Yahudi kökenli bir ailenin kızı olarak dünyaya gelen Marga Minco’nun 1957 yılında kaleme aldığı otobiyografik kitabı. İkinci Dünya Savaşı, toplama kampları, naziler gibi detaylara girilmeden
o dönemi yaşarken ailesinin umudu, çocukluk yaşamı ve çevresinin direnişi üstünden kaleme alınmış bu kitabı birinci ağızdan, edebi dilden uzak bir anlatı şeklinde okuyoruz. Anlatılar çok yalın. Ağırlıkları burada gizli.
o dönemi yaşarken ailesinin umudu, çocukluk yaşamı ve çevresinin direnişi üstünden kaleme alınmış bu kitabı birinci ağızdan, edebi dilden uzak bir anlatı şeklinde okuyoruz. Anlatılar çok yalın. Ağırlıkları burada gizli.
February 21, 2024
Margo Minco has died July 20, 2023. I thought it appropriate to eventually read this debut of hers.
This is the story of a jewish girl and her family during the WO II in the Netherlands.
The language is simple, the story is poignant. The author said about her style: “You have to write soberly about a dramatic event, otherwise it becomes melodrama.” It is indeed clear enough to say that a police car entered the street, no need to say it was used for a raid. That style principle works very well. It also helps that as little as possible is told about the surrounding world, other than telling about the damaged and empty houses of people in the next street. One of the crucial images, in my opinion, is on page 64, where Dave (brother of the narrator) about going into hiding says: “enough doors will be open for us.” Then the narrator:
“Aan die deuren moest ik denken, toen ik die nacht in bed lag en niet slapen kon. Ik dacht aan de deur die ik op Seideravond altijd open mocht zetten, opdat de vermoeide vreemdeling kon zien dat hij welkom was en mee aan mocht zitten aan onze tafel.”
“I had to think of those doors when I lay in bed that night and couldn't sleep. I thought of the door I was always allowed to open on Seder so that the weary stranger could see that he was welcome and could join us at our table.” (follows the explanation of the title)
The contrast between Dave’s optimism in this difficult situation and another kind of optimism about a worthful, religiously rooted tradition, is subtle and strong at the same time. The resemblance between the flight from the ancient Egyptians and the flight from the present Germans hits the reader. JM
This is the story of a jewish girl and her family during the WO II in the Netherlands.
The language is simple, the story is poignant. The author said about her style: “You have to write soberly about a dramatic event, otherwise it becomes melodrama.” It is indeed clear enough to say that a police car entered the street, no need to say it was used for a raid. That style principle works very well. It also helps that as little as possible is told about the surrounding world, other than telling about the damaged and empty houses of people in the next street. One of the crucial images, in my opinion, is on page 64, where Dave (brother of the narrator) about going into hiding says: “enough doors will be open for us.” Then the narrator:
“Aan die deuren moest ik denken, toen ik die nacht in bed lag en niet slapen kon. Ik dacht aan de deur die ik op Seideravond altijd open mocht zetten, opdat de vermoeide vreemdeling kon zien dat hij welkom was en mee aan mocht zitten aan onze tafel.”
“I had to think of those doors when I lay in bed that night and couldn't sleep. I thought of the door I was always allowed to open on Seder so that the weary stranger could see that he was welcome and could join us at our table.” (follows the explanation of the title)
The contrast between Dave’s optimism in this difficult situation and another kind of optimism about a worthful, religiously rooted tradition, is subtle and strong at the same time. The resemblance between the flight from the ancient Egyptians and the flight from the present Germans hits the reader. JM
August 20, 2023
Aileniz sevgi dolu. Bilhassa babanız iyimserliği ile biliniyor.
Kulaklarınıza kötü haberler çalınmaya başladığında da bu iyimserliğini koruyor: ‘Burada bir şey olmaz’ diyor. Elbette inanıyorsunuz, ta ki ailenizden geriye tek siz kalana dek..
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Hollanda’da Yahudi bir ailenin Nazilerden nasıl etkilendiğini anlatıyor, ailenin küçük kızı. Duyguları sündürmeden yapıyor bunu. Günlük kesitlerle, bir saç boyama anısıyla, bir tren yolculuğuyla..
Yazar Marga Minco’nun anlattıklarının daha uzun olmasını isterdim, onun ailesini daha iyi tanımayı da.. Bu haliyle de etkileyici ancak son sayfada çıktığınız yolun birden bittiği hissine kapılıyorsunuz~
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Leyla İleri çevirisi, Geray Gençer kapak tasarımıyla ~
Kulaklarınıza kötü haberler çalınmaya başladığında da bu iyimserliğini koruyor: ‘Burada bir şey olmaz’ diyor. Elbette inanıyorsunuz, ta ki ailenizden geriye tek siz kalana dek..
.
Hollanda’da Yahudi bir ailenin Nazilerden nasıl etkilendiğini anlatıyor, ailenin küçük kızı. Duyguları sündürmeden yapıyor bunu. Günlük kesitlerle, bir saç boyama anısıyla, bir tren yolculuğuyla..
Yazar Marga Minco’nun anlattıklarının daha uzun olmasını isterdim, onun ailesini daha iyi tanımayı da.. Bu haliyle de etkileyici ancak son sayfada çıktığınız yolun birden bittiği hissine kapılıyorsunuz~
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Leyla İleri çevirisi, Geray Gençer kapak tasarımıyla ~
March 17, 2018
Novelle met bedeesde beschrijving van een Joods meisje op de vlucht voor razzia's in Amsterdam. Vanuit ik-persoon, heel erg "show, don't tell." Nauwelijks enig vertellerscommentaar. Bijna op het cynische af nuchter, maar ook wel een beetje droogjes allemaal. Toch blijft deze literatuur noodzakelijk, misschien wel juist vanwege dat droge, dat onderkoelde, dat schrijnende accepterende.
June 27, 2017
Libro que tiene muchas coincidencias con el famoso diario de ana frank. Aquí igualmente nos encontramos con una judía holandesa en este caso la diferencia está en que ella fue la superviviente de su familia y nos cuenta su experiencia en esta obra. Muy recomendable
May 15, 2019
Na jaren herlezen en vond het nu nog mooier en aangrijpender.
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November 21, 2025"Saklanmak" dedim, "hayattan çekilmek gibi bir şey bence"s.41
İkinci Dünya Savaşı hakkında çok sayıda kitap yazıldı ve film yapıldı. Bu zaman, utançlarla dolu karanlık bir dönemdi ve bu karanlık dönem sanat ve edebiyat yoluyla insanlara anlatıldı. Savaş bitti ama toplama kamplarında yaşanan acı gunler hatıralardan silinmedi. Acı Otlar, Nazi İşgali sırasında Hollanda'da yaşayan Yahudi bir ailenin başından geçenleri konu olan otobiyografik bir roman. Yazar Marga Minco, 14 ve 15 yaşlarında yaşadığı bu süreci kısa ve etkili cümlelerle okuyucuya anlatmış. Avrupa'yı saran Nazi İşgali, ilk başta hikayedeki ailemiz tarafından pek anlaşılmıyor. Ne olabilir ki, burada birşey olmaz diyerek olaya iyimser bir bakış açısıyla bakıyorlar. Yavaş yavaş evlerini terkeden insanlar, boşalan dükkanlar, paltolarına dikilen yıldızlarla ötekileştiren insanlar karanlık ve kötü günlerin geleceğini hissettirmeye başlayınca aile yaşadıkları yeri terkediyor. Bu terkedişler bazen bütün aile ile birlikte bazen bireysel olarak gerçekleşiyor ve aile en sonunda birbirinden kopuyor. Kimlik değiştirmeler, saklanmalar bu süreçle birlikte geliyor. Yazar ailesini toplama kamplarında kaybediyor ve kendi bu savaşta sağ kalmayı başarıyor. Kısa ve etkili bir metin. Iyi okumalar dilerim.
İkinci Dünya Savaşı hakkında çok sayıda kitap yazıldı ve film yapıldı. Bu zaman, utançlarla dolu karanlık bir dönemdi ve bu karanlık dönem sanat ve edebiyat yoluyla insanlara anlatıldı. Savaş bitti ama toplama kamplarında yaşanan acı gunler hatıralardan silinmedi. Acı Otlar, Nazi İşgali sırasında Hollanda'da yaşayan Yahudi bir ailenin başından geçenleri konu olan otobiyografik bir roman. Yazar Marga Minco, 14 ve 15 yaşlarında yaşadığı bu süreci kısa ve etkili cümlelerle okuyucuya anlatmış. Avrupa'yı saran Nazi İşgali, ilk başta hikayedeki ailemiz tarafından pek anlaşılmıyor. Ne olabilir ki, burada birşey olmaz diyerek olaya iyimser bir bakış açısıyla bakıyorlar. Yavaş yavaş evlerini terkeden insanlar, boşalan dükkanlar, paltolarına dikilen yıldızlarla ötekileştiren insanlar karanlık ve kötü günlerin geleceğini hissettirmeye başlayınca aile yaşadıkları yeri terkediyor. Bu terkedişler bazen bütün aile ile birlikte bazen bireysel olarak gerçekleşiyor ve aile en sonunda birbirinden kopuyor. Kimlik değiştirmeler, saklanmalar bu süreçle birlikte geliyor. Yazar ailesini toplama kamplarında kaybediyor ve kendi bu savaşta sağ kalmayı başarıyor. Kısa ve etkili bir metin. Iyi okumalar dilerim.
October 6, 2019
Hollandia, második világháború, holokauszt. A RaRe-köteteknél hiányolni szoktam az utószót, de itt, meg kell hagyni, valóban nincs szükség rá. A fenti négy szó épp elegendő kontextust teremt ahhoz, hogy értsük és érezzük, mi történik. (Már ha megvannak hozzá a megfelelő szerveink.) Mert azok, akik átélték, még ennyit sem tudtak, ezért is igyekeztek beilleszteni a normalitásba, a hétköznapi élet keretei közé azt, ami felfoghatatlan és beilleszthetetlen. Minco elképesztően szűkszavú prózája kevés szóval is tökéletesen érzékelteti ezt a hiábavaló (és önpusztító) igyekezetet – az az epizód a sárga csillagokkal például a legjobb jelenetek egyike, amit valaha a holokausztról írtak. Pedig hát – milyen köznapi. Milyen triviális. De pont ez a lényeg: hogy itt csak mellékesen van szó zsidókról. Itt valójában köznapi emberekről beszélünk. Szerintem ezt kell megérteni.
Lapszéli jegyzet önmagamnak: szóba ne hozd Anne Frankot!
Lapszéli jegyzet önmagamnak: szóba ne hozd Anne Frankot!
August 12, 2018
Voor mijn Hebban challenge , een boek uit mijn geboortejaar, lijst en ouder dan tien jaar gelezen.
Klein maar mooi verhaal.
Klein maar mooi verhaal.
April 7, 2025
Mjaaa wel primaaaa iswelokeeee maar boeiuh
July 31, 2023
Amazing book in its simplicity and its depth. How moving to read her experience of the deportations work camps and gas chambers closing in, but both knowing and unknowing it.
Were the few occasions when reality leaks through art or error?
Were the few occasions when reality leaks through art or error?
November 26, 2009
Iedereen is altijd vol lof over dit boek, maar om eerlijk te zijn zie ik niet in waarom.
Het moet een zielig verhaal zijn, oorlog, familie dood etc.
Maar het is zo saai en kinderlijk geschreven dat het mijn gevoel niet wist te pakken. En ik huil om alles, echt alles, maar ik heb geen traan gelaten om dit boek.
Het is dat het 90 pagina's is anders had ik hem niet uitgelezen.
Het idee van het boek klinkt goed, oorlogsverhalen zijn vaak erg zielig. En ik hou van zielige boeken.
Maar deze stelde me een beetje teleur.
De hoofdpersonen zijn saai beschreven, het is onduidelijk en het had veel beter kunnen zijn dan het is geworden.
Erg jammer.
Het moet een zielig verhaal zijn, oorlog, familie dood etc.
Maar het is zo saai en kinderlijk geschreven dat het mijn gevoel niet wist te pakken. En ik huil om alles, echt alles, maar ik heb geen traan gelaten om dit boek.
Het is dat het 90 pagina's is anders had ik hem niet uitgelezen.
Het idee van het boek klinkt goed, oorlogsverhalen zijn vaak erg zielig. En ik hou van zielige boeken.
Maar deze stelde me een beetje teleur.
De hoofdpersonen zijn saai beschreven, het is onduidelijk en het had veel beter kunnen zijn dan het is geworden.
Erg jammer.
May 6, 2024
Ben kitabı gayet yeterli buldum, bazı okurlar biraz daha uzun olmasını beklemişler ama bence yazar anlatmak istediklerini anlatmayı gayet iyi başarmış. Sevdiğim bir kitap oldu.
Geçmişinde böyle büyük bir soykırım yaşayan bir topluluğun bugün benzerini Filistin'de yapıyor olması da gerçekten çok çok acı verici ve düşündürücü.
Tüm savaşların bir gün son bulmasını, masum canların daha fazla acı çekmemesini umuyorum.
Geçmişinde böyle büyük bir soykırım yaşayan bir topluluğun bugün benzerini Filistin'de yapıyor olması da gerçekten çok çok acı verici ve düşündürücü.
Tüm savaşların bir gün son bulmasını, masum canların daha fazla acı çekmemesini umuyorum.
September 29, 2017
Geschreven vanuit het perspectief van een kind dat de ontwakenende oorlog ervaart neemt Minco de lezer mee naar een tijd in de geschiedenis waar niemand nog wist tot welke genzen van de absurditeit de mensheid in staat was. Het Bittere Kruid is vergelijkbaar met Hadashi No Gen in klaarheid en intensiteit.
July 10, 2020
Aangrijpend in zijn eenvoud en zuiverheid. Door de vertelwijze kwam alles erg dichtbij. Héél mooi boekje.
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