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Êxodo
"O tempo é velho aqui. Mais velho do que a queimada e rachada Terra, mais velho do que arbustos murchos e do que a estrada empoeirada que corre pelo deserto como uma cobra lenta em direção ao horizonte, vacilante sob o calor.
Eu não me lembro mais por quanto tempo estive aqui, mas me sinto como aquela cobra - para sempre em direção a um destino fora do alcance da vista. É somente quando eu olho para cima que eu vejo o que o meu coração almeja. O infinito céu azul. Minhas visões são azuis. Meus olhos estão famintos.
A cabana fica à beira do que um dia provavelmente foi um lago. Quando vou lá fora e piso na varanda durante a hora mais quente do dia, o ar é tão quente que deixa tudo embaçado e ondulado, enchendo o lago com algo parecido com água novamente. Ainda assim aquela miragem não sacia a minha sede pelo azul.
O relógio acima da porta está quebrado. O tempo não é só velho aqui - ele parece simplesmente não passar.
E ainda assim eu espero."
Êxodo ganhou segundo lugar no prêmio Harland (concurso de ficções curtas), um prêmio holandês de prestígio para estórias e romances de fantasia e ficção científica. Trata-se de uma estória sobre o fim do mundo, uma adolescente solitária que tenta desesperadamente deixar a Terra antes que seja tarde demais, a sua busca por redenção. O júri descreveu Êxodo como sendo uma estória com uma “mensagem bela e profunda”.
Eu não me lembro mais por quanto tempo estive aqui, mas me sinto como aquela cobra - para sempre em direção a um destino fora do alcance da vista. É somente quando eu olho para cima que eu vejo o que o meu coração almeja. O infinito céu azul. Minhas visões são azuis. Meus olhos estão famintos.
A cabana fica à beira do que um dia provavelmente foi um lago. Quando vou lá fora e piso na varanda durante a hora mais quente do dia, o ar é tão quente que deixa tudo embaçado e ondulado, enchendo o lago com algo parecido com água novamente. Ainda assim aquela miragem não sacia a minha sede pelo azul.
O relógio acima da porta está quebrado. O tempo não é só velho aqui - ele parece simplesmente não passar.
E ainda assim eu espero."
Êxodo ganhou segundo lugar no prêmio Harland (concurso de ficções curtas), um prêmio holandês de prestígio para estórias e romances de fantasia e ficção científica. Trata-se de uma estória sobre o fim do mundo, uma adolescente solitária que tenta desesperadamente deixar a Terra antes que seja tarde demais, a sua busca por redenção. O júri descreveu Êxodo como sendo uma estória com uma “mensagem bela e profunda”.
- GenresScience Fiction
37 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2019
1 person is currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Jen Minkman
87 books505 followersJen Minkman (1978) writes YA paranormal romance, dystopian fiction and poetry. She is from the Netherlands and self-publishes her work in English. Her works are available in paperback & digital format (ebook and audio).
You can subscribe to her newsletter here > http://eepurl.com/bTXSWv
Jen was born in the Netherlands and lived in Austria, Belgium and the UK during her studies. She learned how to read at the age of three and has never stopped reading since. Her favourite books to read are (YA) paranormal/fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian and romance, and this is reflected in the stories she writes. In her home country, she is a trade-published author of paranormal romance and chicklit. Across the border, she is a self-published author of poetry, paranormal romance and dystopian fiction. Her books are already available in English, Dutch, Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Afrikaans.
She currently resides in The Hague where she works and lives with her husband and two noisy zebra finches.
You can subscribe to her newsletter here > http://eepurl.com/bTXSWv
Jen was born in the Netherlands and lived in Austria, Belgium and the UK during her studies. She learned how to read at the age of three and has never stopped reading since. Her favourite books to read are (YA) paranormal/fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian and romance, and this is reflected in the stories she writes. In her home country, she is a trade-published author of paranormal romance and chicklit. Across the border, she is a self-published author of poetry, paranormal romance and dystopian fiction. Her books are already available in English, Dutch, Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Afrikaans.
She currently resides in The Hague where she works and lives with her husband and two noisy zebra finches.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 18, 2016
The Earth is a shadow of itself, decimated by another world war and only the fortunate few are allowed passage to Mars while the masses will wait to die. Sarah waits for her aunt, a member of the government to retrieve her, because they have been afforded tickets on the last flight to Mars. The hellish heat continues for days as Sarah sits, always searching the dusty horizon for signs of life, for one person, her aunt.
Then it happens, a figure, alone is coming toward her, not a mirage and not her aunt, but a man who will show Sarah the truth of her past and of her future.
Always expect a thought-provoking and intense read when picking up one of Jen Minkman’s books. Exodus is a powerhouse of “moments.” Into these short pages is a tale that will captivate its reader from start to a finish one will NOT see coming, and yet, the clues were there…
I received this copy from Jen Minkman in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Dutch Venture Publishing (May 9, 2016)
Publication Date: May 9, 2016
Genre: Fantasy | Scifi
Print Length: 31 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Then it happens, a figure, alone is coming toward her, not a mirage and not her aunt, but a man who will show Sarah the truth of her past and of her future.
Always expect a thought-provoking and intense read when picking up one of Jen Minkman’s books. Exodus is a powerhouse of “moments.” Into these short pages is a tale that will captivate its reader from start to a finish one will NOT see coming, and yet, the clues were there…
I received this copy from Jen Minkman in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Dutch Venture Publishing (May 9, 2016)
Publication Date: May 9, 2016
Genre: Fantasy | Scifi
Print Length: 31 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 7, 2017
Helaas kan je niet alles van een auteur goed vinden. En ondanks dat Exodus goed geschreven is, trekt het verhaal me niet echt. De mooie cover daarentegen weer wel ;)
June 19, 2016
Exodus is een zeer intrigerend post-apocalyptisch verhaal, dat opeens een heel onverwachte wending neemt. De wereld zit ontzettend goed in elkaar, zeker als je bedenkt dat het slechts een kortverhaal is. Een verhaal dat je doet snakken naar meer!
Mijn uitgebreide recensie vind je op Oog op de Toekomst.
Mijn uitgebreide recensie vind je op Oog op de Toekomst.
August 4, 2024
Ondanks dat het een kort verhaal is, zit het goed in elkaar en ishet er 1 met een boodschap. 4.25 ⭐️
June 8, 2016
*sniffs*Dear Lord, I had my suspicions, but that ending just stabbed me in the heart and kicked me to the ground.*sniffs* *shakes fist at Jen Minkman for breaking my heart and making me cry over this MC, and for writing such an awesome, heartbreaking, beautiful, magnificent short story*
It started off a bit slow, but then I was sucked up into the story, and quite soon I had my suspicions about Sarah, about Rachel, of course I kept hoping it wouldn't be true, I kept hoping for something different, but as the story continued, as the stranger (I also recognized Him) came into the story, I knew enough. Though I didn't expect the ending, yes, I knew about one of the characters (and I faintly had my suspicions about the other one), but I didn't expect that to have happened. Wow. Wow, and WOW. So yes, tears just ran down, especially with what happens afterwards. It was just beautiful, sad, heartbreaking. I won't say much more, because I don't want to spoil anything.
I also loved that there were parts that told us about the past. About what happened to our planet, why Sarah went to Jerusalem. It give us a bigger insight in Sarah. And even though this story is only about ~30 pages long, it is super effective, and the worldbuilding is just perfection. I could just see the wars, I could see the world dying bit by bit thanks to humanity's stupidity.
I wouldn't mind a longer story about the wars, and maybe even about other characters. I wouldn't mind exploring this broken world some more. Sarah's story is done, I wouldn't want a longer story about her because that would do discredit to this story, but I wouldn't mind another character, maybe someone who can go aboard the ships but decides not to, or finds out another way. I would love that so much.
All in all, this book will break you, it will make you cry, it is effective, it is beautiful, and yes, Jen Minkman did it once again. I would highly recommend this short story.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
It started off a bit slow, but then I was sucked up into the story, and quite soon I had my suspicions about Sarah, about Rachel, of course I kept hoping it wouldn't be true, I kept hoping for something different, but as the story continued, as the stranger (I also recognized Him) came into the story, I knew enough. Though I didn't expect the ending, yes, I knew about one of the characters (and I faintly had my suspicions about the other one), but I didn't expect that to have happened. Wow. Wow, and WOW. So yes, tears just ran down, especially with what happens afterwards. It was just beautiful, sad, heartbreaking. I won't say much more, because I don't want to spoil anything.
I also loved that there were parts that told us about the past. About what happened to our planet, why Sarah went to Jerusalem. It give us a bigger insight in Sarah. And even though this story is only about ~30 pages long, it is super effective, and the worldbuilding is just perfection. I could just see the wars, I could see the world dying bit by bit thanks to humanity's stupidity.
I wouldn't mind a longer story about the wars, and maybe even about other characters. I wouldn't mind exploring this broken world some more. Sarah's story is done, I wouldn't want a longer story about her because that would do discredit to this story, but I wouldn't mind another character, maybe someone who can go aboard the ships but decides not to, or finds out another way. I would love that so much.
All in all, this book will break you, it will make you cry, it is effective, it is beautiful, and yes, Jen Minkman did it once again. I would highly recommend this short story.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
May 16, 2016
A good, short read about the world in it's last death throes. Sarah is at her old cottage waiting for her aunt, her last surviving relative to come and get her so they can flee Earth together on the last ship off this planet. Alone, the story flashes back as she thinks on the events that brought her and the world to this point. Then, a stranger appears, not her aunt, and things get interesting.
It's an interesting tale of survival in a post-apocalypse world with some religious elements, but without getting inundated with them.
I really enjoyed it.
It's an interesting tale of survival in a post-apocalypse world with some religious elements, but without getting inundated with them.
I really enjoyed it.
May 16, 2016
O-ké! Verrassend, origineel en anders dan anders. Leuk boekje!
Natuurlijk was ik er zo door, maar goed, daar is het een kort verhaal voor. Het verhaal krijgt een heel bijzondere wending en ik ben echt gek op plotwendingen en verrassingen in een verhaal. Ook de afwisseling tussen haar huidige en vroegere leven is mooi om te lezen, want zo krijg je inzicht in het personage. Ik ben het volledig eens met de Harland Awards: mooie boodschap en goed plot. Top gedaan!
Natuurlijk was ik er zo door, maar goed, daar is het een kort verhaal voor. Het verhaal krijgt een heel bijzondere wending en ik ben echt gek op plotwendingen en verrassingen in een verhaal. Ook de afwisseling tussen haar huidige en vroegere leven is mooi om te lezen, want zo krijg je inzicht in het personage. Ik ben het volledig eens met de Harland Awards: mooie boodschap en goed plot. Top gedaan!
May 15, 2016
I loved this sci-fi novella. Jen's book won second place and I can see why it was chosen. Creative, drawing, suspenseful & moving, with a relatable yet surprising ending. It's a great short read that stays with you. Congrats Jen, thanks for writing a great story.
May 17, 2016
Now this is a twist I was not expecting. A well written story that gives you all of the before information as little memories all leading up to an unexpected finish. Fear, anger, guilt, forgiveness all lead for a great story. Well done.
October 29, 2016
Mooi kort verhaal waarin een wereld neergezet wordt die menigeen vreest. Slechts 33 pagina's lang (digitale versie), maar toch weet jen Minkman je mee te nemen in een wereld die echt is, goed omschreven is.
November 10, 2016
Dit boekje sleurt je vanaf de eerste pagina mee in een geweldig geschreven novelle. Zeker een aanrader!
December 29, 2023
"De tijd is hier oud. Ouder dan de gescheurde en geblakerde grond, ouder dan de uitgedroogde begroeiing en de stoffige weg die zich als een trage slang door de woestijn slingert op weg naar de trillende horizon."
Wie bekend is met de boeken van Jen Minkman weet dat zij een meester is in het creëren van mooie verhalen in interessante werelden, die meteen bijzonder zijn maar uiteindelijk door een diepere betekenis nóg bijzonderder blijken te zijn. Zo ook de wereld waarin Sara leeft. Het is weliswaar een kort verhaal, maar het maakt me zo nieuwsgierig dat ik zou willen dat het verhaal vele malen langer was. Prachtig maar hartverscheurend einde. Wederom een aanrader!
"Als je niet weet waar je heen gaat, weet je dan wie je bent?"
Wie bekend is met de boeken van Jen Minkman weet dat zij een meester is in het creëren van mooie verhalen in interessante werelden, die meteen bijzonder zijn maar uiteindelijk door een diepere betekenis nóg bijzonderder blijken te zijn. Zo ook de wereld waarin Sara leeft. Het is weliswaar een kort verhaal, maar het maakt me zo nieuwsgierig dat ik zou willen dat het verhaal vele malen langer was. Prachtig maar hartverscheurend einde. Wederom een aanrader!
"Als je niet weet waar je heen gaat, weet je dan wie je bent?"
April 14, 2016
Het beste kort verhaal dat ik tot nu toe gelezen heb! In onwetendheid begonnen aan dit verhaal, maar zonder dat je het beseft wordt je meegesleurd in dit luchtig boekje. Ik voelde me letterlijk zweven door het verhaal. Schrijfstijl is zeer aangenaam en smaakvol. Slechts enkele bladzijdes (bij wijze van spreken) maar een rollercoaster van gevoelens. Hij verdiende ABSOLUUT de 2de plaats. Jen, Exodus is een verhaal waar je met volle fierheid over mag stoefen! Een aanrader mensen! Een verdiende 5!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews