Reading the 20th Century discussion

Judy wrote in September 2020:


"The Evenings: A Winter's Tale by Dutch author Gerard Reve is another one I've been meaning to get to"

Have you got to it yet Judy? You mentioned that you hope to read it in 2021. It's been on my radar for a while, since a friend recommended it.

I am up for a buddy read


Gerard Reve's debut novel De Avonden aka The Evenings: A Winter's Tale caused a sensation when published in the Netherlands in 1947 and is now considered a classic in that country.

In the words of Herman Koch, it may be 'the funniest, most exhilarating novel about boredom ever written'.

Reve was only 24 when he wrote it and went on to have a long, successful and frequently scandalous career but only a handful of his books have been translated into English.


What's brought it to the forefront of my mind is that the most recent Backlisted Podcast discussed The Evenings: A Winter's Tale

https://www.backlisted.fm/episodes/13...


I'm definitely going to be reading The Evenings: A Winter's Tale - and already have my copy

If Judy, or anyone else, fancies a buddy read then please reply


The Guardian review...

The Evenings by Gerard Reve review – a masterpiece, translated at long last

The emptiness of suburban life in postwar Amsterdam makes for comedy of the highest order

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...


More about The Evenings: A Winter's Tale...

'I work in an office. I take cards out of a file. Once I have taken them out, I put them back in again. That is it.'

Twenty-three-year-old Frits - office worker, daydreamer, teller of inappropriate jokes - finds life absurd and inexplicable. He lives with his parents, who drive him mad. He has terrible, disturbing dreams of death and destruction. Sometimes he talks to a toy rabbit.

This is the story of ten evenings in Frits's life at the end of December, as he drinks, smokes, sees friends, aimlessly wanders the gloomy city streets and tries to make sense of the minutes, hours and days that stretch before him.

Darkly funny and mesmerising, The Evenings takes the tiny, quotidian triumphs and heartbreaks of our everyday lives and turns them into a work of brilliant wit and profound beauty.

I'd be up for The Evenings: A Winter's Tale, Nigeyb - I haven't got to it yet so thanks for the reminder! I've been tempted by it for ages, as you say. Oddly, it doesn't seem to be on Kindle but only in paperback and on audible - I love the cover you have posted above!

When did you want to read it? I am happy to fit in with you, Nigeyb. Sorry to be slow in replying but I'm working all this bank holiday weekend (though I will have time off next week when others are back to work!)

Looks like we don't have any buddy reads in July yet if you would like to do it soon? But I would also be fine with later in the year.

July is great. Unless you’d prefer to delay?

Thanks Nigeyb. I've just ordered it from the library so July should suit me well, as my last order came through very quickly.

I’m in if I can get it from the library in time.

That's good to hear Margaret. Would we be better to go for a later start date, or are we OK to say July and put it back if needed?

We could always go for August instead? There is a buddy read that month already, but only one.

Let's schedule it for July and if either of you can't get the book in time we can delay by a month

Really looking forward to reading this with you both

Anyone else tempted?

That sounds good, Nigeyb. I'm really looking forward to it too.

I decided to buy it (as one does...) and it should arrive in time for a July BR - thanks, I'm a backlisted podcast fan so I'm glad we're going to read this!

What’s the written equivalent of music to my ears?


A cucumber for my eyes?

Either way that’s how I felt when I read your post Margaret

Hurrah

Nigeyb wrote: "What’s the written equivalent of music to my ears?


A cucumber for my eyes?

Either way that’s how I felt when I read your post Margaret

Hurrah"

📚😎

Great news, Margaret. A copy is also already "in transit" to me via the library, so I should be fine to join in too. :)

I've now finished our mid July buddy read


The Evenings: A Winter's Tale (1947) by Dutch author Gerard Reve

I'm hoping other buddy read participants like it more than I did. I must confess I was a little underwhelmed and am hoping, by dampening down your expectations, you might get more out of it.

That said, I think there is still an interesting discussion to be had and I keenly await mid-July when we can get into it.