Netherland – Joseph O’Neill

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Chosen by Suzy

In Netherland, we follow immigrant Dutchman Hans van den Broek, a financial analyst and cricket enthusiast, across a period of social turmoil following the 911 terror attacks on New York City.

At the same time, Hans’ wife Rachel leaves him, taking their son, Jake, with her. The novel focuses on how Hans copes on his own, primarily by taking part in amateur cricket leagues and befriending a mysterious man named Chuck Ramkissoon whose body is pulled from a river early on in the novel.

Despair busies one, and my weekend was spoken for. I was going to lie down on the floor of my apartment in the draft of the air conditioner and spend two days and nights traveling a circuit of regret, self-pity, and jealousy.

❚ “All appears straightforward and simple on the surface in this book, but actually it has a dark and perplexing layer to it that had me engrossed. We are told up front that Chuck’s body is going to end up being pulled from the river, which rather than giving it all away, is great incentive to read on and discover how everything goes so horribly wrong as Hans struggles for meaning in his life.” – Rachel

❚ “I found this book to move quite slowly.  The main character Hans was somewhat morose especially in comparison to Chuck and as he was the narrator this contributed to making the story tedious. Not my favourite.” – Jo

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Published 2009
Harper Prennial
340 pages