tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post2393744286344158158..comments2024-03-13T07:34:24.149+00:00Comments on The Age of Uncertainty: Going DutchSteerforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-33103003226452071562009-03-28T11:46:00.000+00:002009-03-28T11:46:00.000+00:00Mulisch's "Siegfried", about Hitler's love-child, ...Mulisch's "Siegfried", about Hitler's love-child, is really good too (and nowhere near as lurid as that brief description would suggest).<BR/><BR/>Louis Couperus is great. And for your Hungarians, there's the sudden Sandor Marai revivial, and Frigyes Karinthy's amazing 'A Journey Around My Skull'.JRSMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430775461763521797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-41101677973150573782009-03-26T11:13:00.000+00:002009-03-26T11:13:00.000+00:00Hmm - I do know what you mean, even if you take TV...Hmm - I do know what you mean, even if you take TV as an example they have HB0, we have Channel 4 and reality shows.<BR/>But...I guess I am trying to say it is something about the cultural background of the country. I'm ashamed of my rubbish education in the company of Canadian, Czech's, French, Russians and so on. But a little proud of what I at least know in front of Israeli's and American. If you see where I'm coming from?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-56263641502133950122009-03-26T11:06:00.000+00:002009-03-26T11:06:00.000+00:00This is what I like about blogging - casting an ha...This is what I like about blogging - casting an half-baked idea into the ether and receiving intelligent comment and recommendations.<BR/><BR/>I only know Tim Krabbe through the excellent film 'The Vanishing' (original version, of course) so I'll try The Rider.<BR/><BR/>I've never heard of Louis Couperus, so I shall definitely follow this up.<BR/><BR/>Tattyhouse - I'm not sure I'd agree about America. I think its literary culture is more vibrant than Britain's these days.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-3619590019754068412009-03-26T08:38:00.000+00:002009-03-26T08:38:00.000+00:00Can I point you in the direction of The Rider by T...Can I point you in the direction of The Rider by Tim Krabbe. Not only the greatest cycling book ever written, but a masterpiece of writing, untangling the state of mind of a racer as his race unfolds, slipping from memories, to stream of consciousness, into second by second real-time. One of the few novels I've read more than three times.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09437116383245232388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-74821545592218470312009-03-26T08:12:00.000+00:002009-03-26T08:12:00.000+00:00I think it is all about the value placed on cultur...I think it is all about the value placed on culture within the country; the cultural inheritance and bohemian so to speak. Thus, Ireland who value the written word are great, Russia the same, and America - not so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-17461372701701325972009-03-26T06:50:00.000+00:002009-03-26T06:50:00.000+00:00There a couple of really good writers in the Nethe...There a couple of really good writers in the Netherlands, but most of the books produced here are just mediocre, I am afraid. <BR/>But have you tried <I>The Hidden Force</I> by Louis Couperus yet? It's a mesmerizing novel set in Indonesia, written about a century ago AND available in English. Highly recommended.Anna van Gelderenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09224217925580810877noreply@blogger.com