May's book stack
The clock is heading towards winter time, it gets dark early and the open-fire-on-in 3, 2, 1-start signal sounds right after lunch. What’s missing? A stack of fresh books. Let me take you through my favorites.
1. The Last Journey of the Forest Ranger
I gave the previous book by this author (Dirk Jan Roeleven) as a gift to five people because I found it such a beautiful story. The writer was once helped in Italy by a bicycle mechanic who repaired his bike. ‘One day I will come back and buy a new bike from you,’ he promised the Italian maker. He probably shook his head and thought his own thoughts about it, but Dirk Jan kept his word, returned, bought that bike, and decided to cycle it back to the Netherlands himself. That story, in which he of course had a lot of time for contemplation and introspection, was so beautiful that it became a bestseller.
Now, so many years later, a similar idea arose. Dirk Jan and his wife, unintentionally childless, have been driving their Subaru Forester for years. In other words: the forest ranger. If this loyal friend had 500,000 kilometers on the clock, they would bring him back to Japan. Another story with a high ‘yeah, right’ content. But then get to know Dirk Jan and his Hester. They did that and drove those 23,832 kilometers to Japan. And during that journey, everything came to the surface. Joy, love, but of course also that twisted ‘why were we not allowed to have children?’ sadness.
You can order The Last Journey of the Forest Ranger.
here
2. On the Road with Roadie – Thomas Acda.
A novel: truly, but full of autobiographical elements. He was half of a famous duo. They broke up. He had a soul and an arm, and they were very much fused together. When his girlfriend asked him to bring her dog to Los Angeles, he said: yes. It becomes a road trip (hey, I’ve got a road trip situation going on here) through America that leads to encounters with a famous DJ, a unique concert by Simon and Garfunkel, but above all also to a lot of insight into himself. Where does the drinking come from (and let’s be honest: also a touch of drugs) and that overweight. I want to know and read everything. Not in the mood to hit the street (because going to the bookstore is ultimately the most fun)?.
Then just order it here lazily.
3. Close-up – Thysia Huisman.
