Customer Reviews

Blue Mondays

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Better-than-new book by one of the greats of Dutch literature from a seller who offers a better price than ever seen anywhere, including Amazon, when the book was in print. Highly recommended.

Amazon.com suggests that readers of Arnon Grunberg's novel would also enjoy "Bible Stories for Young Children". Mr. Grunberg would no doubt enjoy that irony. Mr. Grunberg's bildungsromane about growing up in A'dam as a disaffected youth is mildly entertaining at times. In his attempt to shock us with his character's utter inability to care, his complete lack of direction and connection, however, one quickly looses interest. This is no "Goodbye Columbus" or "Catcher in the Rye" as the jacket copy writers claim.

Arnon Grunberg, 28 years old, has written a lot of columns in the newspaper "NRC Dagblad". He quit school when he was 16 for cutting classes. This amazing man, who designed a writing style which no writer has done before, debuted with "Blue Mondays". This book is definitely a gold mine. The writing style is unique, and you speed through the book, for Grunberg's sentences have this effect on the reader. This I know from the fact that I've read his other 3 books (not yet translated in English). It is very pleasent to read. I quote "Grunberg goes to the hookers a few times, and suddenly he's a famous author". The fact that he went to the hookers, just makes sure you get a strong impression on how the writer thinks, for he describes these experiences in great detail. Still, until the last part of the story, you are again and again amazed on his true, or possible made up, memories. An astonishing book from an amazing writer. A true recommendation.