{"title":"Jaap Robben","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJaap Robben\u003c\/strong\u003e explores the nuances of human experience through richly crafted narratives that blend emotional depth with stark realism. His works often delve into complex family dynamics and the fragile boundaries between innocence and harsh reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect a compelling mix of general fiction and graphic storytelling, where evocative prose meets vivid imagery. Whether through the poignant reflections of \u003cem\u003eAfterlight\u003c\/em\u003e or the imaginative layers of \u003cem\u003eBiography of a Fly\u003c\/em\u003e, Robben's stories resonate with a haunting yet tender perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"afterlight-by-jaap-robben-9781642861471","title":"Afterlight","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWith its tight sentences and a fast pace, \u003cem\u003eAfterlight\u003c\/em\u003e moves like detective fiction. It's a poignant novel in which a single pregnant woman is mistreated in her conservative society; she remains resilient and determined to honour her baby's memory.' Foreword Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe young free-spirited florist Frieda grew up in a strictly Catholic environment in the 1960s. When she steps onto a frozen river on a late winter afternoon, little does she know that everything is about to change for her. On the ice, she meets the married Otto. They experience a love that begins stormy and ends fatefully: Frieda becomes pregnant—a scandal in the world in which she moves. And so, she must never be the mother of her secret child.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor decades, she kept her memories of this episode in her life to herself. But the grief for the lost child remains, despite the later marriage, despite the son she still has. At the age of eighty-one, Frieda is suddenly alone again. The silent sorrow returns with force. Only then does she dare to face her story—and to share it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith \u003cem\u003eAfterlight\u003c\/em\u003e, inspired by true events, Robben not only pulls back the veil on Frieda's story, but also shines a light on the experiences of countless women between the 1950s and 1980s. The result is an impressive story about buried female trauma, caused by society, organised religion, and the dominant social mores.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47485752967404,"sku":"9781642861471","price":34.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781642861471-afterlight.jpg?v=1775714819"},{"product_id":"summer-brother-by-jaap-robben-9781642860702","title":"Summer Brother","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLonGLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2021\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn this honest, tender account of brotherly love, thirteen-year-old Brian is tasked with caring for his disabled older brother.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThirteen-year-old Brian lives in a trailer on a forgotten patch of land with his divorced and uncaring father. His older brother Lucien, physically and mentally disabled, has been institutionalised for years. While Lucien's home is undergoing renovations, he is sent to live with his father and younger brother for the summer. Their detached father leaves Brian to care for Lucien's special needs. But how do you look after someone when you don't know what they need? How do you make the right choices when you still have so much to discover?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSummer Brother\u003c\/i\u003e is an honest, tender account of brotherly love, which will resonate with readers of \u003ci\u003eRain Man\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A sensitive yet unsentimental depiction of poverty and disability from the perspective of an abled character.' - \u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A tragic tale of generational dysfunction.' - Publishers Weekly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'The book's language is precise and forthright as Brian observes, and portrays in stark terms, the intense, awkward, and lovely actions of those around him. Sharp exchanges reveal characters who are witty and earnest in equal measure. \u003ci\u003eSummer Brother\u003c\/i\u003e is a harrowing novel about dysfunctional family dynamics and the universal awkwardness of being a teenager.' - \u003ci\u003eForeword Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47487551308012,"sku":"9781642860702","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/fe2cf08c8ca76f7acc8d4fe650391bc2.jpg?v=1775774419"},{"product_id":"you-have-me-to-love-by-jaap-robben-9781642860016","title":"You Have Me to Love","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eYou Have Me to Love\u003c\/i\u003e is an intense and dramatic novel filled with meticulous use of detail and a forensic psychological accuracy. Its power comes from the fierce energy of the narrative structure, the way of handling silence and pain, and the ability to confront the darkest areas of experience with clear-eyed sympathy and care. Jaap Robben handles delicate, dangerous material with subtlety and sympathy, but also with a visionary sense of truth that is masterly and unforgettable. - Colm Tóibín\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMikael lives with his parents on an island somewhere between Scotland and Norway. One day, Mikael's father saves him from drowning in the ocean, but is himself thrown against the rocks by a wave and disappears under water. In shock and unable to speak, Mikael blocks out the memory of what took place, silently joining his mother in the search for his missing father. As Mikael's mother realizes her husband has drowned, the relationship between her and Mikael transforms: she slowly starts to unravel, forcing the son to replace his father in every possible way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47487786975468,"sku":"9781642860016","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/d61560e41d4b93beb3df2689190d844a.jpg?v=1775768540"},{"product_id":"biography-of-a-fly-by-jaap-robben-9781642861242","title":"Biography of a Fly","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor readers of \u003ci\u003eThe Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse\u003c\/i\u003e comes a beautifully illustrated philosophical book on the value of friendship and life, told from the perspective of a fly, and a gift book for all ages.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat if you were thrown into existence in the middle of your life, with numbered days left ahead of you? Would you see the world in the same way? In his inimitable style, Jaap Robben answers these questions through the unexpectedly witty lens of a fly, from the moment it enters the world as a larva right up to its deathbed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWatch this humble fly throw himself into life and his unlikely friendships with gusto, however short that life may be. Irresistibly charming, funny, and sprinkled with entomological details, this is a moving tale for any stage of life, about how we are all ultimately alone, and yet also together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47536313172204,"sku":"9781642861242","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781642861242-biography-of-a-fly.jpg?v=1776380559"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/jaap-robben.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}