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The Discomfort of Evening

WINNERS OF THE BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2020
By Lucas Rijneveld
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld explores the life of a devout farming family in the Netherlands, disrupted by a tragic accident. The young narrator, Jas, navigates her grief and confusion, leading to a blend of reality and fantasy. As the family grapples with loss, the story delves into themes of innocence, isolation, and the struggle for understanding amidst turmoil.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if youโ€™re captivated by deeply evocative and heart-wrenching storytelling. It delves into the complexities of grief and family dynamics, offering a poignant exploration through the eyes of a young narrator. Its rich, vivid prose invites readers to immerse themselves into a world filled with emotional intensity and haunting beauty.

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*WINNER OF THE BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2020*: this sensational Dutch bestseller is 'a classic' (Max Porter)

*WINNER OF THE BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2020*: this sensational Dutch bestseller is 'a classic' (Max Porter) with new novel MY HEAVENLY FAVOURITE.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

WINNER OF THE BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2020

'One of the best debut novels I have ever read. Shockingly good ... A classic.' - Max Porter

The sensational Dutch bestseller:

  • 'Exceptional' (Financial Times)
  • 'Exhilarating' (Independent)
  • 'Luminous' (Observer)
  • 'Beautifully wild' (Guardian)
  • 'An earthy and irreverent new voice, thrillingly uninhibited' (New York Times)

I asked God if he please couldn't take my brother Matthies instead of my rabbit. 'Amen.'

Ten-year-old Jas has a unique way of experiencing her universe: the feeling of udder ointment on her skin as protection against harsh winters; the texture of green warts, like capers, on migrating toads; the sound of 'blush words' that aren't in the Bible. But when a tragic accident ruptures the family, her curiosity warps into a vortex of increasingly disturbing fantasiesโ€”unlocking a darkness that threatens to derail them all.

A bestselling sensation in the Netherlands, Lucas Rijneveld's radical debut novel is studded with images of wild, violent beauty: a world of language unlike any other, exquisitely captured in Michele Hutchison's translation.

'THE MOST TALKED ABOUT DEBUT NOVEL OF 2020 ALREADY' [Dazed & Confused]

ONE OF VOGUE'S TOP FIVE DEBUTS OF 2020

ONE OF THE OBSERVER'S HIGHLIGHTS OF 2020

ONE OF THE GUARDIAN'S TOP TEN BEST NEW BOOKS IN TRANSLATION

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Discomfort of Evening has been praised for its raw and haunting depiction of childhood trauma experienced by its protagonist after the untimely death of a sibling. Critics have highlighted its vivid, often unsettling imagery and the profound exploration of grief against a rural Dutch backdrop. The novel's poetic language and emotional depth have earned Rijneveld critical acclaim, though its dark themes may not appeal to every reader.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571349371

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 September 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Contributors:

  • Translated by Michele Hutchison
  • Translated by Michele Hutchison

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 240g

Pages: 288

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Lucas Rijneveld

About the Author

Lucas Rijneveld (b. 1991) grew up in a Reformed farming family in North Brabant before moving to Utrecht. One of the greatest new voices in Dutch literature, his first poetry collection, Calf's Caul, was awarded the C. Buddingh' Prize for best poetry debut in 2015, with the newspaper de Volkskrant naming him literary talent of the year. In 2018, Atlas Contact published his first novel, The Discomfort of Evening, which won the prestigious ANV Debut Prize and was a national bestseller. The UK edition won the Booker International Prize 2020. Alongside his writing career, Rijneveld works on a dairy farm.

Michele Hutchison was born in the UK and has lived in Amsterdam since 2004. After a period working as an editor, she became a literary translator from Dutch, and recently translated Lucas Rijneveld's The Discomfort of Evening which won the Booker International Prize 2020.

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