Have you ever read Dutch books?

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I live in Holland, and I say they have more nice books than in Britain.
You think not?
Let it know!

[ May 12, 2003, 21:27: Message edited by: Taluntain ]

 

What Britain? WoTC is American.
If I were you, I'd ask first do you know dutch?"

 

Better than Britain? Well, I've read from both countries, and I think both have very good literature, and literature so bad I wouldn't even touch it with a 10 ft pole. There isn't really a 'better' country when it comes to literature.

 

Ahm, I am not too familiar with books in dutch. The only dutch I'ver read were manuals of East-Asian products, because the dutch translation seemed way better then the English translation. But I've heard rumours, that the Irish, Italians, Spanish and even the Danish read books too.But I can't say, if their books are usally better then the dutch ones. I have no means of comparison.

Boo the great ? Wasn't he dutch ?

 

Boo the Great was a friend of mine, but he's got banned.
And he isn't going to register himself again.

 

I've read dutch books translated into English ... does that count?

Herman Bavink
Herman Ridderbos (lots of Herman's there???)
best of all....

Abraham Kuyper! (he's my boy!)

 

I think Dutch books translated to English does not count, but ok.
How many "Dutch books" did you read than?
But I think also that English books can be fun, can't they?

 

Heheh! If translated literature does NOT count, then only Dutch speaking members would post here. What a loss for the boards if only crappy-english-speaking people are allowed to post. Nah, translated books DO count. Miffy (Nijntje) for example.

I don't know if there are much Dutch books translated to English, though. But Mat, A.Kuyper is a nice example. What book did you read? Lectures on Calvinism?

Welcom to the boards, Flying Dutchman!

 

Lectures on Calvinism. A bunch of his devotional works (can't remember the titles, but they are taken from his daily news paper column), and some other stuff. Wow, its been a long time (5 years).

I'm trying to think of other dutch books I've read. I grew up in the Reformed Church of America, which is a denomination kicked out of the Netherlands for being too conservative

I grew up in South Holland, IL, and went to Hope College in Holland, MI .... so I know that more dutch texts have been "forced upon me"

 

Actually none, but I'd love to know Dutch and even Frisian. Dreams are nice to have, but only real steps. I once applied to study in Holland, Lieden, but I'm too dumb I suppose...

Any suggestions on starters or really good Dutch literature?

 

The University of Leiden is probably the best in the Netherlands...

Some Dutch writers:
Willem Frederik Hermans
Godfried Bomans (weird first name in english!)
Harry Mulisch
These are probably considered the great 3 writers of our litle country

Tessa de Loo
Multatuli (must be dead for about 120 years now)
Adriaan van Dis
Ronald Giphart
Marga Minco
Maarten 't Hart
Tim Krabbe
Just to name a few

Let's not forget Anne Frank...

Edit:
Math, maybe you could have been in my church if your ancestors did leave this tiny sinkhole of a nation. You don't want that!

 

I've read some Dutch books, they are not all good, but on the other hand, there are also some worth reading. If I have to choose between a book in the Dutch language and a book in the English language, I would probably choose a book in English. I don't know why.

If you looking for a suggestion on Dutch poetry, read J.A. Deelder.

 

Jules Deelder. Hehe. Is he always that madman like I know him?

If you like 'nonsense-poems', read Kees Stip or John o'Mill. They are funny.
Mmh, on the other hand, nonsense-poems might be a bit difficult for the ones who just started to learn Dutch.

 

He isn't mad, he is just a bit eccentric. He just says what is on his mind in a poetic form and when you think of his poetry, it either gives you a headache or you'll see the brilliance of his work. In most poetry there is sensitivity, something psychilogical and something mysterious, but in Deelders poetry it is like nothing seems interesting to him and he usually shows the reality in a unromatic and maybe cynical way, but he is not afraid to say it. He doesn't use all sorts of ways to twist around subjects, to use beautiful words, he just says it like it is. You either like Deelder or you hate him. I think he is the only Dutch poet worth reading, but he might be indeed a bit hard to read if you don't control the Dutch language enough.

 

Multatuli and Jan Wolkers are the only writers whose works I enjoyed...

 

Yes, I've read Max Havelaar

 

I was thinking: Hey, Mathetais is back! and then I looked at some of the dates. What a pity. I particularily liked the one fellow mentioning Boo the great. I actually remember that guy!

 

Funny that Abraham Kuyper is Mathetais' boy: he founded my university

 

Ooh, nostalgia. Seeing old members' names I mean, not seeing my own posts. Because damn, did I write like that? Did I seriously think I knew what I was talking about 7 years ago? What a bunch of bollocks. Deelder is still cool tho.

Hmm, could somebody resurrect this again in 7 years? I want to know what I think about myself another 7 years older