De avonden

Questions About De avonden

by Gerard Reve

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Answered Questions (2)

This an ancient book, mandatory at Dutch High-schools. I've read it about 50 years ago and as it is situated in the Netherlands at the end of world war II it can hardly be interesting to modern times people. You should stop reading it. It's not worth it and I wonder why it has been translated. Is there anybody who enjoyed it? I didn't.
Matthew Stanton I read it recently. I enjoyed it very much! I found the style unique. It's a dark, funny and also very sad book. I particularly liked the dream sequen…moreI read it recently. I enjoyed it very much! I found the style unique. It's a dark, funny and also very sad book. I particularly liked the dream sequences.(less)
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I have only just started 'The Evenings', on page 76 now. I haven't made an opinion of the book yet, or at least it's starting to grow on me, I think I'm either going to love or hate it. I'm interested in what Dutch people feel about it, if they have read it in either Dutch or English?
LucyInTheSky I see that by now you've finished reading the book with a 3-star rating - can I conclude that in the end you didn't love it nor hate it?

I'm going to t…moreI see that by now you've finished reading the book with a 3-star rating - can I conclude that in the end you didn't love it nor hate it?

I'm going to try to shed some light on your question, but I don't think there's a general straight-forward answer. So in that sense, it would be nice if some more people would reply.

As I'm Dutch, I've read the book in Dutch. This of course fits well with the place and time in which the story is set, and since the book is getting older the kind of old fashioned language adds to the story as well. I can't really say what Dutch people feel about The Evenings in general, since it differs a lot. Some people love it, others find it dreadful/horrible. I'm too young to have lived through the period of time shortly after the war, so for me this book only gives a glimpse of what it was or could have been like. I can imagine that for people who lived through that time, the book has a whole different meaning.

On top of that, as you've probably noticed, the book has a very specific type of dark humor. Personally I love it: The Evenings is one of my favorite books, and I like to reread it every once in a while. But this type of humor is certainly not appreciated by all. Of course that doesn't only go for Dutch people.

Lastly, as mentioned in a different question, in high school in The Netherlands it is mandatory to read a certain amount of Dutch literature, to be chosen from a literature list. The Evenings is on the list, since it's seen as one of the classics. The mandatory reading has lead to some people hating this book: they had to read it at a too young age, while lacking interest, etc. I think I would have disliked this book if I'd chosen to read it in high school, even though I love it now. So as you can probably imagine, the mandatory reading also influences the way this book is viewed.

As you see there's not a short general answer to your question, but I hope it gives you some more insight. I also hope that another Dutch reader (maybe from a different generation) will reply as well. Interesting question!(less)
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