Book

Désanne van Brederode

People with a Hobby

Highly intriguing and clever follow-up to sensational debut

In 1994 Désanne van Brederode made a sensational debut with the novel, Ave verum Corpus/Gegroet waarlijk lichaam (Behold the True Body). In this Bildungsroman she described how a philosophy student becomes a writer, thereby alienating herself from herself through her high ideals. In Mensen met een hobby Van Brederode presents a similar character, Lilly Berkenbosch, who becomes increasingly fascinated by the Norwegian philosopher, Thorwald Hammerson. The author does, however, distance herself from her first book by putting the ideas of her protagonist into perspective.

Her lover, the photographer Tom Groenendaal, tells her that her life is like a ‘bloody awful book by one of those women who have studied philosophy but can’t get a single sentence down on paper.’ The author also puts the ironic explanation of the title into his mouth. For him, people with a hobby are people who think that life can be made to correspond to a sound theory. Lilly’s fascination irritates him, although, ironically enough, it is he who aroused her interest in Hammerson. Van Brederode strips the story of all gravity, telling it ironically.

Despite the humour, Lilly nevertheless runs away with the rather vague ideas of the Norwegian philosopher, who bears some resemblance to Kierkegaard. Each chapter starts with an extract from Hammerson’s work, which is subsequently analysed, so that a picture gradually emerges of his views on ideology and actuality, art and life. Van Brederode often present this in the form of a monologue intérieur, in which Lilly’s associations, thoughts and feelings take form. She attempts to live according to Hammerson’s ethics, which promote a pure existence, focused on the inner being, removed from life and preferably celibate - ideas that gain a grip over Lilly partly because, after two miscarriages, she feels unfit for motherhood. Nothing comes of her other dream, that of becoming a writer, either. Just how far Van Brederode puts the philosophical pretentions of her main character into perspective becomes clear at the end, where the novel actually blows up bizarrely and excitingly. Lilly has been unintentionally deceived about Hammerson by her lover, Tom, who in turn, becomes painfully aware of this.

The clever thing about Mensen met een hobby is that Désanne van Brederode succeeded in holding on to her pastiche so long and so consistently.

HP/De Tijd

A highly intriguing and clever book.

NRC Handelsblad

The richest, most astute and amusing Dutch novel I have read in years.

SD Letteren

Désanne van Brederode

Désanne van Brederode (b. 1970) studied philosophy and debuted in 1994 with the acclaimed novel Ave verum corpus/Gegroet waarlijk lichaam (Behold the True Body). She further published the novels Mensen met een hobby (People with a Hobby, 2001), Het opstaan (Standing Up, 2004) and Hart in hart

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Details

Mensen met een hobby (2001). Fiction, 405 pages.
Copies sold: 3,000

Sample translation available from the Foundation

Themes: debut

Publisher

Querido

Weteringschans 259
NL - 1017 XJ Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 760 72 10

E-mail:
[email protected]
Website:
http://www.singeluitgeverijen…

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