Remedies
A moving coming-of-age debut novel and a bitter comedy, written from the trenches of puberty
A blend of humour and heartbreak, Remedies tells the story of David, a 14-year-old boy who grows up in a provincial family of artists. In one long and lively stream of consciousness, he speaks of his desire to experience the full reality of life, until that reality hits home – in the form of cancer.
David is fourteen years old. As he looks at the world he now inhabits, he feels a mix of shock, cynicism, disgust... and wonder. A life full of hospital clichés, chemo treatments with names like Harry Potter spells, worried parents, hospital clowns, classmates and his years-long crush on a girl who’s out of his league.
That frustration feeds the most embittered yet delightfully vicious observations by a character who becomes more endearing from one page to the next. Such as this sentence: ‘Haarlem, the city you move to when you’ve decided to let your dreams die.’ Hoekstra’s unique style comes to the fore in this semi-autobiographical novel that contains scenes that are so harrowing, you’ve got to laugh to hide your tears.
David’s resistance to the beautiful and safe yet profoundly dull provincial city of his youth reflects his deep urge to spread his wings. Every line makes it clear how his cynicism is a defence against sliding into desperation and self-pity. Remedies is a book that makes you laugh and cry – often at the same time.
Poignant coming-of-age story about a seriously ill fourteen-year-old boy
Critically acclaimed semi-autobiographical story
Thijs Hoekstra (1998) studied political science and Dutch at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He writes stories, columns and plays. He is also the lead singer of the band Wilson A.