Jane's Review: 'The Discomfort of Evening Marieke' By Lucas Rijneveld

This profound novel portrays the disturbing depths to which a family can fall through grieving.

The Author talks of her growing up with the sense of a “threatening, cruel God” and this thread is present throughout the novel.

 Jas, a ten year old girl, with a unique way of experiencing life lives in a rural farming community in The Netherlands where there are strict rules which as a child she questions, debates and barters verbally within herself. She’s bewildered by the adult world of which she is on the brink of entering but at present is barred. Why does her Father as Christmas approaches insist on over feeding her pet rabbit. Does her Mother care for Jews she secretly keeps in the cellar. Questions without answers for this enquiring perhaps over imaginative mind which is grieving alone.

This book is cruel, base and feral containing a closeness to Nature which is quite shocking. Jas is a special child searching for a kindred soul with whom to share her thoughts. Sadly that soul is not there.

 A remarkable first novel. Winner of the 2020 International Booker Prize. An award so well deserved.