De helaasheid der dingen

by Dimitri Verhulst

Paper Book, 2006

Library's rating

Publication

Amsterdam Contact 2006

ISBN

9025427731 / 9789025427733

Language

Dutch

Collections

aanraders, Gelezen voor 2007

Description

"Sobriety and moderation are alien concepts to the men in Dimmy's family. Useless in all other respects, his three uncles have a rare talent for drinking, a flair for violence, and an unwavering commitment to the pub. And his father Pierre is no slouch either. Within hours of his son's birth, Pierre plucks him from the maternity ward, props him on his bike, and takes him on an introductory tour of the village bars. His mother soon leaves them to it and as Dimmy grows up amid the stench of stale beer, he seems destined to follow the path of his forebears and make a low-life career in inebriation, until he begins to piece together his own plan for the future. Bringing to life the shambolic upbringing that The Guardian describes as, "the odd, ugly, excremental poetry of their grubby lives," The Misfortunates "can be unexpectedly tender as well as uncomfortably funny... this novel continually surprises and intrigues.""--… (more)

Genres

General Fiction

All Topics

Fiction

Subjects

Autobiografische literatuur

Marginaliteit 1945-

User reviews

LibraryThing member thorold

Clever, some nice lines and occasionally funny, but it didn't quite manage to convince me that there was anything subversive and heroic about beery Belgitude. Just a lot of tedious and self-destructive squalor.

4 more

LibraryThing member emhromp2

What a brilliant book. Verhulst tells his bittersweet tale of his own childhood. When reading, you smell the beer and the sweat coming off the pages.

LibraryThing member shayrp76

5 Stars
*I received this ARC copy through goodreads first reads*
Dimmy is young when his mother leaves and his father moves them in with his grandmother and three uncles. Sobriety is a bad word in their house and Dimmy has to navigate his adolescent years among unapologetic alcoholics and chaotic

relationships. It is expected for Dimmy to follow in their footsteps but life could always pass on an opportunity if he’s willing to take it.
As someone who has seen loved ones battle the disease of alcoholism this novel felt familiar in some ways. A lot of readers will be able to relate on some level which makes this a subject that will never get worn out. I almost felt guilty for liking some of the characters or finding their antics funny, but comedy can help swallow a bitter pill as long as the importance is not pushed aside. I am not going to get too wordy because this is novel is really about personal taste more so than some. I will recommend this one but I will say that if you cannot read comic antics along with alcoholism it might not be the right fit. The author in no way diminishes alcoholism in my opinion.

Show Less

LibraryThing member snash

Compassion and humor save this book from being a disgusting account of an alcoholic family. It seems a hopeless situation except that the narrator escapes. Although the exploits often made me uncomfortable, I found myself enjoying the book.

LibraryThing member jonfaith

We do not forget that literature has another face, that of responsibility, awareness, commitment. It is the last that attracts me. - Dimitri Verhulst

Just another Belgian dipsomaniac proletarian coming of age story, albeit one with a Tour De France drinking competition and a multipage homage to the

genius of Roy Orbison. The Misfortunates is brutal and never flinching, never allowing any moralizing in its episodic survey. This was likelier far more hilarious than it should have been for me. My reaction likely represents me as a darkish coot. I am pretty cool with that. The novel makes no effort to glorify the unfortunate nature of addiction and depravity. All the characters understand the situation, most are simply powerless in its wake. I did expect a return from the posh side of the family later in the novel after such an interesting arrival: the retrurn didn't occur. That isn't really a spoiler in the context of things.

Show Less

Fewer