De donkere kamer van Damokles

The story of Henri, a tobacconist in Holland during the German occupation and subsequent WWII, is dangerous and a bit confusing. He meets Dorbeck, who gives him missions to accomplish to aid the anti-German allies. Henri is only too happy to complete these assignments, being rejected from the army.

Strangely, he and Dorbeck look nearly identical, the only exception being their hair color. Henri is captured by various factions and his identity is questioned repeatedly, though no one can locate the elusive Dorbeck. I don't normally enjoy WWII-based fiction, but this wasn't bogged down with military references and combat tactics. It was a fun ride.

Food: German warm potato salad, the first time I had it. I didn't expect to like it, as most potato salad leaves me cold, and I went back for seconds. The flavor was intriguing and I couldn't quite tell what spices were in it.

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LibraryThing member Frenzie

Here's another text I never previously read because of all the hype. If I'd read this back when I was 14 years old, it might've blown my mind.

This postmodern text is a (somewhat deceptively) easy, enjoyable read from which you can get more fun (if you're so inclined) by comparing discrepancies

within the narrative in the final section with what allegedly occurred earlier in the text.

Spoiler alert!

[spoiler]From the moment Dorbeck showed up, I interpreted this book the same way as suggested by the psychologist at the end. However, by that point it's become apparent that the psychological interpretation cannot be definitive, for there's a third, philosophical level of meaning in the book.[/spoiler]

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LibraryThing member jonfaith

Milan Kundera offers a compound blurb for The Darkroom of Damocles; "I read it in a single sitting" and "a thriller during which the suspense never flags." While I agree with the first sentiment -- I read the final 270 pages in an evening -- the second claim is more elusive. Detailing the

occupation/resistance dynamic in the Netherlands during WW II, W.F. Hermans unleashes a nightmare where his unsettling protagonist Osewoundt (O) takes up arms against the Germans and finds more than traces of evil in his own soul. The thriller aspect is maintained by having the enemy possess a sort of omniscience which leaves the reader puzzling as to the supergrass. How do they know O's activities so closely? There is paranoia at every turn and some sort of sudden sexuality. Ultimately O is a morally questionable figure. Insert symbols for Occupied Europe here. It is easy to be swept along by the novel. Enjoying it is a different task.

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