The Safekeep

Darren finished reading this and instantly recommended it to me. So I started reading it - his library copy in fact - with no expectations other than expecting it to be good. And, oh boy, what a load of hideous characters came off the page. I could see the book was well written but couldn’t find anyone in the book to sympathise with. We’re in the Netherlands in 1961 with a group of 20-something siblings, Louis, Isabel and Hendrik. They meet for dinner at a restaurant and Louis brings along his girlfriend Eva. Isabel dislikes her on sight, but you get the impression she dislikes everyone on sight. I couldn’t imagine how these characters were going to turn into an interesting or engaging story but I stuck with it.

And, gradually the characters revealed themselves some more and for a large chunk of the book there was an compelling, and somewhat unbalanced, relationship unveiling. Good stuff but I felt there was something more to come. That feeling came from the book having won the Women’s Prize and having been shortlisted for the Booker. (As well, admittedly, as Darren asking me if I’d got to Part III yet.) When the first half of the book got going it was good, but it was only in the latter half that it felt prize winning. There was a lot of stuff buried in the first half that seemed like set dressing until it the focus changed and it became important.

In conclusion, I’ve probably spoiled this more than I meant to, but, honestly I haven’t really. It’s got a definite five stars from me and is a book well worth a read.