Netherland: A Novel
May 2008 · Sold by Vintage
4.4star
13 reviews
Ebook
256
Pages
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Eligible
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About this ebook
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • WINNER OF THE PEN/FAULKNER AWARD • "Netherland tells the fragmented story of a man in exile—from home, family and, most poignantly, from himself.” —Washington Post Book World
In a New York City made phantasmagorical by the events of 9/11, and left alone after his English wife and son return to London, Hans van den Broek stumbles upon the vibrant New York subculture of cricket, where he revisits his lost childhood and, thanks to a friendship with a charismatic and charming Trinidadian named Chuck Ramkissoon, begins to reconnect with his life and his adopted country. As the two men share their vastly different experiences of contemporary immigrant life in America, an unforgettable portrait emerges of an "other" New York populated by immigrants and strivers of every race and nationality.
In a New York City made phantasmagorical by the events of 9/11, and left alone after his English wife and son return to London, Hans van den Broek stumbles upon the vibrant New York subculture of cricket, where he revisits his lost childhood and, thanks to a friendship with a charismatic and charming Trinidadian named Chuck Ramkissoon, begins to reconnect with his life and his adopted country. As the two men share their vastly different experiences of contemporary immigrant life in America, an unforgettable portrait emerges of an "other" New York populated by immigrants and strivers of every race and nationality.
Ratings and reviews
4.4
13 reviews
Marcelo T
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June 4, 2014
Failed to grab me. It partly may be due to the writing, which dwells on description at the expense of everything else. Now, I'm not against description per se - "Martin Dressler" by Steven Millhauser being one sterling example where that works in spades and propels the narrative. And indeed, there are some passages O'Neill uses extensive descriptions in such a way, like the fantastic passage when the protagonist, Hans, recounts his wife's behavior in the final two years of their marriage after she turns him away in her room as he's come to say hi. Those moments ring true. But more damning, the book itself seems so steeped in Hans' ennui that it eventually becomes a generator of ennui itself. And it's not helped by the fact that Hans is the least interesting of the characters in the book - his major personality trait seems to be a blandness of character, a lack of will, a tendency to stasis. He's floating through life, prodded left and right by others. Contrast him with Chuck, Abelsky, Rachel, Martin; and soon all of them seem to be much more interesting characters and you wish you could go back to them more often, and stay with them. Hell, I would have dumped him too...
A Google user
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November 9, 2008
Incredible writing. The story brings is an excuse to bring out so much of the character of a city and the narrator and people and life in general.
A Google user
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January 11, 2009
Elegantly stylish and mournful in tone. Communicates a love of cricket and the exotic ethnic wonderland of New York.
About the author
Joseph O'Neill was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1964 and grew up in Mozambique, South Africa, Iran, Turkey, and Holland. His previous works include the novels This is the Life and The Breezes and the non-fiction book Blood-Dark Track, a family history centered on the mysterious imprisonment of both his grandfathers during World War II, which was an NYT Notable Book. He writes regularly for The Atlantic. He lives with his family in New York City.
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