As is blindingly obvious after just a quick look at the Ramblings, my reading is very random and often totally mood driven, as well as being affected by outside forces! And today the book I’m sharing my thoughts on is one I hadn’t particularly intended to pick up at this time; however, a chance mention of it by Nicholas Royle in his excellent “Shadow Lines” reminded me that I had come by a copy on my visit to Edinburgh last autumn. The book is “The Following Story” by Cees Nooteboom, translated here by Ina Rilke, and it’s a remarkable read.
Nooteboom is a prize-winning Dutch author, and this 99 page novella was first published in 1991. I’ve not read the author before, but it was the premise which grabbed my attention from the start (as well as the Harvill logo on the spine!) and the nudge from Royle was all I needed. The book is narrated by Herman Mussert, a Dutch teacher of the classics; he goes to bed in Amsterdam and wakes up in a bed in a hotel in Lisbon, and strangely enough it’s the very same hotel in which he stayed 20 years earlier when he was having an affair with another man’s wife. How is this possible??? Despite his confusion, the staff show no surprise at his being there, and although he keeps having visions of himself in bed in Amsterdam, he explores the city of Lisbon and goes back to the places he knows from his earlier visit.
As he wanders, Mussert thinks back to the events which led up to his original trip to Lisbon, his affair with a colleague, the triggers for this and an outstanding pupil who may have been something of a catalyst. As we learn about Mussert’s life, it seems he’s struggling to reconcile past and present, as well as working out who he really is. The second part of the novella sees Mussert embarking on a sea voyage along with a random collection of fellow travellers. Quite where he’s going and why will eventually be revealed, but all that’s clear is that nothing is what it seems.
Mirrors are useless, they retain nothing, not the living and not the dead, they are mercenary perjurers, nauseating in their glassy deference.
And frankly, no more than this can be said without revealing spoilers and I don’t want to do that! I went into the book cold myself and am so glad I did so, as I had no idea what was going to happen and the end knocked me for six. Nooteboom’s prose is elegant and often lyrical, conjuring dream like scenarios and gradually revealing all as the story progresses; and much of the joy is in not knowing what’s going to happen. Mussert himself is an unprepossessing character, defined perhaps by his love of the ancient classics, and his one passionate affair. His unexpected transposition to another place allows him to look back on his life, the highs and lows, and try to make sense of what happened to him. He slips back and forth in time during his narration, blurring the borders between now and then, and the voyage in the second section has a wonderfully dreamlike quality.
“The Following Story” turned out to be an unexpectedly powerful read, with one of those gut-punching endings you don’t necessarily see coming. I’ve seen his work compared to Proust and Perec, which is perhaps a little wide of the mark in my opinion. On the evidence of “Story” he has a singular voice of his own, and a remarkably clever way of telling a tale. Despite its short length the book’s really lodged in my mind, and I won’t forget the narrator and his story in a hurry. And if this is typical of Nooteboom’s work, I definitely want to read more. I see that the book cost me £2.50 from the Shelter Scotland charity bookshop, and it’s frankly worth every penny – highly recommended! 😀
Tredynas Days
May 10, 2024 @ 09:52:55
This sent me back to my post of 2014 on a volume of his short stories by CN. I liked them a lot, and likened them to the fiction of Kafka and Beckett. This one sounds good, too. Strange cover picture, though. Those ears…
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 10, 2024 @ 20:52:01
I think Kafka and Beckett are probably better points of comparison. And having enjoyed this so much I’m sure I’d like his short stories!!
Simon T
May 10, 2024 @ 10:48:27
Oh this sounds brilliant, and I love that premise too. And my copy of Royle’s book arrived yesterday, so I expect that will push me over the edge into finding my own copy!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 10, 2024 @ 20:51:07
It’s really clever Simon, and not at all what I expected. Plus I loved his writing. I suspect you might find Shadow Lines a bad influence – I’ve found both Royle books had a bad effect on the TBR!!
griffandsarahthomas
May 10, 2024 @ 11:37:20
A beautiful review Kaggsy, thank you. I love your serendipitous reading trail from Shadow Lines to Nooteboom. I had not heard of this author but I really like the sound of this, so it is on my list. I’ve also ordered his book ‘533’ as that is the only one by Nooteboom in the library!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 10, 2024 @ 20:50:11
Thank you! It was certainly an unexpected book trail, but then that happens so often in my reading. Nooteboom was new to me as well – I had heard his name but knew nothing about him, though now I intend to investigate further. I hope you enjoy him too – your library is so well stocked!!
Margot Kinberg
May 10, 2024 @ 12:12:55
That’s a very interesting premise! And what an innovative way to have the character think back over his life, too. It’s funny, isn’t it, how our mood impacts what we read; I know mine does.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 10, 2024 @ 20:49:00
It is, Margot, not like anything I’ve read before. Very clever. And yes, my reading is so often driven by mood. But I wouldn’t have it any other way!
1streading
May 10, 2024 @ 18:43:49
I haven’t read a lot of Nooteboom, but I agree that this book is great – I love the opening!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 10, 2024 @ 20:48:09
It is – so cleverly done and it really wants to make me read more of him.
roughghosts
May 10, 2024 @ 19:05:54
I’ve only read a fairly recent collection of Nooteboom, but this does sound good!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 10, 2024 @ 20:47:42
I enjoyed it a lot Joe – I didn’t really know what to expect and it definitely didn’t go in the direction I anticipated!!
winstonsdad
May 10, 2024 @ 19:37:52
Ive enjoyed a number of books by him one my recent favourites was his recollection of fifty year love affair with Venice he also did an interview many years ago in the blog
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 10, 2024 @ 20:47:05
Oh, I’ll check those out Stu – thank you. He does seem to have been very prolific.
Calmgrove
May 11, 2024 @ 00:14:24
I love that you seem to be enthusiastic about pretty much all the titles you read, and always find something positive to say even about stuff you’re only marginally lukewarm about! Either that or you choose what you’d like to read wisely and well . . .
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 11, 2024 @ 16:46:34
I confess that I try to pick books I *think* I’m going to like or get something out of – and even if they aren’t always 10/10 reads, it’s rare I have a DNF or a book I hate. And despite the use of lukewarm in the title, I thought this was a stupendous read!!
Lisa Hill
May 11, 2024 @ 08:13:37
Oooh, how intriguing!
And so is the cover art!!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 11, 2024 @ 16:42:24
It’s a most individual book. And as for the cover art, it’s – unusual. Not quite sure how it relates to the contents, but certainly catches the eye!!
madamebibilophile
May 11, 2024 @ 13:12:42
This author is someone I keep meaning to get to and failing! This sounds a good place to start, a really intriguing premise.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 11, 2024 @ 16:41:43
There are so many authors like that, aren’t there? I loved this, and even though it’s the only one I’ve read, I do think it would be a good place to start with him.
JacquiWine
May 11, 2024 @ 15:34:14
This sounds so intriguing, and a wonderful example of how reading one book can lead you directly to another. He’s an author I’ve been aware of for several years but have yet to try. What a fortuitous find!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 11, 2024 @ 16:41:04
I confess that I love that kind of bookish serendipity, particularly when the results are like this book! On the strength of it, I really want to read more of his work.
mallikabooks15
May 12, 2024 @ 14:21:27
Sounds marvellous and a new name to add to my TBR. I’m so glad we’re getting to access so much more of a range of works in translation.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 12, 2024 @ 15:23:24
Me too – so many of my favourite books are translated!!!
heavenali
May 13, 2024 @ 11:57:09
I’m very much a mood reader too, so it’s always good to have lots to choose from that will suit every mood. This sounds so inventive and intriguing.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 13, 2024 @ 15:09:16
I agree – and that’s probably my excuse for having so many books on the TBR!!! 🤣 This turned out to be an unexpectedly good read and I’m definitely going to be adding more of his books to the pile…
bookbii
May 13, 2024 @ 19:04:01
Nooteboom is one of my favourite writers, his work is complex whilst seeming simple and he writes with a beautiful clarity that is quite stunning. The Following Story is one of his I haven’t managed to get around to yet but I can heartily recommend Lost Paradise (my absolute favourite), Rituals, Mokusei and his non fiction Letters to Poseidon. I must read him again, he’s so good.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 13, 2024 @ 20:16:16
Thank you for the recommendations! I loved his writing and this was so impactful for such a short book. I may have already sent off for Roads to Santiago… 😉
Marcie McCauley
May 14, 2024 @ 01:08:50
How curious as a set-up for the story! I’ve only read one of his books but it provided much food for thought.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 15, 2024 @ 15:29:39
It’s most unusual but quite unforgettable – and it has made me keen to read more of his work!
Two frenetic novellas #ABookADayInMay – Days 15+16 – Stuck in a Book
May 16, 2024 @ 23:15:20
thecontentreader
May 17, 2024 @ 16:15:23
It sounds like an intriguing book, which I will look out for. I was in Portugal about a year ago, and am eager to read books taking place there.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 18, 2024 @ 13:55:51
It’s such an unusual book, and I loved it – definitely keen to read more of his work now!