THE TWIN by Gerbrand Bakker
DiscussionsDutch writing in English - An appreciation
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1Caroline_McElwee
The Twin
By Gerbrand Bakker
This is a cool, beautifully observed story of life as a solitary twin. Helmer in his late 50s lost his twin Henk when he was killed in an accident aged 18. Helmer then, by default, became the son to take over the family farm, whilst resenting the situation and his father who had always appeared to ignore him and favour his brother.
Helmer’s father is now heading towards death and resides in an upstairs room at his son’s mercy. When the woman who may have become his sister-in-law comes back into his life after 30 years and asks Helmer to take her son as a farmhand to bust him out of his current lethargy he agrees, and finds it opens his ‘twin’ sensations.
There are undercurrents of sexuality. Just as couples often talk about being two parts of a whole, there is an aspect where twins are the two parts of a whole, and incomplete apart. Certainly this appears the case for Helmer, who eventually finds a replacement twin, when someone else from his distant past comes back into his life.
By Gerbrand Bakker
This is a cool, beautifully observed story of life as a solitary twin. Helmer in his late 50s lost his twin Henk when he was killed in an accident aged 18. Helmer then, by default, became the son to take over the family farm, whilst resenting the situation and his father who had always appeared to ignore him and favour his brother.
Helmer’s father is now heading towards death and resides in an upstairs room at his son’s mercy. When the woman who may have become his sister-in-law comes back into his life after 30 years and asks Helmer to take her son as a farmhand to bust him out of his current lethargy he agrees, and finds it opens his ‘twin’ sensations.
There are undercurrents of sexuality. Just as couples often talk about being two parts of a whole, there is an aspect where twins are the two parts of a whole, and incomplete apart. Certainly this appears the case for Helmer, who eventually finds a replacement twin, when someone else from his distant past comes back into his life.
2knarf
Glad to hear you like Gerbrand Bakker's Boven is het still as it's originally callled - ("the twin" results in the wrong touchstone, "boven is het stil" in no touchstone at all).
The book was discussed in one of the older threads, where I expressed my appreciation of it. As I recall it, kiwidoc also had a copy. I wonder, kiwidoc, have you got round to reading it yet?
The book was discussed in one of the older threads, where I expressed my appreciation of it. As I recall it, kiwidoc also had a copy. I wonder, kiwidoc, have you got round to reading it yet?
