Grappig boek. van een heel andere orde als 'de groene bloem' van dezelfde schrijver. ( )

Al enige tijd gelezen. Een beklemmend verhaal vol gruwelijkheden, die opgroeiende jngens zichzelf aandoen in een armoedige omgeving in een oosteuropees land en dan de machtsstrijd tussen twee bendes. Goed getroffen en geschreven. ( )

After having read this, I have no trouble declaring Floortje Zwigtman my favourite new discovery of the year when it comes to literature.
The book is set in 19th century Romania, and it's about a group of farm boys who leave their village to join a band of robbers. Unwittingly, they become part of a much larger game, a struggle between two opponents who have been battling each other for more than one lifetime.
The book explores the evil that men do - the evil that is part of men. It deals with the question whether man is inherently good or evil, and with the choices we have. And it does so while telling a really compelling story, including a figure that at first glance seems to be one of the most talked about characters in history, Vlad Tepes, whom most people know as Dracula. But it's more about the real Vlad Tepes than the myths surrounding him, and while there are vampires, they're much darker and compelling than the ones you tend to find in "literature" these days. *coughs* Twilight *coughs*
Dear Ms. Zwigtman, you have a new fan. ( )