Number 17- The Assault- Harry Mulisch

 This was this month's book group read. I'd never heard of it before but it sounded interesting and that's an intriguing cover.

In wartime Holland, a local police chief and collaborator is shot dead in the street outside a row of houses. The owner of the house he died in front of runs out and moves it down the road to the front of Anton's house, Anton is 12 and lives with his family. 

When the Nazis arrive shortly after the shooting, Anton and his family are dragged out of the house and, not long afterwards, Anton is the the only survivor and the house is razed to the ground.

The story follows Anton into his middle age with the last section being set in 1981, 36 years after the events of that fateful night.

I'd love to say that this was a great book, but I can't.  Something in the writing just didn't gel with me. It started well, the story of the shooting and subsequent events of that night are well told and believable.  I felt real sympathy for young Anton as his world crumbled around him. 

But as the book progresses the story loses all cohesiveness, there isn't much of a story.  we revisit Anton at random times through his life at various times that remind him of that night, or shed light on some things he didn't know about. The selections seem random and, in all cases where he learns new information about that night, it's due to amazing coincidences that stretch all creduly.

I don't like to criticise the prose in a translated novel since it's the translator not the original author who's responsible. But in this case I will say that the prose is not great. There are pages of quite dull philosophical musings that either were not good in the original, or have translated really badly.

It took me over a week to read this 200 page novel. It was difficult for me to pull together the enthusiasm to continue with the book after the first time jump.

The last chapter did manage to pull off a true surprise revelation, which obviously I won't share here. Although this revelation came after the biggest coincicidental meeting in the book, which lessens the impact somewhat. There were a million better ways he could have met the person in question.

So overall, this book was a disappointment. It started well, but its lights faded rather quickly despite the occasional bon mot. Too much tedious philosophising and the author talking direct to the reader.

Not one I would recommend, unless you're fanatical about post war Holland.