BOOK#7 THE SAFEKEEP, YAEL VAN DER WOUDEN, LONGLISTED FOR #BOOKERPRIZE2024

I'm thoroughly enjoying the diverse and eclectic selection of books on this year's longlist. Another book I enjoyed reading was The Safekeep.

The story centers around a house and three siblings, with Isabel, the one who lives there, taking on the role of caretaker. Isabel is meticulous, going to great lengths to maintain the house and everything in it—cleaning, dusting, polishing, and even counting and listing every item. She exudes a strong sense of orderliness and possessiveness.

Set in the 1960s in rural Netherlands, the heart of the book is the house itself, which Isabel is deeply connected to.

‘SHE BELONGED TO THE HOUSE IN THE SENSE THAT SHE HAD NOTHING ELSE, NO OTHER LIFE THAN THE HOUSE, BUT THE HOUSE, BY ITSELF, DID NOT BELONG TO HER.’

This enthralling debut features atmospheric writing, intriguing characters, and a plot twist that took me by surprise. Isabel, a lonely woman, is portrayed with all her quirks, obsessions, rigidity, boundaries, and compulsions, making her a character you might initially dislike.

What happens when two women, different in many ways, are forced to live together? Conflict, resistance, personal growth, or bonding might ensue.

Isabel’s brother Louis, a womanizer, brings his girlfriend Eva and informs Isabel that Eva will stay with her until he returns. The author skillfully depicts Isabel’s initial hatred, suspicion, and contempt for Eva, which eventually transforms into love. The book includes some steamy scenes and an unexpected twist that I didn’t foresee. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending.

One part I found particularly endearing was how Isabel, as a child, took care of her brother Hendrik and how she misses him after he leaves the house.

This book is divided into three parts, with most of the narrative in the third person, though some sections are presented as diary entries.

It’s a historical, queer novel that’s a fast read—a real page-turner.