Читать книгу You Have Me to Love - Jaap Robben - Страница 5

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AUTHOR

‘One day a woman in an old-people’s home lay her hand on my knee and said, “do you know you have really beautiful legs?” I said, “no, but thank you very much.” Then she asked, “do you have a girlfriend?” When I answered yes, she quickly took her hand away. That incident made me think: what if that old woman was your mother, who mistook you for your father, and began to fall in love with you? Under what circumstances could you maybe go along with that?’

TRANSLATOR

‘Translating this novel was a huge responsibility, as I began to weigh my own words against Robben’s tender and poetic account of a disturbing family tragedy told through the eyes of the only child. Above all else, I knew that every word I put into this young boy's mouth had to ring true. So when the Irish Times review spoke of an extraordinary narrator who is to be believed, I couldn't have been happier. Mikael had made it into English with his voice intact.’

PUBLISHER

‘This novel is one of my personal favorites. Jaap Robben has an incredibly fine eye for detail and images. The story he tells is discomforting and moving at the same time. This beautifully crafted debut novel made me absolutely fall in love with Robben, even before seeing his legs.’