I was looking for scary books for the R.I.P. III challenge and found a translation of Tim Krabbe's The Vanishing at the library. I'd never read anything by a Dutch author and I'd heard so much about this story so I was really excited.It's a short book and reads very quickly. It's the story of a Dutch couple going on holiday to France and the girl disappearing while they're there. She simply vanishes and her boyfriend is left with no clues, nothing. The impact of the book isn't in the story but in the way it's told. The language is so simple that you almost can't believe that it can be used to describe such terrible things.
Krabbe creates a psychopath who is really chilling, mostly because he is so aware and calculating. I wasn't terrified while I was reading the book, but every time I think about it and its conclusion I get the chills.
Tim Krabbe is one of Holland's most famous writers so it's interesting to read this from that point of view as well. And his story has inspired not only a Dutch movie but a Hollywood one as well.
Challenges: A-Z Reading Challenge, Book to Movie Challenge, Orbis Terrarum, R.I.P.III
5 comments:
You have piqued my curiosity. I'm going to look into this author. Thanks!
Ok, if it's the movie I think it is (I saw a Dutch movie that sounds very similar to this) then this must be great. The movie was chilling. I'm adding this to my wish list.
Your review sounded so familiar to me, so I looked it up on IMDB and realized I saw a movie version of this book with Keifer Sutherland and Sandra Bullock. It's been over 10 years since I saw the movie, so I'm surprised it rang a bell, but I remember it really creeped me out. I don't know if I'll read this book, because I'm not so good with scary things, but it sure sounds good.
Oh by the way, I just tagged you on a meme but only if you are up for it :)
Joy - I hope you like it!
Iliana - apparently the Dutch version was more chilling than the American one... I'll have a look at the meme, thanks!
Charley - it's an interesting book because it's not scary while you're reading it. It's just a simple story... It's only when you start thinking about it that it gets scary!
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