The Safekeep
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4.5 • 52 Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 BOOKER PRIZE
“Remarkable…Compelling…Fine and taut…Indelible.” —The New York Times • “Mesmerizing and shockingly good…I was utterly blown away.” —Miranda Cowley Heller, author of The Paper Palace • “A brilliant debut, as multifaceted as a gem.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) • “Moving, unnerving, and deeply sexy.” —Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl with the Pearl Earring
An exhilarating, twisted tale of desire, suspicion, and obsession between two women staying in the same house in the Dutch countryside during the summer of 1961—“a quietly devastating novel that explores the things that are kept from us as children and the things we tell ourselves about our own hidden desires” (The Booker Prize Judges’ citation).
A house is a precious thing...
It is 1961 and the rural Dutch province of Overijssel is quiet. Bomb craters have been filled, buildings reconstructed, and the war is truly over. Living alone in her late mother’s country home, Isabel knows her life is as it should be—led by routine and discipline. But all is upended when her brother Louis brings his graceless new girlfriend Eva, leaving her at Isabel’s doorstep as a guest, to stay for the season.
Eva is Isabel’s antithesis: she sleeps late, walks loudly through the house, and touches things she shouldn’t. In response, Isabel develops a fury-fueled obsession, and when things start disappearing around the house—a spoon, a knife, a bowl—Isabel’s suspicions begin to spiral. In the sweltering peak of summer, Isabel’s paranoia gives way to infatuation—leading to a discovery that unravels all Isabel has ever known. The war might not be well and truly over after all, and neither Eva—nor the house in which they live—are what they seem.
Mysterious, sophisticated, sensual, and infused with intrigue, atmosphere, and sex, The Safekeep is a brilliantly plotted and provocative debut novel you won’t soon forget.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Van der Wouden sets her accomplished debut in the Netherlands in 1961, where WWII-era secrets about a family's country home come to light. Isabel, who's nearly 30 and has never been kissed, has lived alone in the house since her mother's death years earlier. She's close with her gay younger brother, Hendrik, but officious with their older sibling, Louis, who inherited the property. When the family moved there in 1944, the house was fully furnished, down to the dinnerware, cooking pots, and sheets. Isabel, fastidious and compulsive, fiercely protects each item, and is distressed when she unearths a shard from a missing plate in the vegetable garden. Then Louis shows up with his girlfriend, Eva, and announces she'll be staying at the house with Isabel while Louis travels. Eva's efforts to engage Isabel are met with rudeness and distance; Isabel resents both Eva's friendliness with the maid and her careless messes. When more items start disappearing—a teaspoon, a letter opener, a thimble—Isabel is perplexed and suspicious, and the story takes an unexpected and dramatic turn that leads to stunning realizations about the women's entwined history. Van der Wouden's sensuous writing and flair for drama make this a winner.
Customer Reviews
Desire, Love, loss, Holland after the German Occupation
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden is a captivating and emotionally charged debut novel that explores themes of desire, obsession, and the lingering effects of war. Set in the rural Dutch province of Overijssel in 1961, the story revolves around Isabel, a solitary woman living in her late mother's country home, and Eva, her brother's new girlfriend who unexpectedly arrives to stay with Isabel.
Gripping Character Dynamics
Van der Wouden masterfully crafts the complex dynamic between Isabel and Eva, two contrasting personalities forced into close proximity. Isabel, rigid and obsessive, finds her routines and control over the household disrupted by Eva's carefree and disrespectful attitude towards the property[1][3]. This tension builds into an intense, almost obsessive fascination, leading Isabel to develop a fury-fueled desire for Eva[4].
Unexpected Twists and Revelations
As the narrative progresses, the story takes an unexpected turn, revealing Eva's true motives and the haunting secrets of the house's past[1][3]. The final chapters, told from Eva's perspective through journal entries, provide crucial insights and a riveting climax that answers lingering questions[1].
Powerful Prose and Emotional Depth
Van der Wouden's prose is rich and evocative, capturing the nuances of human relationships and the weight of historical trauma[3][4]. The novel's exploration of the aftermath of World War II and the lingering impact of the German occupation adds depth and poignancy to the emotional core of the story[4].
Conclusion
The Safekeep is a haunting and beautifully crafted debut that immerses readers in a world of passion, obsession, and the complexities of human nature. Van der Wouden's ability to weave a compelling narrative, coupled with her nuanced character development and powerful prose, makes this novel a must-read for fans of literary fiction[1][3][4].