Most so called parties aren't the best part of anyone's life

You passed me by today in Overveen. I didn't want to say hello, because I hate forced conversations. Although I couldn't help staring at you, so i apologize for that.

Felicitaties

Congratulations on winning the owl! Your blog is so nice, very different.

There was an article in De Standaard about this price money. The writer stated a lot of things, just to fill pages. I didn't like it.
Translation is a good thing. Translation is the core of existence as we know it. I used to wonder and think about linguistics, and why it's called a science, but later on I realised it is the only science. IF there's one thing we can be certain about (because nothing is certain and not even that), it is language.

You're a scientist, mister Arnon, and I like your conclusions.

Tina H

I did notice you as well and I recognized you because of your hair. Remember, you once sent a picture for the contest regarding the quote by this theologian.
Overveen station is one of the most romantic stations in the Netherlands.

If I ever question your exaltation, I will have to question mine too and I do sometimes but it still feels great to see you win, thought I was glad not to be in that front line. Like a general it is nice to see your best man win the battle and stay safely behind a screen, for the time being.
(PS. In De Morgen somebody wrote you won the same prize in 2002 with ‘Lof der Zotheid’…, spoken of sweet irony).

Gefeliciteerd! Die Belgen snappen het tenminste.
Oops, this one's in Dutch. Anyway, congrats :-)

Congratulations on winning the Owl! I hope you will win the Libris too. And the AKO. But will the Dutch recognize a modern masterpiece if they do not vote for an older masterpiece by e.g. Nescio, Elsschot, Hermans, Boon or Multatuli as the best Dutch book ever?

@Ron. Don't you think it's time to let go of good-old (restrictive) Dutch nostalgia and move forward into a modern, global society? Obviously, you're not alone. The new government in Holland would applaud your taste in literature (sorry: Literature). And so, now not only foreigners, but also women are viewed as incompetent (Including foreign and female authors).

Incompetent

Tess, if you think female writers are viewed as incompetent, I'd like to have some proof. Yes, I know that former atheist Ronald Plasterk reads Hermans, but does he disrespect female writers? And if the Dutch government tends to rank male authors higher, I'd say please let them. (Of course, until the day Dutch state officials will burn books by female writers, put them in prison or kill them, but I doubt that will happen in the near future). I think when it comes to literature we have to trust on Geert Wilders's Hungarian wife. I bet her favorite book is Anna, by the Hungarian writer Kosztolányi.

Tess, there's nothing wrong with a little nostalgia occasionally. I simply like "Kaas" and "Titaantjes" better than "De ontdekking van de hemel". I can't help it. I also like Frans Kellendonk and Arnon Grunberg better than Mulisch and Abdollah, but I find it difficult to rank these relatively recent books among all dutch literature. I take it that Kazuo Isihiguro, David Mitchell and other foreign favorites of mine don't qualify for the Owl, Libris or greatest dutch book ever, so I don't get your point there. And yes, there are many incompetent female writers . And a few very good ones (like Mensje van Keulen).

I think finding it difficult to place modern novellists in the great history of literature means that you haven't heard enough people saying that they're great novellists. Make up your own mind, I'd say.

@ Johannes: for proof see Ron's comment.
@Ron: I admit, I'm mixing up issues. What I ultimately wanted to say is, on the grand scale of things, I find it a pity that Holland seems to be drifting into a retrospective, navelgazing, era; instead of collectively choosing to expand it's borders and continue to invest in (protect) the things that made Holland so unique. Your reference to Mitchell as one of your personal favourites is surprising to me, if I were to follow your trail of thought regarding great authors I'd have expected you to refer to the likes of D.H. Lawrence. Obviously, anything 'new' is good as long as it doesn't infect our traditional Dutchness of being. For the Dutch: only the golden oldies count. Oh and Grunberg, but that's because we can't hardly ignore brilliance can we?
PS: there are just as many incompetent male writers out there.

Proof

Tess, I'm sorry, the proof is a bit meager to me. First of all, is Ron Lander a politician? And secondly, I don't think his remark is filled with disrespect of female writers (I can sense a little provocation, maybe that has more to do with the context). But hey, I'm a male...

Dens, that's not the point. I dind't propose to my partner on our first date, in fact it took me twelve years to propose (and he really is a modern masterpiece!). With books it takes at least a second or third reading with several years in between to judge my first impression. I guess I'm just a bit slow.

It made me wonder the other day. We all know what the masterpieces are, the classics, but does that mean we all have to like them, because they're masterpieces? I mean, does that title state that everyone (not limited by their taste) will like it (apart from those who don't read, and start to read with a masterpiece)?
It is rather easy to look at structure and language, but is form everything? When I first read Catcher in the Rye, I didn't know its fame, but I knew, quite intstantly that it was a masterpiece. Maybe it is all a matter of speed, maybe it isn't.