Two years ago I watched the Dutch resistance movie Winter in Wartime (Oorlogswinter). While it’s not my favourite resistance movie, I liked the story and when I saw it was based on a novel I felt tempted to read it. A review on Iris’ blog during last year’s Dutch Literature Month reminded me of the book. I’m looking forward to this book as it’s the first time that a readalong title is a children’s book or rather a novel for young adults. As Iris states in her review, it is even a classic of Dutch children’s literature.
Jan Terlouw is a Dutch scientist and politician. He has written over 20 books for children.
If you would like to join but are not in the mood to read the novel Winter in Wartime, you could watch the movie instead.
Here are the first sentences
It was dark.
Step by step, one hand groping in front of him, Michiel edged his way along the rough bicycle path that ran parallel to the cart track. In his other hand he carried a cotton bag containing two bottles of milk. “New moon and heavy clouds,” he muttered. “Van Onmen’s farm should be around here somewhere.” He peered to the right, straining his eyes, but could see nothing at all. Next time I’ll refuse to go if they don’t give me the lantern, he thought. Erica should make sure she’s at home by half past seven! I can’t manage this way.
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The discussion starts on Friday, 28 June 2013.
Further information on the Literature and War Readalong 2013, including all the book blurbs, can be found here.
Beauty is a Sleeping Cat 
Thanks for putting up the preview. The film looks good. If I can sneak in a viewing I will join in.
That would be great.
Thank you for the introduction…Never heard of the movie but trailer looks promising. I will look it up now 🙂
I think you might like it. I hope you can join.
I’m looking forward to your thoughts on this!
I’ll add the link to your review again if that’s OK.
This looks like an interesting book, Caroline! I think this is probably the first YA book in the Literature and War readalong 🙂 I love the cover of the book. Happy reading! Will look forward to reading your thoughts on it.
I hope it’s good. I’ve read somewhere that it’s better than the movie and the movie was not bad at all.
Yes, it’s the first YA novel.
I think I will watch the movie too, as the trailer makes it look very intriguing, Caroline.
My great-grandmother was Dutch, so I appreciate your giving attention to this author.
Oh really? I had no idea.
I liked the movie. It’s very dramatic and I’m looking forward to the book as well.
I wonder if I can track down the movie. Will try my best.
It would be great if you could join. I think you’d like the movie.
I requested it. Now I have to see if it comes in time. That’s the tricky part here–getting DVDs that I really want take forever.
I hope it will. It’s still a good discussion if some read the book and others watch the film.
I’m not much into YA books so I’ll pass on this one–but will check out the film
I thought you might have seen it already. It’s really not bad.
I’ll look forward to seeing what you and your readers think about a Dutch YA war novel!
It will be interesting. I wonder how you write about war for children and young people.
I just requested this one from the library so I can join the discussion. I have the movie taped and will watch it once I finish the book.
That’s great. I suppose you could watch it with your daughter? She is old enough, right?
She’s almost 13. She’s watched WWII documentaries with me, but it says the movie’s rated R, so I don’t know.
I can’t remember it well enough to know why it’s rated R. I guess the US are stricter in thier ratings. The book is certainly OK.
I’ve got my copy! 🙂 Will try and finish the Funder before starting this one–it sounds more promising than last month’s (she said as she is still reading….).
I think it will be far better.
I know it totally doesn’t matter but I am determined this year to read *all* the books.
While I didn’t enjoy the Funder and had my problems with Bowen I still think they were valid choices. It’s interesting to compare and see how many different approaches there are.
They both seem like excellent reads–I do want to read them both, but sometimes, too, it is a matter of timing. I didn’t realize at first that this is a YA novel–it looks good, though. (Not that YA novels aren’t good, but you know what I mean…).
I love the sound of this one, I’d love to get round to reading the book and watching the film version if I can.
It would be great if you could join. the book is quite short, 160 pages. It should be a quick read. I might re-watch the movie and then compare the two.
Caroline! I think I’ve read this novel but would like to pick it up again. I was so sorry that my May schedule conspired against me and prevented me from participating last month. I thought I had two weeks off, but the schedule said no, just one.
I’d love to see the movie for this June read, too, though I’m not positive it’s available here. In any case, I’ll reread the book. I remember parts of it, but not all of it.
Judith
That’s great news. I’m very interested to hear your thoughts on this one.
One or two weeks off make a huge difference.