This is a
book I read last year in Dutch translation, and now finally it has been
translated into English.
A dry plain
without shadow or shelter, without people or water, and a burning sun without
mercy. A boy is on the run, over that plain. We do not know who he is, or why
he is on the run. Slowly we realize that he is running from his village, but
that a couple of men are determined to bring him back.
Luckily the boy gets the
help from an old man and his herd of goats, who roam the plain, looking for
food and water. He takes the boy under his protection, although he cannot
prevent that the men who chase the boy catch up with them. Then they will have
to make choices, even over life and death.
Out in the open is the first book by Spanish author Jesús Carrasco, and it has already been
a huge success throughout the world. The reason I bought the book in the first
place was because I loved the Dutch cover, with a white goat against a white
background. It reminded me of the cover of 'The specter of Alexander Woolf' by Gaito Gazdanov (a white horse on white background) and I thought I would like this book as well.
Yes, I
know, a very arbitrary reason to buy a book, but in this case it paid off, I
loved this book.
 |
| The Dutch cover |
Out in the
open is beautiful and gripping. I wanted to know what would happen, although at
certain places I could hardly read on, because it is so awful what happens with
the boy. I was happy that the boy got help from a kind man, who shows him
kindness without asking anything back, showing the boy there are other things
than violence and evil.
When I finished
the book, I could not start in another book right away, this one had to sink in
a little.
Out in the open is not a cosy read. Read it when you have the
time and the energy to emerge yourself in it and let it take you out in the
open.
Original Spanish
title: Intemperie
Published
in 2013
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