Donna Tartt has written a new book. It won't be published in another month or so - in English that is - but it is already available in Dutch. Apparently, there are strong bonds between her and her Dutch publisher De Bezige Bij, in the person of Robbert Ammerlaan. What is it that Dutch publishers do that writers allow them to publish their novels in Dutch before English? John Irving (also De Bezige Bij) and Nicci French (Ambo/Anthos) do the same: first a Dutch publication, then an English one. Strange. But never mind.
Yesterday, I was at the Stadsschouwburg in Amsterdam, where Donna Tartt's latest novel Het puttertje (The Goldfinch) was presented. I had won tickets through Facebook, so luckily I didn't have to pay a pricy 50 euros (however, this did include the book). Robbert Ammerlaan held an introduction, Kim van Kooten and Jacob Derwig (two Dutch actors) read some pages of her first two books (I really liked Derwig's reading!), and then, finally Donna Tartt appeared on stage. First, just a silhouette behind a curtain, and then 'live' as she was first hugged by Robbert Ammerlaan and then being interviewed by Arjan Peeters. My God, she is tiny (she is only 1.52 metres)! Especially, when seeing her next to Arjan Peeters with his long gangly legs, big feet, and trousers too short. I always find she looks a bit like a schoolmistress, stern and rigid, wearing rather old fashioned clothes. But when she starts talking, she opens up and is really very friendly and intelligent. Peeters didn't have any spectacular questions for Tartt, but maybe this just wasn't the time and place for it. Something that bothered a lot of people in the audience though, was that Peeters told us so many details about her book. I'd rather read the book and find them out myself, thank you very much.
Anyway, I really liked seeing Donna Tartt in person and hearing her talk about her new novel. The book sounds really interesting. Last Saturday, it was reviewed in one of the best Dutch newspapers De Volkskrant; it got five out of five stars. I'm really looking forward to reading my signed copy!
This liquorice is just the best candy ever. It tastes nice, it's got three different flavours in one package (strawberry, cassis and cherry), and they're shaped as cool cadillacs. And: no artificial colouring. Yummy :-)
"Trail running is a sport which consists of running and hiking over trails. It differs from road running and track running in that it generally takes place on hiking trails, often in mountainous terrain, where there can be much larger ascents and descents." (Wikipedia)
Unfortunately, we don't have mountains in the Netherlands. But we do have a couple of hills. Three of them are higher than 300 metres, only just, and they are about as far from my house as you can get. So our trails are pretty flat and consist of shell paths, riding tracks, and narrow trails through woods, heath and dunes. I run through small woods where you can hear the traffic passing on the roads nearby. It's all I've got and to me these trails are far more interesting than asphalt roads that run through suburbia.
I like running very early in the morning when it's quiet and all you can hear are birds and the sound of your feet hitting the ground. It smells nice as well, especially when it has rained, and there are all these lovely variations of the colour green, especially when the sun starts to rise. I often chase off some rabbits and twice I've seen a fox: reddish brown with a big tail. As I came around a corner my first fox was standing in the middle of the path, looking straight at me, not at all afraid, relaxed and curious, almost as if he wanted to ask me what I was doing in his territory. He looked me over and then slowly turned around and disappeared into the bushes. I had goose bumps all over and a big smile on my face. I felt kind of special meeting this fox, as if he allowed me to see him. I know that doesn't make sense, but I don't care. Anyway, seeing him really made my day. People say there are deer in my neighbouring woods as well, and I would love to meet them but so far I haven't yet.
Trail running is something I would love to explore more, in different places and for longer distances. I know someone who just ran 100 kilometers through the Swiss mountains. Awesome...
