Dementia novelised

An interesting, but disturbing portrayal of the rapid onset of cognitive decline. Maarten seems to lose the plot rather suddenly, maybe too quickly; you also see it reflected in his outer circumstances as well as in his inner life. He remembers more about his early life as he declines – thinks they're still in NL and occupied by the Germans. The final part of the book is much harder to follow and more abstract. There don't seem to be any great philosophical thoughts in this part, but would we expect any? Interesting towards the end where he seems to stop understanding English and can only think in Dutch.

- Overall a reasonably straightforward read apart from the end part. Disturbing, but seems to be a plausible portrayal of the development of dementia. Nice to read a serious novel by a Dutch author at last.