New fiction: beauty in the everyday
Antwerp journalist Valerie Eyckmans’ follow-up to Verloren maandag is a satire on modern living
“I’m a walking cliché”
“I have to admit, I’m a walking cliché,” the 37-year-old tells me. “As a child, I was already writing stories and even made several comics that I’d try to sell for five Belgian francs – or I’d just put them in my neighbours’ letterboxes. I’ve always wanted to write a book, and there comes a time when you simply have to stop procrastinating and just do it.”
Taking the plunge into fiction came naturally to Eyckmans (pictured), who, despite wanting to be an opera singer for a brief period (due to the Jommeke comic “Tita Telajora”), was determined to get her own column when she started out as a journalist. “I was working for the weekly Flair at the time, and I thought it would be interesting to include a column written by someone who was the same age as the readers, who they could really identify with. That was something very different from, say, writing an interview, which is, for the most part, a representation of a conversation. A column gives you the opportunity to freestyle.”
Second novel the hardest
Full of ambition and attitude, Eyckmans started writing Verloren maandag as a secret side project. She kept her expectations low due to being exposed to the harsh world of literary publishing after a brief stint in the PR department of a Flemish publishing house.
I could easily have written a sequel, but I wanted to do something completely different
“Nobody is waiting for a debut novel, so there’s no pressure,” she says. “I sent the manuscript to several publishers and was fortunate enough to get a lot of responses. I never dreamed that my first novel would get so much positive feedback. Writing a follow-up was much more daunting, especially after my publisher told me that a second novel is the most difficult one to write as your audience already has certain expectations.”
De dierbaren (The Loved Ones), that dreaded second novel, deals with everyday life of ordinary people. There’s Linda, a lonely housewife who accidently runs over a cat, her confused son David and his obsessively clean girlfriend, and the local gym teacher, who is the talk of the town.
Happiness, ideals and loss play vital roles in a novel that doesn’t shy away from edgy subjects such as paedophilia, divorce and adultery, showing us that ultimately you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelette.
“My second novel is different from the first,” Eyckmans confirms. “A lot of people told me that they found Verloren maandag hilarious but, although there is some humour in De dierbaren, it’s not the main focus. This time around, there are a lot more layers and some simmering tragedy.”
De dierbaren is a lot more intimate and slightly conservative compared to her previous book but still revolves around some strong and outspoken protagonists. “It’s my opinion that you have to try to grow as an author, which is why I also chose to write from the point of view of an omniscient narrator instead of a first-person narrator,” she says. “I could have easily written a sequel to Verloren maandag, but I wanted to do something completely different.”
Other people’s struggles
The everyday setting of Eyckmans’ novels makes them very relatable and quick to read, but she adds cutting criticism when you least expect it. “It can sometimes be very cathartic to see others struggle,” she says. “It makes you feel like you’re not alone. Nobody’s perfect, and everyone knows that, but that doesn’t stop people from trying to obtain perfection. That was one of the things I was trying to convey.”
I was scared of being labelled a chick-lit author
By focusing on the seemingly trivial in our daily lives, she also emphasises that there is beauty and wonder where you least expect to find it. Our daily routines, the rut in our jobs or home life – these are the things that fascinate her.
With De dierbaren, Eyckmans proves she is a writer who is here to stay, displaying a wide canvas of characters, themes and emotions. Sadly, though, talent isn’t the only thing that makes or breaks a writing career.
“When I was writing my first novel,” she says, “I was scared of being labelled a chick-lit author, seeing as I’m a woman who has written for Flair who is now writing a light-hearted book about the daily life of a 30-something woman. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.
“That said, I’m also trying to escape the elitist label of ‘author’. A novel doesn’t always have to be serious, multi-layered or dramatic to be good. Just because a novel is fun or a quick read, it doesn’t mean it requires any less effort or skill.”
Thus another chapter in the on-going battle between highbrow and lowbrow fiction concludes. “In the end,” says Eyckmans, “I hope that people just enjoy my books.”
Fresh fiction: new on the shelves
Reviews: four-star scale
Jevgeni
Johan de Boose · De Bezige Bij
The second part of Johan de Boose’s Vloekhouttrilogy, in which a piece of the cross that was used to crucify Christ is passed on through the ages, is set in 14th-century Moscow, where two Russian monks are fleeing from the Tartars. But wherever they go, tragedy and madness ensue as people prepare for the end of the world. Jevgeni is ambitious and theatrical, if lacking depth and emotion. ***
Poppy en Eddie
Herman Brusselmans · Prometheus
Three years ago, the prolific novelist Herman Brusselmans and his partner, Tania Demetsenaere, parted ways after a relationship of nearly 20 years. They have remained close, but the break-up was a hard blow for Brusselmans, whose past novels have generally dealt with making sense of this thing called life. He’s usually known for his flamboyant characters, snappy dialogue and crass humour, but Poppy en Eddie(a reference to Demetsenaere and their dog) is an intimate portrait filled with love and devotion, where Demetsenaere’s breast cancer takes centre stage. ***
Ik weet waar je woont (I Know Where You Live)
Ilka De Bisschop · Houtekiet
Freelance journalist Ilka de Bisschop’s new novel revolves around Luc, a man who, despite having a loving wife and two sons, still feels lonely. After a day with his infuriating brother-in-law, he decides enough’s enough and takes matter in his own hands, setting out on a mission to confront everyone who has ever wronged him. But what seemed a straightforward journey suddenly takes an unexpected turn. Resentment and redemption play vital roles in this quick read. **
Mehro, zwart op wit (Mehro: Black on White)
Toon Horsten · Manteau
To celebrate the 65th birthday of comic book artist Mehro, whose brainchild De Kiekeboes is still going strong after 37 years, journalist Toon Horsten sat down with this Flemish legend for a long and candid talk about his youth, successes and failures – and, naturally, that beloved and rambunctious Kiekeboe family. The result is a beautiful book filled with mesmerising anecdotes, personal photographs and intriguing glimpses into the mind of a man who has touched so many. ****
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