Geïnspireerd door het waargebeurde verhaal van de man die gevonden werd op het strand van Sheerness in Kent, en vervolgens vier maanden niets zei. Hij tekende een piano waardoor ontdekt werd dat hij piano kon spelen, en maandenlang zocht de media naar zijn identiteit. Hij was bekend als de Pianoman.Het verhaal zoals opgetekend door Bernlef is niet zo ver van de waarheid, en is mooi geschreven. Ik vond het wel ietwat irritant dat hij de feiten niet goed heeft gecontroleerd. Geachte Bernlef, er zijn geen stenen muren in de buurt van Sheerness (u denkt waarschijnlijk aan Derbyshire of Yorkshire), en als u de naam van een ziekenhuis wilt verzinnen, zou het dan misschien mogelijk zijn om dat te doen op z'n Engels? Dus 'Isle of Sheppey Medical Centre'; Sheppey Isle is Nederlands. En als ik met de trein van Sheerness naar Heathrow zou reizen, geloof ik niet dat ik via Dover zou moeten omreizen, want de trein reist direct naar Heathrow (ik heb het gecontroleerd!). Het is tegenwoordig zo makkelijk om dit soort gegevens online te controleren; zonde! Hij verwachtte waarschijnlijk niet dat iemand uit Kent zijn boek zou lezen. I liked this book. It is about a boy, growing up in a family that uses very few words. They live in the north, in a small village. Northerners are 'famous' for being distant, straight, not use more words than absolutely neccessary. Act normal, that's already crazy enough...This boy, Thomas, is lonely. He is thought extra by a young teacher, who also teaches him how to play the piano. Nothing fancy, just some songs. When Thomas grows older, he sees something in his father, that frightens him. He is swaving some money by working in a bicycle tire factory. When the time is there, he just gets up and leaves home. To Amsterdam. What he's supposed to do there, he has no idea about. He meets a girl, together they spend some days. When she wants to go to Paris, he decides to go along. They meet two guys, that give them a lift to Paris. The girl hopped on to England, but when she and Thomas reach England, she takes off, taking most of his money and his passport.Thomas ends up in a clinic for the mentally ill. He doesn't want to talk. He feels he needs to protect himself and words are enemies. The doctors don't know what to do with him: there's nothing there to prove his identity. Finally, when all advertisements haven't led to research, they give up hope. Fortunately the paper with advertisement and his picture in it gets to the small villae he originates from. The woman that thought him before recognizes him and calls to the hospital.And that way, finally, Thomas returns home. He now is left with his mother, because his father drowned a few weeks earlier. Words have come back. And Thomas is going to take care of his mother from then on. "Silence only makes you heavy, brings you down". Impressive to read how the character of Thomas is brought to life. There's only a limited amount of pages and the character is well formed. He's a realistic boy, growing up to be man. Also very recognizable for those that are familiar with the way things are done 'up north'.
What do You think about De Pianoman (2008)?
A Dutch book we got as a free gift on the 43th StuTS in Amsterdam. Not sure if I want to read it.
—Maleah
