Institute by Vincent Bijlo
Institute by Vincent Bijlo
Thanks to Bernadette Jansen of Holland Park Press, I am giving away one print copy of Institute by Vincent Bijlo.
Description of Institute by Vincent Bijlo
Translated from the Dutch by Susan Ridder. THE INSTITUTE is a beautifully written boarding school novel about a boy who is searching for his identity and a sense of security. It is both hilarious and moving, and paints a frank picture of the 1970s, when ‘everything had to be tried out.’
Otto Iking is an outsider, at home as well as at the boarding school for the blind, but he is also an observer. Otto looks at the world around him with an unpitying sense of humour.
He observes the other children as well as the carers and teachers, who aim to prepare their pupils for the able-bodied world which ‘can be very tough.’
He discovers his feelings for Sonia, a fellow student, and he makes plans for a rescue mission to liberate hostages in the notorious Moluccan hijacking case in Bovensmilde.
But most of all, he wants to escape from the institution for the blind to a school for sighted children. Otto doesn’t want sympathy. He can see a future: working for the radio.
In short, a novel about a boy with remarkable powers of observation.
About Vincent Bijlo
(C) Jurjen Alkema
Vincent Bijlo is a Dutch stand-up comedian, columnist, musician and author. Many appearances on TV, radio and in the theatre have made him a household name in the Netherlands. He is a columnist for one of the Dutch national newspapers
Dutch publishing house De Arbeiderspers published his four novels: Het instituut in 1998, Achttienhoog in 2001, De woordvoerder in 2003 and De Ottomaanse herder in 2009.
In April 2017 Holland Park Press reissued his first novel in Dutch together with the English translation The Institute.
Vincent Bijlo was born blind.
Giveaway of Institute by Vincent Bijlo
This giveaway is open worldwide and ends on June 9, 2017 midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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