The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
The Safekeep was my first read of 2026, a much anticipated read from the Booker 2024 shortlist. Set in post war, 1960s Netherlands, this is a remarkable debut for van der Wouden.
As we meet Isabel the main character, we learn that the large home she occupies has a curious unexplained place in her family’s history. Isabel herself is a curious creation, all at once unlikeable and yet naively likeable. The introduction of Eva into her home disturbs Isabel’s privacy and her sanity. She is not ready to share her possessions, even though by now the reader is suspicious of their provenance. She records disappearing household items with such attention to detail, that at first, I assumed she had a personality disorder.
Is the ensuing plot predictable? I found it was too predictable and I didn’t enjoy the sex scenes – too lengthy and detailed. I would have liked these to have been pared down, given that this is a short novel – only 258 pages in total.
The Safekeep on Audible
Part Three moves quickly in diary form, by which time the reader is aware of Eva’s connection to the house and her motives – a masterstroke for van der Wouden, then the final denouement which forms the final two chapters. The Audible version really brings this final part to life.
None of the characters in The Safekeep were particularly memorable for me with the exception of Isabel’s brother Hendrik who left home at a young age when his sexuality became an issue for his mother. I found he was engaging and well-drawn, However, the recurring description of how Eva had comforted him as a child began to jar.
I had attended an exhibition in Amsterdam a few years ago which highlighted the plight of Jews returning to their homes after the second world war, but this book brought this period of history to life in a way that an exhibition in itself cannot do. I read the book in pairing with the Audible version, both versions remarkable, but I found that the Audible version was the more direct. I could ignore the idiosyncratic American English from the Dutch author, which was more obvious in the written version. That said, there is some lovely prose, skilful exploration of sibling relationships and tender moments which will resonate, long after the book is put down.
(c) Daphne King
Order your copy of The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden online here.
And you can read Daphne King’s review of Trespasses by Louise Kennedy on Writing.ie here.
