The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden

The Safekeep (2024) by Yael Van Der Wouden is one of six books short-listed for this year's Booker Award.  I have been on hold for this book since July and it was worth the wait.  The Safekeep is a haunting, sensual novel, beautiful prose and the fact that this is the author's debut is remarkable 

The Safekeep is set in Overijssel, a rural community in the Netherlands, and the year is 1961.  People in Overijssell don't talk about World War II as much anymore and the country has structurally rebuilt itself since the war years. 

 

And when the novel begins we are introduced to three siblings: Louis, Isabel and Hendrik.  They are in their late 20's Their mother has recently passed away.  Louis and Hendrik no longer live at home and have moved on with their lives.  But Isabel continues to live in the house they grew up in.

Isabel lives alone.  The only person she interacts with is the maid who comes in to cook and do housework.  Isabel is a recluse and she likes it that way.  She has no friends and prefers to tend to her garden.  And lately she has been counting her dishes and silverware to make sure the maid isn't stealing from her.  

And then Louis introduces Isabel and Hendrik to his latest girlfriend, Eva.  Louis tells them he is serious about Eva.  But Hendrick and Isabel have been here before wiith Louis who gets bored quickly with the women in his life.  But they agree to join Louis and Eva at a restaurant.  Isabel takes an immediate dislike to Eva and does not disguise that fact.  Eva is perky, cheerful, the exact opposite of Isabel. 

The dinner ends and Isabel goes back to her house where she is safe.  But then Louis meets with Isabel a few days later.  His job will require him to spend the summer travelling.  Can Eva, who Louis lives with, stay with Isabel?  Eva can' t stay at Louis' place because there is a third roommate who lIves with them, a man, and it wouldn't be appropriate.  Isabel's response is no:  

"It’s my house,” she said, and it was out and she knew she had misspoken, and Louis knew it as well, barely letting her finish the phrase to cut in with an “Is it, Isabel?” He took a step forward. “Yours?” Isabel’s heart gave a dull thud. She looked away. Uncle Karel had promised the house to Louis, should he ever want it. The unspoken caveat was: should he ever want it for a family of his own. Isabel never had reason to worry: ... They would allow her to stay here, her brothers. Her uncle. They had to, where else could she go?" 

Isabel has really no choice but to let Eva stay with her and when Eva moves in Isabel is rude and silent.  Despite this Eva is cheerful and friendly.  Isabel in comparison is keeping close tabs on her silverware and the other objects around the house sure that first the maid and now Eva are stealing her things.  And that is as far as I can go with this novel without giving too much away.  

After I finished The Safekeep I watched an interview with the author Yael Van Der Wouden.  She was partly inspired to write The Safekeep because of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.  And I think the connection is that in both novels a house plays a major role in the story.  Both homes, Manderley in Rebecca and Isabel's home in The Safekeep are haunted, haunted by the past. There are two significant plot twists in this novel.  One I anticipated but the second twist which comes later in the book I did not see coming and it is powerful.

I will be pleased if the Booker comittee chooses The Safekeep for this year's prize.  But regardless Yael van Der Wouden is an excellent writer to watch