Rituals
Cees Nooteboom · b. 1933 · Netherlands
Originally Rituelen (Dutch)
Why it matters
A wealthy, drifting Amsterdam man's life is bracketed by two eccentric mentors, each devoted to a private system of ceremony. Nooteboom's cool, essayistic study of modern rootlessness and the need for form.
At a glance
philosophical novelpsychological novel
Difficulty 6/10slow pace150 pagesCool, essayistic prose built around private systems of meaning.
Where to go next
Harry Mulisch · 1992The Discovery of HeavenLvl 6Medium pace
Paul Harding · 2009TinkersLvl 6Slow burn
Hugo Claus · 1983The Sorrow of BelgiumLvl 6Medium pace
Peter Handke · 1972A Sorrow Beyond DreamsLvl 6Slow burn
André Gide · 1902The ImmoralistLvl 5Medium pace
Iris Murdoch · 1978The Sea, the SeaLvl 6Slow burn