Lifestyle books

€15

'One of the best Dutch nonfiction books. Suzanne Jansen investigates how the poor from the big cities used to be sent to the Peat Colonies against their will, more or less to be re-educated. She also brilliantly describes how poverty and the stigma that comes with it is passed on from generation to generation. I think this book is mandatory, especially in these times when it is often said that everyone has equal opportunities.' — Paulien Cornelisse  

€8

Niko likes to play the triangle, because it makes the most beautiful sound in the world. PING. But then the peace is disturbed by a gentleman who comes with a bassoon. VOMP. When a girl with a timpani and two ladies with violins also turn up, a cacophony of sound is created: PING, VOMP, Zwie, DOEM. It doesn't sound like much until Niko proposes to play together. And then an orchestra is created and how beautiful that sounds! In collaboration with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

€17.50

'Sei Shonagon was a lady at the Japanese court in the tenth century. She wrote down what she liked, what bothered her, and what moved her. It is a kind of column bundle that allows you to look directly back ten centuries in time. Sometimes what she writes is extremely strange to people living today, but more often it is completely familiar.' — Paulien Cornelisse  

€18.50

'I think all of David Sedaris's books are very funny and good. In Calypso he adds a layer to his work that is a bit more melancholic. I was moved by this book (but also managed to laugh "as usual").' — Paulien Cornelisse

€17.50

'One of my favourite writers and I think this is her best book. A presentation of short stories written so naturally that I think: she must have experienced this herself, otherwise she wouldn't write it like that. However that's not true, she can just write really well.' — Paulien Cornelisse

€10

'For me a recent, but memorable discovery. George Saunders' short stories often have an interesting form but the story that they tell is always good.' — Paulien Cornelisse