This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

1. 1. The Evenings

   A Winter's Tale

   

   Set in post-World War II Amsterdam, the story follows ten days in the life of a disenchanted young man named Frits van Egters. As he navigates the monotony of his daily routine, Frits grapples with existential angst and a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction. Through a series of mundane interactions with his family and friends, he reflects on the absurdity of life and the passage of time. The narrative captures the bleakness and humor of Frits's internal world, offering a poignant exploration of alienation and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe.

   The 844th Greatest Book of All Time

   Purchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon

2. 2. Nearer To Thee

   

   The book delves into the complex inner world of a man grappling with existential questions and personal turmoil. Through a series of introspective reflections and vivid memories, the protagonist confronts themes of faith, love, and mortality. The narrative weaves between moments of dark humor and profound insight, capturing the essence of human vulnerability and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe. As the protagonist navigates his relationships and spiritual dilemmas, the story unfolds as a poignant exploration of the human condition.

   The 4890th Greatest Book of All Time

3. 3. Approaching The End

   

   The book is a contemplative exploration of mortality and existential reflection, centered around the protagonist's introspective journey as he grapples with the inevitability of death. Through a series of poignant and often darkly humorous vignettes, the narrative delves into themes of loneliness, love, and the search for meaning in the face of life's transience. The protagonist's interactions and musings reveal a deep-seated yearning for connection and understanding, ultimately painting a vivid portrait of the human condition and the universal struggle to find solace and purpose amidst the looming presence of the end.

   The 8092nd Greatest Book of All Time

4. 4. Werther Nieland

   

   Set in the backdrop of a post-war Dutch neighborhood, the narrative explores the complexities of childhood friendships and the often harsh realities of growing up. The protagonist, a young boy, navigates the intricacies of his relationship with a charismatic yet enigmatic peer, whose influence leads him into a world of imagination and mischief. Through vivid storytelling, the tale delves into themes of innocence, identity, and the subtle transition from childhood naivety to the brink of adolescence, capturing the poignant moments that shape one's early years.
5. 5. De Ondergang Van De Familie Boslowits

   

   Set against the backdrop of World War II in the Netherlands, this poignant narrative delves into the tragic decline of a Jewish family as they face the relentless grip of Nazi occupation. Through the eyes of a young boy, the story captures the gradual erosion of normalcy and the creeping dread that envelops the Boslowits family. As their world unravels, the narrative poignantly highlights themes of loss, resilience, and the haunting impact of war on innocent lives, offering a deeply moving reflection on the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.

6. 6. Oud En Eenzaam

   

7. 7. Moeder En Zoon

   

   An intimate, compact portrait of the fraught bond between a son and his aging mother, blending tenderness, bitterness and dark humor as it probes dependency, resentment and forbidden desire within a confined domestic world. The narrator’s sharp, self-aware voice navigates power shifts, moral awkwardness and moments of bleak tenderness, turning everyday interactions into a probing meditation on family, identity, loneliness and the search for meaning.

8. 8. De Taal Der Liefde

   

   null

9. 9. Het Boek Van Violet En Dood

   

   A lyrical, darkly comic tale in which an often-autobiographical narrator becomes entangled with a young woman named Violet and a looming, personified figure of Death; through fragmented episodes and sharp, ironic prose he confronts erotic longing, guilt, spiritual doubt and the inevitability of mortality, blending taboo encounters with theological reflection to probe the limits of desire, faith and human vulnerability.
10. 10. De Vierde Man

    

    A bisexual writer becomes infatuated with a charismatic, enigmatic woman who seems to lure men to their deaths. As he probes her past and is consumed by increasingly vivid, erotic and prophetic visions, reality and nightmare fuse, with Catholic imagery, guilt and sexual obsession shaping his interpretations. The relationship escalates into a tense, ambiguous confrontation that forces him to confront betrayal, mortality and his own complicity.

11. 11. Bezorgde Ouders

    

12. 12. Een Circusjongen

    

    A young man leaves his ordinary life to join a traveling circus and, amid its exotic and often brutal routines, confronts loneliness, longing and his emerging sexual identity. The narrative follows a series of vivid, sometimes darkly comic episodes that blend tenderness and cruelty, dreamlike imagery and sharp social observation, using the circus world as a stage to explore alienation, desire and the search for belonging.

13. 13. Книга о фиолетовом и смерти

    

    Живописная деревня во Франции. В ожидании похорон юного соседа писатель Герард Реве вспоминает прошлое: немецкую оккупацию, пребывание в психиатрической клинике, знакомство с милыми мальчиками и старыми негодяями. «Книга о Фиолетовом и Смерти» должна сделать все остальные книги излишними, за исключением Библии. "Поскольку я всегда был занят одной темой, Смертью, которая в то же время есть тема любого искусства, я сеял её повсюду, где появлялся"

14. 14. Бог очень одинок

    

    "Очень часто, когда я отображаю свои отношения с Господом, Он состоит со мной в интимной, не исключающей сексуальный контакт связи". Фантазия Герарда Реве о совокуплении с Богом, который явился к нему в виде юного серого осла, стала поводом для "Ослиного процесса" (1966–1968), последнего дела о богохульстве, возбужденного в Нидерландах. Писатель сам защищал себя в зале суда и был оправдан.В том же году, когда начался Ослиный процесс, Реве, многих удивив, присоединился к Римско-католической церкви. В книге "Бог очень одинок" собраны воспоминания, речи, лекции, статьи и письма Реве, открывающие тайны ревизма – сексуальных актов наказания, посвященных высшим существам и самому Богу.