The Dutch novelist on experiencing prominence in his 50 s, dysfunctional attributes and his dreaming dinner guests
Herman Koch is a Dutch columnist and performer. He is the author of 7 short story accumulations and eight novels, including the international bestseller The Dinner . His new novel, Dear Mr M , is a literary thriller about the interconnections between point and myth . Theres a lot in your brand-new novel about the vanity and narcissism of the ageing novelist whos past his prime. Did you have any particular inspirations for the specific characteristics of Mr M ?
When I take his point of view in the second part of the book, he might gaze a bit like me when Im 20 years older. I hope not. I hope I wont be as contemptuous as he is, but theres ever that possibility. So is Mr M “the authors ” you hope never to become ?
In a channel, yes. Im nearly strange in five or 10 times from now about going back into oblivion and not lies in the fact that well known, certainly in my own country. Sometimes when Im at a party I please I werent this Herman Koch who everybody knows as a scribe. I care I was some anonymous being. And I can only was of the view that event when Im in a group of strangers in Italy or Spain who dont have the slightest hypothesi who I am. What dont you been fucking loving being the famous Herman Koch ?
Some parties tend to start a communication about literature or my books, which is not always the thing at “states parties ” or a dinner that I like to talk about. I likewise like to talk about football or the Olympics or movies. There is a way that beings tend to give increasing importance to what a novelist tell me something. It happens even with political discussions: So whats your opinion on this, being a scribe? So do you think novelists get put on a pedestal ?
Yes. And when not, its the other action people who want to communicate to you very clearly: Dont think youre a soul precisely because you are a novelist. Most beings still have this prejudice that a writer doesnt truly act. Theyre merely idling on the sofa. Mr M is a literary antihero. Who are your own literary heroes ?
I started my real enjoy for literature with 19 th-century Russians, speaking Chekhov and Tolstoy and Dostoevksy. I was in my late teens, so they affected me most. What I speak now is mostly contemporary English and American literature, but you cant talk about an affect any more the force begins earlier. You had your first big-hearted international literary success in your 50 s. Were there advantages to it happening later in life ?
Yes, I think that if Id written a very successful novel at 23, I might have felt: what next? This success that came to me afterward is a kind of bonus. I treat it more like a present than guessing Ill eventually show the world how good a writer I am. I dont have this ambition any more. Perhaps I never had it. Your novel The Dinner tells the story of a momentous snack in a restaurant involving two couples. Who would be your fantasy dinner party clients ?
It might be a famous football participate but he might be quite bearing. I would like to meet the French columnist Michel Houellebecq. But maybe after the first track I would say: Sorry, Michel, I have an important phone call to stimulate, and never show up again. Theres a lot of dysfunction in your reputations .
Yes, and of course theyre not all that sympathetic. But if youre talking about Dickens, would you have a beer with Fagin or an orange juice with Oliver? I think this is the whole object about unsympathetic attributes. Theres something about madness or badness that we like. As small children you were asked to leave your Montessori school for lack of discipline. Do you have a penalized writing planned now ?
No, I dont. The only penalize I have is that I get up and I know I have to write, that I will feel better if I write. Not in a Calvinistic gumption but actually feeling mentally and physically better if Ive written some paragraph. I dont really want to write in the morning its difficult to start but when I have started I remember, Oh, this was a very good idea.
Dear M is published by Picador( 14.99 ). Click here to buy it for 12.29
Source: http://allofbeer.com/herman-koch-im-curious-about-going-back-into-oblivion/
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