Title: Problemski Hotel
Author: Dimitri Verhulst
First published January 1, 2003
110 pages
ISBN: 9789025428532 (ISBN10: 9025428533)
Rating: 3.47
Overview
Many of us have seen news reports on asylum seekers, but what truly goes on behind the fences of a refugee center is less known. Dimitri Verhulst, a renowned writer, locked himself up in the Arendonk Asylum Seeker Centre for several days to get a true sense of what it’s like.
The outcome was a magazine feature, however, what he saw left an indelible mark on him: the people whose days and dreams are fraught with suffering; the tensions between different ethnic groups; the degrading conditions at the center; the interactions with human smugglers and the futile escape attempts, some of which end in death due to oxygen deprivation in cargo containers. The result is “Problemski Hotel,” a poignant and thought-provoking novel that provides readers with an intimate look into the lives of refugees.
About the Author
Since his debut in 1999, Verhulst has written 13 books including novels, short stories, poetry, and plays. His work has been translated into over 20 languages and is highly regarded as some of the best literature to come out of the Low Countries.
His classic novel, “The Misfortunates,” won the Golden Owl Audience Award, while “The Latecomer” sold over 75,000 copies within six months of its release and is being adapted into a film. Verhulst has won numerous awards, including the Libris Literature Prize for “Godverdomse Days on a Godverdomse World.”
Awards:
– 2007: Golden Owl Audience Award for “The Misfortunates”
– 2007: Humo’s Golden Bookmark for “The Misfortunates”
– 2008: The Inktaap for “The Misfortunates,” literary youth prize in Flanders, the Netherlands, and Suriname
– 2009: Best Book 2008 Humo’s Pop Poll for “Godverdomse Days on a Godverdomse World”
– 2009: Libris Literature Prize for “Godverdomse Days on a Godverdomse World”
Editoral Review
Dimitri Verhulst’s Problemski Hotel takes the reader on a heart-wrenching journey through the lives of the forgotten people of our society. First published on January 1, 2003, Verhulst’s novel delves deep into the themes of displacement, despair, and the human search for hope.
Set in Belgium, the novel follows various refugees, illegal immigrants, and homeless individuals as they find shelter, even if temporary, in a hotel converted into a refugee camp. The book introduces us to various characters, such as the African Sleyum, the Russian Irina, and the Chinese Lan, among others.
Each of these characters comes from a different background, with different struggles and experiences, and Verhulst portrays their stories with visceral detail. Problemski Hotel provides a unique look at the lives of people who have been displaced and forced to leave behind their families and homes.
It also touches on the various challenges that they face, such as xenophobia, racism, and discrimination, and how they grapple with these challenges on a daily basis. Verhulst’s writing style is raw, unapologetic, and poignant.
He pulls no punches in portraying the harsh realities of his characters, and this can be unsettling at times. However, it is through this rawness that Verhulst creates a powerful impact on the reader.
One weakness of the novel is that the plot can at times feel disjointed, with Verhulst jumping between various characters and their stories. This can make the book confusing to follow at times, and the lack of a central narrative can make it difficult to engage with.
Despite this weakness, however, Problemski Hotel is a gut-wrenching and powerful read that exposes the realities faced by those on the outskirts of our society. It is a stark reminder that the issues we face today, such as the refugee crisis and the plight of the homeless, are not new, and have been around for centuries.
Verhulst’s novel is a must-read for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the human condition and the struggles faced by those on the margins of society. It receives a rating of 4 out of 5, with the only criticism being that it may not be easily accessible to all readers due to its raw and unapologetic writing style.
