Journey of a Groningen Girl

Little Europe

Nell Jones reads the chapter, Little Europe, from the novel, the Lost Sister of Groningen

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Comment by Nell Jones on January 4, 2011 at 7:04pm: Dear Klaas,

Thankyou so much for the great comments!!! I am so glad you liked it and that it had so much meaning for you.I will tell Anneke about your comments and she will be thrilled.We are having a book launch soon at the Tap Gallery and of course I will send you an invite, Anneke would be most interested in speaking to you! So glad to that you won the book how fantastic! I would be most grateful for a review in the Holland Focus that would be sensational. Let me know... nell Jones

Comment by Klaas Woldring on December 31, 2010 at 3:58pm: HiJoop, Nel and Anneke,

I have read the book after listening to the interview on SBS and winning a free copy!

It is a moving authentic story. As I was born the city of Groningen myself (went to the primary school there during WWII) - and my wife comes from a farming family in the province of Groningen - it has a particular meaning for us. I well understand the situation Anneke and her family were in and the exploitation of Dutch citizens on low incomes by the occupier. This was a Holland well before the increasingly generous welfare conditions gradually developed by the post-war Drees Labour Government. I suppose I could do a review of the book for Holland Focus if they are interested. It is great that you are doing these interviews and putting them on the website.

The visit by the Japanese students was again a success to judge by the photo on our website. Sorry, I wasn't there on this occasion.

Klaas Woldring

Comment by Ozcloggie on December 30, 2010 at 3:48pm: My father took the picture, on the family's box camera, which we brought with us.

Comment by Ozcloggie on December 30, 2010 at 1:19pm: "Wow!" Is my first reaction. Some slight pressure behind the eyes. As I know the setting (Bonegilla), it was like being taken back there again but from a completely opposite perspective. I was 12. It was May, 1956. No school. No other children, apart from Netty, who was 6. The food upset me. The ablution blocks I remember as being awful. (I was an only child. This was too public.) I have a photo of the six of us, enjoying a picnic, below the dam.
Compared to Anneke, we had it "easy". We weren't there long. ( I suspect that it's good that I had not read the book yet, before we spoke about it.) I know I shall enjoy reading and recommending it very much. From a retired school teacher: 9.9/10!!