Murmur & Man's Laughter: Terrorific Stories
About this ebook
The Statesmen's Quarter is the country's most violent neighbourhood. The stately mansions on the Johan van Oldenbarnevelt Laan contrast sharply with the dilapidated porch houses on Thorbecke Straat, Wouter Bos Pad and Dries van Agt Gracht. Workers live right next to a waste incineration plant, where victims disappear without a trace. In the pouring rain, welfare recipients struggle to keep their heads above water, small business owners fight for their livelihoods, and crime pays better than work.
The first story, the novella «Bar Gain», immediately sets the tone. What follows is an exquisite collection of short stories, set both in and far beyond the Statesmen's Quarter.
Some critics wonder whether Ronaldo Siète really writes better plots than David Baldaccion, who has sold over 100 million thrillers. Those critics should simply read this collection of stories, which radically puts an end to all doubt, and all doubting critics.
Reviews:
"«Murmur & Man's Laughter» satisfies the public's insatiable hunger for as much violence as possible, in books and films, but also on the news. The reading material is served up with healthy satire, fresh irony, fine imagination, and a cheerful smile."
"The death penalty should be reinstated for writers of this kind of books."
"Five stars [in the windscreen of my Mercedes, because I wrote a bad review]."
"Let me put it this way: I'm not saying anything. Anything I say can and will be used against me."
"I laughed myself to death and will posthumously sue the author for premeditated murder."
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About the author
Ronaldo considers himself "the funniest writer in Dutch literary history". The rest of the country laughs at that, which automatically confirms the statement. After a long, traumatic childhood experience (the six years of 1st grade of primary school, when he had to learn the alphabet), he escaped reality and plunged into the world of fiction. He studied silly jokes in Orcsford (England), dark humour in the Black Forest (Germany) and dirty jokes at Club Oh, La, Lá (Place Picardillas 69, Paris, France). He graduated in Tonterías and graduated in Cachondeo from the University of Málaga (Spain). His novels and poems are inspired by his philosophy: smile every day, because no one gives literary prizes to writers who make their readers cry (otherwise he would have written this book on onion skins). He lives everywhere and doesn't work anywhere, because making up jokes while floating in the pool, with a drink in one hand and a snack in the other, "That ain't workin', that's the way you do it".
