Geef me de ruimte! review

This book starts off extremely similar to Thea Beckman’s novel ‘Hasse Simonsdochter’, as a young girl escapes from her parents and chooses to decide for herself what to do with her life. This book for young adults is decent, alright — but suffers a fatal flaw in that it doesn’t really feel like a full story, but rather a collection of small adventures. And as a result (or cause) of that, the characters barely develop and feel flat. On the upside, Beckman’s books are a fantastic way to relive history. Wikipedia does not feel, but through this book you’ll be ‘inside’ the Battle of Poitiers.

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A summer’s day in autumn

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Mary in Qibao

Mary in Qibao

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Empty shops

Empty shops

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October 11, 2025
My favorite places in Shanghai (2025 update)

My favorite places in Shanghai (2025 update)

I saw this message from Curt about how difficult it is to love Shanghai, and there’s some truth in that. Maybe it’s too big a city to love, and I just love some specific locations of Shanghai. Let me have a go. Ye Garden Ye Garden (叶家花园), a ~100-year-old park in Yangpu, hidden behind a […]
October 10, 2025