The Book of Everything

The Book of Everything is the title of the English translation (published 2006) of the Dutch children's novel "Het boek van alle dingen" by Guus Kuijer, published in 2004 by Querido Uitgeversmaatschappij.

The book was awarded the Gouden Griffel literary award in 2005.

Plot summary

The book, set in Amsterdam, relates the tale of a nine-year-old boy named Thomas who see things no one else can, such as invisible hail that "ripped all the leaves from the trees", and tropical fish in the canal. Thomas lives in a family of four: his parents and his sister, Margot. They are not, however, a harmonious family, as their father repeatedly hits their mother, and punishes Thomas by beating him with a wooden spoon. He is a very religious man, but he fears embarrassment and is said to "not belong with people". Thomas writes down everything in his "Book of Everything", a diary which holds his thoughts.

Characters

Thomas

Thomas is the hero of the story. Although he is young, he knows a lot and is never afraid to ask questions. He has visions of Jesus and talks to him. He is said to be a good boy with a lovely personality. He says that "when I grow up, I'm going to be happy". In the prologue, the author asks the aged Thomas whether he became happy, and is answered, "Yes." Thomas has many friends in the book such as Eliza who he has a crush on.

Margot

Margot is Thomas's older sister. Thomas describes her as, "dumb as an onion," though much of her apparent stupidity is a farce. She has a way of knowing things. At a particularly violent point of the story, where the father is threatening to hurt Thomas and his mother, Margot grabs the carving knife and threatens Father with it, saying that "I've had it up to here". Thomas's respect for her grows as the story progresses.

Father

Father is a very strict personality who does not believe in niceness or mercy, saying that "only good-for-nothings and weaklings are happy. Life is a struggle." He has shut himself off from people. He is shown to be a coward.

Mother

Mother is very nice to Thomas, but has been oppressed for most of her married life.

Mrs. Van Amersfoort-Raaphorst

Mrs. K. Hagouda (the play Mrs. Van Amersfoort is a war survivor who is said to be a witch. She has a very messy house and two black cats. Her husband was executed in World War II for being a part of the Resistance. She also helps Thomas to stop being afraid, and aids him when he starts to set up the Plagues of Egypt to scare Father, first by giving Thomas her cordial so he can dye his aquarium red like blood, and next by summoning a plague of frogs, until Thomas calls off the plagues.

Eliza

Eliza is Thomas's friend. She is sixteen. She has a leather leg that creaks when she walks, and only one finger on her left hand. Thomas writes her a love letter early in the book, and later tells Jesus that he will marry her, and receives the Lord's blessing.