Review

In Moenk’s law, you get introduced to two men: Moenk and I (a first person narrative). Jaap Bos gives you a look inside each of their lives by switching the perspective chapter by chapter. After you’ve finished the book, you come to realize that not every highlighted aspect of their lives is a necessary precondition to the meaning of the story or to fully comprehend the book. In the same vein, Jaap Bos leaves some (vital) questions unanswered. At first you get angry, but then you start to wonder: Are they really vital questions? Have I missed the symbolism? Am I looking for meaning when there isn’t any? Jaap Bos teaches you that not every defined aspect of their lives has to symbolize something; he has written their lives down as they are and part of your job as a reader is to give meaning to it and to look for or give it your own symbolism. Moenk’s law is a beautiful, realistic ode to life. Jet Klokgieters [Gepubliceerd in Think Big, het online honourstijdschrift van de faculteit Sociale Wetenschappen Universiteit Utrecht]