In May 2005 the first volume of Frida Vogel's Dagboek (Diaries) was published. Altogether the series will comprise 16 volumes. So far, 10 volumes have been published, eight of which I have.

The diaries are considered of interest because three Dutch authors appear in their pages, describing their friendship and respective literary careers as they developed. They are Frida Vogels, J.J. Voskuil and Bert Weijde.

However, the reception of the diaries is disappointing. Volume 1, Dagboek 1954-1957 comprises four years is stylistically the weakest. The main criticism for most early volumes is the totally uninteresting content of the diaries.

Frida Vogels moved to Italy and married an Italian. In her diaries she describes her extended Italian family in detail. From Volume 2, Dagboek 1958-1959 each volume covers two years. While spending most of the year in Italy, Vogels regularly visits Strassburg in relation to work as a translator and regular visits to Amsterdam and other parts of the Netherlands for family visits. Over the years these visits to Amsterdam gain interest as the three authors, particularly the contact with J.J. Voskuil, expands and their literary career takes shape, discussing the literary scene in the Netherlands at that time, and the publication of Voskuil's work.

To me the large text portions about her life in Italy are of little interest, although it must be said that objectively her writing style improves, and they become more readable, and even of more interest, as her focus shifts from very personal, to more general observations. For me the most interesting parts are her visits to the Netherlands, and the descriptions of the city, people, literary events and the circle around Voskuil.

Although the diaries are rather boring, I am committed to finish reading at least the eight volumes that are in my possession, and I would probably finish the whole series when I can lay my hands on subsequent volumes. ( )

Frida ( ook bekend als Henriëtte uit "Bij nader inzien *****" van J.J. Voskuil) is een gecompliceerde vrouw. Enerzijds leeft ze voor de literatuur (een van haar beste vrienden is Han Voskuil, in Nederland wereldberoemd door "Het Bureau *****"), anderzijds heeft ze een relatie met E. een Italiaan die vooral in haar als vrouw is geïnteresseerd en moeite heeft met haar literaire ambities. In dit eerste deel van het dagboek probeert Frida haar plaats te bepalen. Ze schrijft in ieder geval zeer onderhoudend.
naschrift: Ik heb vorige week de dagboeken deel 2-7 gekocht en ben weer begonnen in deel 1. Bij herlezing tot blz 180 vond ik het allemaal niet zo interessant meer. Dat gebeurt wel vaker, een boek dat je bij eerste lezing wel mag, dat bij herlezing blijkt tegen te vallen. Ik heb alle delen teruggebracht naar het antiquariaat. 24-10-2012 ( )