First there was the noise. Then the traces followed: left-over Capri-Sun packaging, the empty casing of a pre-rolled joint, a broken flower pot. Night after night the same group gathers beneath David’s window. They smoke, talk, take up space.
When the neighbourhood starts fighting back, however, he refuses to chime into the chorus of criticism. Unsure whether his courage is motivated by fear, longing, or opportunism. Because the group deprives him of his peace, David finally decides to take something from them in return. With disastrous consequences.
Man Made is a merciless analysis of man in all his forms. Funny and vengeful, obsessive and subversive.
Shortlisted for the Libris Literatuurprijs 2025. Besides nominations for the Boekenbon Literatuurprijs and the De Boon Literatuurprijs.
“As much as it is a suspenseful book, Man maakt stuk is also a smart, contemporary novel of ideas. There’s sharp encounters with various contemporary discourses, such as those on gentrification, class, racial equality or inequality, privilege, representation, ownership, heteronormativity and queer identity.” - Jury report Libris Literatuur Prijs 2025
“A group of youths are being rowdy outside an artist’s window. This sharp, satirical and multifaceted book tells about his reaction, and what it stands for – from gentrification to heteronormativity. The books brings to mind stories such as Jordan Peele’s film Get out and Percival Everetts novel Erasure, recently adopted for the screen as American Fiction – that is satire from the sidelines, from a non-dominant perspective. ” – NRC ••••
“A riveting page-turner. A novel with so many layers that readers will find themselves constantly wrongfooted.” – Trouw
“A clever novel about identity politics that steers clear of predictability.” – De Volkskrant
“Queer, uncompromising, sexy, and smart.” – Hanna Bervoets, author