The Safekeep

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism, religious discrimination, antigay bias, and death

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel’s structure takes a dramatic turn in Part 3 when we read Eva’s diary and discover her true identity and connection to the house. How did this revelation impact your experience as a reader? Did it change how you perceived the characters and their motivations in the earlier parts of the novel?

2. The Safekeep presents a perspective on Dutch society during and after the Holocaust that offers a counterpoint to more widely known narratives like The Diary of Anne Frank. How does van der Wouden’s portrayal of Dutch civilians during this period compare to other Holocaust literature you’ve encountered? What new insights does it offer?

3. What emotions did van der Wouden’s portrayal of post-Holocaust Netherlands evoke for you? Were you surprised by the depiction of Dutch civilian complicity, or did it align with your understanding of this historical period?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Isabel is deeply attached to her family home and the objects within it. Have you ever felt a similar attachment to a place or to physical objects? What made them significant to you?

2. Throughout the novel, Isabel struggles with her sexuality and feels uncomfortable in the relationship Johan tries to pursue with her. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where societal expectations pushed you toward choices that felt wrong for you? How did you navigate those pressures?

3. Eva’s diary reveals her plan to reclaim what was stolen from her family. Have you ever had to fight to reclaim something—whether physical, emotional, or symbolic—that was rightfully yours? What approaches did you take?

4. The relationship between Isabel and Eva transforms both women in different ways. Has an unexpected relationship in your life ever changed your perspective or challenged your assumptions about yourself?

5. The novel portrays different reactions to discovering one’s complicity in injustice—from Karel and Rian’s defensiveness to Isabel’s eventual acceptance and attempt at restitution. Have you ever had to recognize your own unintended participation in an unjust system? How did you respond?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel depicts how Dutch society largely avoided confronting its role in the Holocaust during the decades following WWII. How does this compare to how other nations have addressed their own histories of complicity in genocide or systemic oppression?

2. Van der Wouden portrays multiple forms of prejudice in 1960s Netherlands—antisemitism, antigay bias, and racism directed at Sebastian. How do these different forms of discrimination intersect in the novel, and what does this suggest about Dutch society at that time?

3. The Safekeep explores how objects stolen during the Holocaust became integrated into Dutch homes and everyday life. How does the novel challenge readers to think about restitution and reparations for historical injustices?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The hare motif appears throughout the novel on dishware and as symbolic imagery. How does the revelation of Eva’s surname (de Haas, meaning “hare” in Dutch) transform the significance of this symbol? What other layers of meaning might it carry?

2. The novel is narrated primarily from Isabel’s perspective until we reach Eva’s diary in Part 3. How does this narrative choice affect your understanding of both characters? How might the story have differed if told from Eva’s perspective throughout?

3. How do pears work symbolically in the novel, from Isabel’s sensuous consumption of the pear Eva gives her to the reference to Saint Augustine’s stolen pears. How do these moments connect to the themes of desire, sin, and theft?

4. How does van der Wouden use physical spaces—the house, the bedrooms, the garden—to explore themes of ownership, invasion, and belonging? What significance do these spaces hold for different characters?

5. The novel concludes with a Hebrew verse from Isaiah 56:7: “For my house will be called a house of devotion for all” (251). How does this religious reference relate to your understanding of the house as a symbol? What does it suggest about Isabel and Eva’s relationship to the space and to each other?

6. Both Isabel and Eva keep inventories—Isabel anxiously tracking household objects and Eva listing items to reclaim. How do these parallel lists serve as windows into each character’s psychology and motivations?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to design a house that represented healing and reconciliation for both Isabel and Eva, what elements would you include? How would you honor both characters’ connections to the space?

2. The novel ends with Isabel and Eva living together in the house, but their future remains open. Write a brief epilogue set 10 years later—what do you imagine their life together looks like? What challenges might they still face?

3. Eva deliberately modifies her appearance and mannerisms to manipulate Louis and gain access to her family home. Imagine an alternative approach she might have taken to reclaim her possessions. How might the story have unfolded differently?

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