Next up: Trollen vangen met Max en Leendert (“Catching Trolls with Max and Leendert”) by Kees van Houte. Now some would argue that TvmMeL is not a good story. Technically, they would even be right. Does it have literary sensibilities? Not in the least. Are its characters three-dimensional and well-developed? Not at all. Does it bring a deeper layer of meaning to the reader? Huh, what?

But people, look at the title! Going into the story expecting any of these things is self-deluding. This is an unashamedly silly story, devoid of pretense, promising humor, slapstick even, and delivering on that promise. TvmMeL is intentional, succesful slapstick the way Peter Jackson’s Hobbit isn’t; funny the way Dutch sitcoms aren’t. It has energy, tempo, and a consistency of voice that is rarer than you might think.

Trollen vangen met Max en Leendert didn’t change my life, it didn’t alter the way I think about the world; it didn’t move me to tears. It did, however, make me chuckle in the quiet compartment of my morning train, causing annoyance among my fellow passengers, which is arguably another way of making a difference.

In other words, it tickled me.

This is part 2 of of a five-part series on Paul Harland Prize 2012 stories that I especially enjoyed, in no particular order. All they have in common is that they went on to be finalists in the Paul Harland Prize 2012 (and as such judged by the final jurors), and that I liked them.

Please note that these remarks reflect only my private opinion. I am in wholehearted agreement with the final line-up, the selection of winners, and the ranking of the finalists as the jury determined it.