Book Club: Let's Talk About 'The Safekeep'

Fri May 30 2025

MJ Franklin, who hosts the Book Review podcast’s monthly book club, says that whenever someone asks him, “What should I read next?,” Yael van der Wouden’s “The Safekeep” has become his go-to recommendation. So he was particularly excited to discuss the novel on this week’s episode. Set in the Netherlands in 1961, “The Safekeep” is one of those books it’s best not to know too much about, as part of its delight is discovering its secrets unspoiled.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Book Review – Book Club: Let's Talk About 'The Safekeep'

Release Date: May 30, 2025
Host: Gilbert Cruz
Guests: MJ Franklin, Zumanika Teeb, Anna Dubenco, and special guest Maddy (Audio Engineer)
Book Discussed: "The Safekeep" by Yael van der Vowden

Introduction to the Book Club Episode

At 00:42, host Gilbert Cruz introduces the episode as the monthly Book Club session featuring "The Safekeep" by Yael van der Vowden. MJ Franklin, Zumanika Teeb, and Anna Dubenco join him to delve into this acclaimed debut novel, which was nominated for the 2024 Booker Prize. The book is praised for its intricate portrayal of obsession, loss, and the nuanced dynamics of family and reclaiming one's past.

Overview of "The Safekeep"

Anna Dubenco provides an elevator synopsis at 03:32, highlighting that "The Safekeep" is a work of historical fiction set in the Netherlands in 1961. The narrative centers on Isabel, an unlikable protagonist devastated by her parents' death and obsessed with maintaining her family home. Her life takes a turn when Ava, her older brother's girlfriend, stays for a few weeks, setting the stage for intense character interactions and hidden motives.

Notable Quote:
"The Safekeep draws us into a world as carefully calibrated as a Dutch still life." – Booker Judges

Character Analysis: Isabel

MJ Franklin shares her experience with Isabel at 05:21, initially finding the character less offensive than other readers who criticized Isabel for being mean-spirited. MJ appreciates Isabel's complexity, describing her as a "profoundly unhappy person" who is both judgmental and vulnerable.

Anna Dubenco adds at 08:19 that Isabel is "so tightly wound" and "obsessed with herself," which complexities the reader's engagement with her character. The portrayal balances Isabel's outward harshness with her internal grief and loneliness.

Notable Quote:
"Isabel is not a people pleaser to say the least." – Anna Dubenco at 06:56

Themes and Plot Development

The discussion at 05:05 transitions into the broader themes of the novel, such as grief, possession, and the lingering effects of history on the present. Anna emphasizes how the narrative intertwines Isabel's personal struggles with the haunting legacy of World War II.

At 14:56, Gilbert Cruz introduces the complex relationship between Isabel and Ava, highlighting the twist where Ava reveals her true motive—reclaiming her family's stolen home. This revelation adds depth to the narrative, exploring themes of injustice, memory, and revenge.

Notable Quote:
"I had to keep this conversation more accessible to a general audience, so we tried to keep the first half spoiler light." – Gilbert Cruz at 02:28

Big Plot Twist: Ava's True Motive

At 24:44, after a brief pause, MJ Franklin unveils the major plot twist: Ava's intrusion into Isabel's life is driven by a deep-seated desire to reclaim the family home their family lost during World War II. Ava's family had to flee, and upon returning, she discovers that Isabel's family has occupied their ancestral home due to unpaid taxes and mortgages. This twist redefines the narrative, shifting the focus from personal vendettas to historical restitution.

Anna Dubenco reflects at 26:46 on how the twist effectively intertwines personal relationships with historical grievances, enhancing the emotional weight of the story.

Notable Quote:
"What is enough? She had held a pear in her hand and she had eaten it, skin and all... the hunger still sat in her like an open maw." – Gilbert Cruz reading at 21:49

Symbolism and Literary Devices

The guests discuss the rich symbolism employed in the novel, particularly the recurring motifs of fruit and domestic settings. The scene where Isabel devours a pear (19:19) symbolizes her internal turmoil and inability to find satisfaction or fulfillment. The house itself is portrayed almost as a character, representing history, memory, and the burdens of the past.

Notable Quote:
"A fruit in literature is never just a fruit." – MJ Franklin at 21:49

Reader Reactions and Online Engagement

Gilbert Cruz shares online reader comments at 10:13, showcasing the book's impact:

Wavy from Vancouver admires the authentic portrayal of the Dutch post-war experience.
Beth from Oak Park praises the intricate character development and atmospheric setting.
Nicholas from Madison commends the novel's plotting and lasting emotional resonance.

Special guest Maddy, the podcast's audio engineer, contributes her perspective at 11:53, appreciating the book's unique take on the Holocaust narrative and its emotional complexity.

Critical Reception and Author's Intent

Anna Dubenco discusses at 27:57 the author's intent to present a perspective rarely explored in Holocaust literature—focusing on the perpetrator's side and their motivations without delving into victimhood. This approach adds layers to the narrative, challenging readers to grapple with moral ambiguities and historical injustices.

Concluding Thoughts and Future Recommendations

As the conversation winds down around 35:47, the hosts and guests exchange book recommendations that complement the themes explored in "The Safekeep." Recommendations include:

Anna Dubenco: "The Torqued Man" by Peter Mann and "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters.
MJ Franklin: "Mice, 1961" – a novel set in the same year as "The Safekeep," exploring domestic drama against political upheaval.
Gilbert Cruz: "The New Life" by Tom Cru – a historical novel delving into early gay rights movements and complex relationships.

Notable Quote:
"This book is a little triumph." – Gilbert Cruz at 34:45

Looking Ahead: June's Book Club Selection

Before closing, Gilbert Cruz announces the June Book Club selection: "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf, celebrating its 100th anniversary. Listeners are encouraged to read along and join the discussion in the upcoming episode on June 27.

Notable Quote:
"In June, we are reading Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf... Let’s chat about the book and its impact." – Gilbert Cruz at 39:05

Conclusion

The episode provides an in-depth exploration of "The Safekeep," highlighting its complex characters, thematic depth, and emotional resonance. The discussion balances spoiler-sensitive analysis with thoughtful commentary, making it accessible and engaging for both listeners familiar with the book and those new to it.

Join the Conversation:
Continue discussing "The Safekeep" and share your thoughts at the New York Times Book Review website.

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This summary captures the essence of the podcast episode, focusing on the key discussions, character analyses, thematic explorations, and notable moments, while providing timestamps and speaker attributions for significant quotes.

Transcript

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Gilbert Cruz (0:42)

I'm Gilbert Cruz, editor of the New York Times Book Review, and this is the Book Review Podcast. This week, our monthly Book Club episode, M.J. franklin and Friends are here to discuss the Safekeep by Yael van der Waden. Here you go. Hello and welcome to another book club episode of the Book Review Podcast. I'm MJ Franklin. I'm an editor here at the New York Times Book Review, and for this month's Book Review Book Club, we're talking about the Safekeep by Yael van der Vowden. The Safe Keep came out last year, and I think it's safe to say it was one of the buzziest books of 2024. In addition to the excitement and critical acclaim it earned, it was also nominated for the 2024 Booker Prize, with the booker judges saying the Safekeep draws us into a world as carefully calibrated as a Dutch still life. We love this debut novel for its remarkable inhabitation of obsession. It navigates an emotional landscape of loss and return in an unforgettable way. But that's only part of why we chose the Safekeep as our May Book Club book. We also chose this just because personally, the Safekeep has grown into my go to book recommendation. And if it's a book that I keep recommending, it's a book that I keep talking about. I think that makes a good book club book. Also, what's a book club without friends? Joining me in the studio are two returning guests, Zumanika Teeb, a fellow editor here at the Book Review and a familiar voice on the Book Review Podcast. Hi, Joumana.

M.J. Franklin (2:12)

Hi mj. I'm happy to be here.

Gilbert Cruz (2:14)

Thank you for coming back. And Anna Dubenco is the New York Times newsroom's audience director and a friend of the Book Review. Welcome back.

Anna Dubenco (2:23)

Thank you for having me. I've been begging to come back and talk about this particular book.

Gilbert Cruz (2:28)

I am so excited to dig in. Before we dig in, though, I just have two admin Notes up top one is that at the end of the episode we will reveal our June Book Club book. So stay with us until the end to find out what we're reading next and and then second, There will be spoilers in this conversation. This is one where there are so many plot twists that it's impossible to talk about this one without revealing something that isn't obvious from the start of the book. But here's what we're going to do to try to keep this conversation more accessible to a general audience. For people who have read this who haven't, we are going to try to keep the first half of this conversation spoiler light. There will be some spoilers. Again, it's hard to talk about without revealing something, but we will save the big twist to the second half of the episode. So choose your own adventure for this conversation. Listen to the first half, listen to the whole episode, pause, read the book, and then come back to us. I defer to you, but we are going to dig in. So without further ado, let's get to it. To get us started, could someone give us a quick 1 minute elevator synopsis of the safekeep what is this book about?