Cross On Me: Book By Arie Uittenbogaard

A Bloggers' Books  is pleased to bring you our regular book review. This new book, Cross On Me is by Dutch author Arie Uittenbogaard.

"IN THE FINAL DECADE of the twentieth century the humanities spiralled into an unprecedented crisis. Those fields of inquiry that have always been our most believed mirrors felt their fundaments dissolve and their authorities wane. Although the common masses have no idea, and academics are in no hurry to tell them, mankind is either irreparably mad and ultimately doomed, or going through an awakening on an apocalyptic scale. Right now we are either dying or giving birth."

- Ethel Meyer

Ethel Meyer, a retired literature professor decides to invest her final moments of vision in the raving manuscripts of Qoheleth "Qoe" Bogenheart, a Bostonian theologian who lost his mind while writing it. With the help of mathematical science and industrial capital, Ethel forms the handwritten loose ends into the unity that they intended to convey.

As we follow Qoe on his Bunyanesque voyage to the arctic shore of Alaska we begin to wonder why any man would seek to forgo his sanity. Could it be to emulate Abraham who left his home, or even Christ who gave His life?

Qoe meets fellow travelers, suffers hallucinations, and even charges God with a baseball bat. Why  is he obsessed with flight? Is he searching for gold or knowledge? Who is Anna? Where is he going?

Qoe's car is found abandoned in Skagway, Alaska, and the manuscript ends in determinative silence. Ethel is nevertheless convinced that the story should continue, and the only one who may be able to raise Qoe is his wealthy father Karel. Only when his monetary fortune appears to have no bearing on his mission, Karel begins to realize that to raise a person, one has to live his death. Coming to terms with the nature of reality, Karel embraces his son's plight and the howling infinite of fiction.


Cross On Me is available to buy.

Arie Uittenbogaard worked on cargo and cruise ships for twenty years but has recently made the transition to being a full-time writer. He produces mostly Biblical studies, which are published via the website of Abarim Publications. Previously he published a book in Dutch, called Van Planckensteijn Doseert. In 2004 he was the recipient of the Carolyn A. Clark Flash Fiction Prize.

He and his wife live in Belgrade.