Maaijke A NOVEL

Maaijke, who was born in a Dutch village in the early 1800s, led a modest and unremarkable life. Being the youngest of all the siblings, her only companion was her vivid imagination, and harnessing that gift enabled her to travel to many places. She remained invisible to the others while she traveled through place and time. When she turned sixteen, she was compelled to marry Bertus Maasen, a man in his forties. Heartbroken and disappointed by her husband’s lack of interest in intimacy, she started traveling through time again, this time choosing to go to Spakenburg in the year 1971. Suddenly, everything about her travel changed, and she could interact with the people there. It was then that she met Peter Massen. Astounded by their identical surnames, she lied about her true identity. The connection between them, however, was instantaneous, and they fell in love. Will their love survive their unique circumstances? Will Peter find out her true identity? Why do they have the same surname? Read Maaijke by Thomas J. Vander Salm to find out the fate of this odd couple.

This book is a page-turner. The dual first-person POV style drives the plot forward smoothly as we get to know both Maaijke and Peter’s lives. Throughout the narrative, the author shows the contrast in lifestyle between the 1800s and 1900s. The mention of several important historical events and milestones adds authenticity to the story. Peter is a likeable character. His insecurities stem from always being compared to his great-grandfather Pieter, who moved to the United States from Spakenburg in the mid-nineteenth century. Despite that, his determination to prove himself worthy is admirable. Maaijke, on the other hand, is a passionate and resilient woman. She is both curious and stubborn. Other characters also contribute to the development of the plot. Strong, relatable, diverse, and intriguing characters are the strongest aspects of this book.

This book touches on the themes of unconditional love, resilience, family bonding, and grief with a tinge of fantasy. The romance between Maaijke and Peter is the backbone of this story. But the unbreakable bonds between family members also play an important role. Every chapter is marked with the years and POV person’s names, making it possible to keep track of the timelines. Several interesting twists keep readers invested. The brisk writing style and attention to detail make the book an enjoyable read.

There is nothing I dislike about this book. Although I noted a few minor errors, they didn’t hamper my reading experience. I must gladly admit that the final chapters kept me guessing the climax till the very end. For its eloquent writing style, brisk pacing, relatable characters, and surprising twists, I rate this book 5 out of 5. 
 
I would recommend this book to older teenagers and adults, as a certain level of maturity is required to fully grasp the concept of the book. This book will appeal to both romance and fantasy lovers.