Book Review: Double play - Frank Martinus Arion

[Kim Alting]

Title of the book: Double Play
Author: Frank Martinus Arion
Genres: Political / social

I wanted to read this book, since there is now a movie about this story, which was presented at this years IFF (International Film Festival) here in Holland. Originally it's a Dutch book, but the movie is in English. I believe this book is available in English as well.
The book was published in 1973 and the protagonists represent the lower classes of the Antillean population. In the course of the story is winning or losing a matter of life and death symbolized by the domino game that the characters play. The end reflects the vision of the author: the winners - an idealistic love couple - will devote themselves to social and political improvement of their island of Curacao.
I particularly liked the social and political view of the book, which gave a clear image about the relationships between men and women in Curacao during that time. I am curious about the movie, since that will be set in present time (if I am not mistaken).

Summary:
It is a hot Sunday afternoon in the village of Wakota on Curaçao, the largest island in the Netherlands Antilles. Four men are seated under the tamarind tree, playing dominoes: Booboo Fiel, taxi driver and layabout; Manchi Sanantonio, bailiff and owner of the biggest house in Wakota; Chamon Nicolas, convicted murderer with a secret fortune (no one may know that he owns several houses) and Janchi Pau, independent idealist. They play dominoes every Sunday, but this particular Sunday is different.
There is trouble brewing. Booboo and Manchi lose one game after another. Booboo’s thoughts wander back to the night he spent at the al-fresco brothel of Campo Alegre and Manchi can’t get his partner to keep his mind on the game. Unlike other Sundays nobody’s telling juicy stories, instead all the talk is of politics. ‘Things are getting too heavy for a game of dominoes among friends,’ Booboo complains. But are they still friends? Janchi and Chamon are playing as if their lives depend on the outcome of the game. Driven by his love for Solema – Manchi’s wife – Janchi has set his sights on winning. As always, the men play until dusk. The stage is set for an unprecedented defeat, a double defeat.
In addition to the four men with their four different views of Curaçaoan society, Solema and her friend Nora also play an important role in the story. Of them all, Solema is the progressive thinker: the people of Curaçao have to produce more themselves; they need to take control of their own lives. It’s no coincidence that she winds up as one of the book’s winners.
Meanwhile tension and intrigue affect them all in this taut and ambitious tragicomedy of a novel.