When I read it at the time, in 1991, I was not overmuch impressed with Handke's Versuch über den geglückten Tag. However, having read so many other books by Handke, I have come to recognize his stilled style, which can calm you down, if you have the patience to follow his pace and look at each detail he dishes up.

I was surprised to find out that Versuch über den Stillen Ort is only the fourth essay in this series of "Versuche", attempts, or otherwise aptly known as essays. This means there is a gap of 21 years between the writing of Versuch über den geglückten Tag and Versuch über den Stillen Ort.

These book length essays are usually about 80 pages, Versuch über den Stillen Ort a bit longer with 108 pages, but in the first edition hardcovers there print is large, they may appear shorter in a paperback edition. The essay has a lot of steam in the first 70 pages, but them seems to slack down as if it costs the author more effort, or suffering from lack of inspiration, to get on. One almost wonders why not stop there.

It was quite banal that about ten pages before the actual moment, I realized that he was going to bring up a toilet. In fact, he writes about a toilet in a Tempelgarden in Japan. The idea that the essay might bring this up was not in my mind before reading or looking at the title, and it is humoristic and banal at the same time.

It is obvious that these essays represent just a free meandering of the author's mind, and as such they bring up ample interesting contemporary observations, such as the contemporary movement to restrict smoking

The leisurely style translates into reading ease, making for a pleasant leisurely reading experience. ( )

I hadn't expected this book to be about toilets and seeking refuge in them. it is interesting that the author likes these offices for purposes of peace and quiet, to get away from the noise and babble, to gather his thoughts before emerging back into family events and the like. There are a few amusing scenes, for instance two men washing their hair simultaneously side by side n toilet wash basins. the reis also a good chapter on the author's relationship with animals out in the wild, for instance a day with a hedgehog. ( )