I had some mixed but ultimately positive feelings about this book, which tells the story of Richard, a recently retired classics professor in Berlin who finds himself drawn into the world of a group of African refugees in the city. I wish there was more time given to the perspective of the refugees themselves, but there was some interesting development of themes about borders, about time, and about choices. ( )

This is my third Erpenbeck novel, and I continue to enjoy her writing style, quirks and all - so far all the books feature a lake as brooding presence, sometimes beautiful and scenic, but also usually with a dark and threatening aspect. She is also the master of the non sequitur that actually conveys mood and meaning.
This book is about African asylum seekers in Germany. We learn about what drove them from Africa, how they survived the deadly sea crossing, and how they end up mired in EU, and German, bureaucracy by being in Germany after first landing in Italy.
The story is told with passion and compassion, but it is tough to make a novel out of such polarized political stances. ( )

Richard is a widower, a retired professor of Classics in Berlin and the former East Germany. His life seems - to him as well - somewhat purposeless. One day he happens upon a demonstration in town by a group of refugees from various African nations who have camped out there. This is a world of which Ricard knows nothing, but his interest is piqued, and gradually, reluctantly at first, but then with increasing passion, he comes to know them and something of their stories. Of their families, lost to them, or killed in frightening circumstances. His life acquires a purpose: helping the men fight their corners, seeking funding. He discovers his own country's dark past, the prejudices still alive and powerful among politicians, many of the general population and his own friends. He finds a legal situation where each country with whom the asylum seekers have contact have a get-out clause enabling them to move these men on to somewhere else. This quietly, lyrically told told but urgent story is an indictment of that system. Absolutely nothing has got better since 2017, when this novel was published. Required reading for Suella Braverman. ( )

In this novel, the author takes a unique approach in highlighting the plight of African refugees fleeing to Europe. Set in Berlin, our protagonist, Richard, a widowed and recently-retired classics professor, attempts to create a new routine. He is not particularly observant but likes order and “doing things the right way.” He is intellectually curious. Twenty-five years later, he is still adjusting to capitalist Germany after having lived in East Germany for many years. After seeing the African refugees on television, he decides to visit them, bringing with him a list of questions. Initially it is an academic exercise, but as he gradually gets to know them, he ends up forming bonds and learning about their lives and aspirations. He relates to the loss of a former life and the need to transition to a new one. Richard experiences a personal awakening to what is important in life, and he is spurred to act.

This book is not for someone looking for a clearly defined and quickly developing plot, nor is it a deep character study. It appears to meander around in the beginning, as we follow Richard on his walks in the city and listen to his inner musings. It took me some time to get into the swing of the narrative, but once I got accustomed to it, I began to appreciate what the author is trying to do. She is taking a current, important issue, examining it in a thought-provoking way, and bringing it down to a personal level. She calls attention to bureaucratic red tape and rigid irrational laws, explodes certain myths, and shows poignantly the human desire to survive. She evokes empathy in the process, and even offers a small glimmer of hope.

I had not previously read anything by Erpenbeck, but plan to check out her other works based on my response to this one. Recommended to those interested in social commentary on emigration, immigration, the refugee crisis, or similar current issues. ( )

Vaikuttava, koskettava, ajankohtainen. Erilaisten maailmojen kohtaaminen tulee hyvin konkreettisesti näkyväksi arkisissa tilanteissa ja yksittäisten ihmiskohtaloiden kautta järjestelmän systemaattisesti rakennetut aukot paljastuvat. Hyvä ja sujuva käännös. ( )