At the December German Book Club meeting, we will discuss
Yoko Tawada's
Etüden im Schnee (Konkursbuch, 2014. ISBN: 978-3887697372. 12,90 €).
Who is telling the story? Is it a person, a ghost, or an animal? It raises its front paw in political assemblies. It tells how it learned to raise its front paws. It learned by being placed by its keeper on a metal floor with its rear paws in shoes. The floor became hotter and hotter, until the heat became unbearable and all at once rang a clarion call and an order: you must raise your front paws! Thus an animal is telling the story. From the perspective of three polar bears (Grandmother, Mother and Son) emerges an exciting historical portrait and immigrant story spanning three generations. It takes place in Moscow, on the road, in the former East Germany, and finally in contemporary Berlin.
Kindly RSVP via email to
circulation@newyork.goethe.org if you plan to attend.
Back
