Read and discuss works by contemporary German authors in this series hosted by the Goethe-Institut. All books can be read in recent English translation or in the German original; discussion will be in English. Led by local German professor
Amanda Sheffer (The Catholic University of America), this book club focuses on contemporary fiction and will explore experiences and thoughts about the text.
© Daniel Kelhmann
Daniel Kehlmann’s novel
Me and Kaminski (Ich und Kaminski), which director Wolfgang Becker made into a 2015 feature film starring Daniel Brühl (shown during Film|Neu 2016), focuses on two characters whose success has waned, if it ever existed at all. As blind artist Kaminski nears his twilight years, he is visited by Sebastian Zöllner, who wishes to write his biography since he believes it will become a bestseller after the artist passes away. Bitingly critical and sarcastic, the duo travels together in search of what seems to be missing from a shallow, modern existence. Their often antagonist relationship challenges each of them to experience something different and embrace their lives.
Born in Munich and raised in Vienna,
Daniel Kehlmann (b. 1975) studied German and Philosophy, which he brought to his bestsellers, such as
Measuring the World (2006) and
Fame (2010). He has worked on the faculty at both German and American universities, most recently at New York University, which partnered with Kehlmann and the Goethe-Institut Washington on a program last fall. His most recent work is entitled
Du hättest gehen sollen (2016).
In cooperation with the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at The Catholic University of America.
Back
