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Chargement... Go, Went, Gone (original 2015; édition 2017)par Jenny Erpenbeck (Auteur)
Information sur l'oeuvreGo, Went, Gone par Jenny Erpenbeck (2015)
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Inscrivez-vous à LibraryThing pour découvrir si vous aimerez ce livre Actuellement, il n'y a pas de discussions au sujet de ce livre. 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. aucune critique | ajouter une critique
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Go, Went, Gone is the masterful new novel by the acclaimed German writer Jenny Erpenbeck, one of the most significant German-language novelists of her generation. The novel tells the tale of Richard, a retired classics professor who lives in Berlin. His wife has died, and he lives a routine existence until one day he spies some African refugees staging a hunger strike in Alexanderplatz. Curiosity turns to compassion and an inner transformation, as he visits their shelter, interviews them, and becomes embroiled in their harrowing fates. Go, Went, Gone is a scathing indictment of Western policy toward the European refugee crisis, but also a touching portrait of a man who finds he has more in common with the Africans than he realizes. Exquisitely translated by Susan Bernofsky, Go, Went, Gone addresses one of the most pivotal issues of our time, facing it head-on in a voice that is both nostalgic and frightening. Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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Google Books — Chargement... GenresClassification décimale de Melvil (CDD)833.92Literature German literature and literatures of related languages German fiction Modern period (1900-) 1990-Classification de la Bibliothèque du CongrèsÉvaluationMoyenne:
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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. ( )