Kairos

Author: Jenny Erpenbeck

Kairos won the International Booker Prize in 2024. The premise seemed interesting to me. It chronicled the complex relationship between a young student and a much older successful writer. The protagonists are based in East Berlin and most of the action takes place in the late 1980s just prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall. It intertwines the personal story of the lovers with the broader political and social upheaval  of the time and provides a rare glimpse into what was probably on the minds of East Germans during that time.

The story begins on July 11, 1986 when Katharina the young student runs into Hans, an accomplished writer who works for the East German State radio organization. Hans quickly develops an intense affair with Katharina and things take on all kinds of weird and creepy turns. Maybe it’s due to my lack of awareness of East German culture, but I found it really hard  to identify with anything that was happening in the book. 

There are several insightful observations like this “Why a love that has to be kept secret can make a person so much happier than one that can be talked about…” that summarize the ethos of the book. 

On a lighter note, Hans and Katherina drink a lot of Rotkäppchen. I was curious to learn more about it and wikipedia declares that it’s a German sparkling wine that is named after the German fairy tale herione, Red Riding Hood. Apparently Rotkäppchen is a classic choice for celebrations or spontaneous meetings with friends!

Overall, I found the book to be an interesting peek into the lives and minds of East Germans just before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The actual storyline fell flat for me.