Die Rassistin by Jana Scheerer

Stereotypically attacking the stereotypes is also stereotypical. Don´t take me wrong: I appreciate a good joke about narrow-mindness, people unable to think by themselves, cultish intellectual mainstream. But if you think from a moderate perspective, the challenges to the stereotypical ways of thinking did only good to humanity; the fact that we are thinking twice before racially shaming someone, it´s not onky ´woke´ but human. 

Die Rassistin/The (she) Racist by Jana Schreerer is a very much sought-after book. The waiting time for this book at the online library was more than two months. It may be something special about this book, after all, I was thinking. 

At the beginning, I did not disliked the topic completely: the main character is an academic, university professor, accused of being racist, following complains from two Chinese Master students whose German knowledge she apparently diminished. Her expectations that the named students are fluent in German put into motion a whole chain of reactions and accusations and while reflecting to her guilt, the professor is introspectivelly rememorating other circumstances related to race and gender in a constantly radicalized linguistically and mentally intellectual realm.

The story is a repetition of various concepts dear to the ´woke´ culture about gender equality, anti-racism, discrimination. A lot of laughing, ridiculous situations and hilarious events but...I don´t think that being too ´woke´ is the main issue of this society, rather a lack of serious critical and self-critical thinking on an intolerant mindset. Not always radically intolerant, but all those small little pieces that may also include the reference to acquiring the language skills, put together, are far from showing too much tolerance. 

It´s a lot to talk about it, and there are many books waiting to be written, but Die Rassistin is definitely not one of those. The humour is not bad though.

Rating: 2.5 stars

Rachel´s Random Resources: Don´t Forget the Crazy by Lucy Kaufman

´Murder was for psychopats, for seriously insane. Murder wasn´t for the likes of Amelia Morgan, model pupil who made lists to remember to fill out a maths sheet (...)´. 

Amelia Morgan, aka Milli, is a super organised PA, with a permanent reservoir of to-do-lists. It gives her clarity and makes her valuable at work. She is 37, single, with Celtie as her best friend. Her life is about to change, as strange things are happening: a bizarre present at the office Secret Santa party, and the list is getting crazy, with bizarre adds-on. And this is just the beginning.

Even since I took part at the cover reveal virtual event I couldn´t wait to read the full short crime story by Lucy Kaufman. It was really worth the waiting, as it is a skillfull example of using the storytelling for developing a story with a very unexpected denouement. 

Don´t Forget the Crazy is less than 40 pages long, but it has a very clear plot direction and development, as well as some scarrier episodes happening towards the end. I really enjoyed reading it, and even read it twice. I am not a fan of Milli, especially her reactions are odd, especially in social contexts although I love and need lists. But it seems that lists doesn´t have to be followed always to the letter; better leave some priorities for the imagination only or just forget that they were ever written. 

A recommended read to anyone looking to a short crime story that comes with a crazy bunch of lists.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Rachel´s Random Resources: No Oil Paintings by Genevieve Marenghi

According to studies about brain functioning in old age, there is no reason to worry that brain capacity declines with age, as long as it remains intellectually active. Therefore, no reason to think that a senior, relatively bored lady caleed Maureen, volunteering for the National Trust, alongside with like-minded people cannot steal a painting. A painting of no relevant value however important as warning, a message from a lady who does not accept to remain invisible.

No Oil Paiting by Genevieve Marenghi, a debut novel longlisted for Women´s Prize Trust is thoughtful, intelligent and last but not least full of humour. It has a good plot and well-tailored dialogues and characters full of will and life. 

Maureen is presented at length, with all her goods and bads, which make her even more relatable as a character. Hence the slow pace of the narrative which suits very well the topic. Her plan is less orthodox, but she has her own reasons to do it, which are clear for the readers. The execution and the next steps bring dynamism to the story and are highly entertaining, as much as it opens up couple of lines of thought about the sense of community and senior age. 

A thoughtful read recommended to anyone who is interested in books with strong and clear-sighted women characters.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Gym by Verena Kessler

The first person account of Verena Kessler´s Gym promises terrible revelations in small drops of information: we know that she lied about having a baby and her assume single-mother motive built her own professional narrative as getting hired to work at the reception of MEGA GYM, a sport establishment for the the intensive sports´ afficionados. 

The action is taking place in an unrevealed location, but the country is Germany. As I know a bit about the usual working relationships in Germany, I know that any employees having a child are supposed to share with their employer the child´s birth certificate for tax reasons. Therefore, I don´t buy the initial lie of the child.

But this story is only a small part of the iceberg which is about to boil. She is taking herself too seriously at work, and tried to emulate a veteran fitness star, by injecting herself steroids. As someone who spends a moderate amount of time in the gym, I understand some situations that may escalate and people who are getting taken away by the adrenaline outburst, but for the character, this is just a stage in her life journey.

As there is more, more aggressive and violent to it, and the ending, her ending, into a mental institution. A variation of psychotic episodes in a tormended aimless life.

I loved the writing, but despised the psychotic character and her story. Came for the story, stayed for the writing, which is still something, by the way.

Rating: 3 stars

Teen Couple Have Fun Outdoors by Aravind Jayan

Sree and Anita are a young couple living in Trivandrum, Kerala in India. Normal young teen couple, enjoying life and some adult-related activities outdoors. But their life will get upside down as a video of them engaged in intimate relationship, outdoors, is published online. The Aunty-network is at work, and as the parents of both of them are becoming aware, the life of two is turning into a nightmare. Confronted with an obsessive pressure, particularly on Anita´ side, they have to get married but soon after they are disappearing out of sight and will in the end use their ´moment of fame´ to create art.

Told by Sre´s brother, an aspiring journalist, Teen Couple Have Fun Outdoors by Aravind Jayan - I had access to the book translated by Daniel Beskos; the original English title of the book is maintained - is a book about kafkaesque turns of a conflict between generations. The difference in mentality between both pairs of Sree and Anita´s parents and the two young people is tremendous and it shows not only in the way in which they see their relationship, but also in the interaction between themselves, their engagement and communication. 

The clashes between gender and class, and approaches on sex will finally lead to the determination of Sree and Anita of taking over their narrative. For them, the video who recorded a high of views online did not change their relationship and did not lead to any feeling of shame. They not even want to know who published it online or try to erase it. For the parents and the aunties however, it is the end of the world and saving the face overseeds the relationship with their children. As they are out of the home and living far away, as long as do not affect their honor, their wellbeing doesn´t matter too much.

The book is funny, with a big cast of flawed characters, and dysfunctional family relationships. I am glad this book was published in German, as it may help many to understand the Indian family dynamics and culture. 

I am very much interested in discovering more Indian young writers in the next months, therefore, any recommendation in this respect is more than welcomed.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Reading Poetry: Sergei Yesenin

Another day, another poetry immersion. This time, I decided to busy myself with some translations of Sergei Yesenin poetry. 

Yesenin had a short yet adventurous life and a prolific poetry writing activity: he died at 30, but at the time, he had 4 wives already - among which the American dancer Isadora Duncan, 20 years his senior whose life was also marked by tragic - and took part actively to the events during the Soviet Revolution. He died by suicide in his hotel room in the then Leningrad, creating a wave of suicide among his admirers.

I may confess that the poems dedicated to the Big Campaign sounded the least appealing to me, as I´ve found highly stereotypical, sounding like they were written just to maintain the writing flow alive, but most probably the poet was busy at the time with the direct interventions and military actions.

The other ones, talking about village life, the animals - dogs and cows among others - and the people living there, are his anchor. Every time he is writing about the present or the future, there is the past reference who matters. As Romantics do, childhood is represented as a time of innocence, followed by the troubled youth, that Yesenin would never go beyond it. A rebel, a bit dead inside.

The erotic imaginary belongs to his poetic realm, as it belongs the drinking. Alcohol is both a source of inspiration and helps to forget the existential pain.

Yesenin poetry is timeless - except the ´revolutionary´ part that needs context to be understood - and is both individual and universal: it is the manifesto of a troubled soul in troubled times.

Reading Yesenin is a window towards those times, but also of a way of being of a soul who cannot find its peace.

Random Things Tours: One by One by Sam Frances

The first time after the killing of the lead singer, the infamous rock band The Dolls is back, with a concert at a music festival happening during a terrible heatwave. DC Alice Washington is on high alert, especially after the growing tension between the police and the population, and the concert, this specific concert is not exactly what she is looking forward to. With new information and threats aimed at The Dolls, she may have some extra tasks on her list, as it seems that the murderer of Ris, the lead solist, is not still done with his revenge. It seems that ten years the crime, the final note of the story is not yet played.

One by One by Sam Frances is happening in the world of music and its mindset, and therefore it is unique also for the choice of ambiance. A ambiance where the fast-paced events are taking place has a very pronounced local colour, especially created through the vocabulary and the dialogues. 

Once I started to read the book, I did not feel like it is anything else to do, as I wanted not only to know the end of the story, but also to understand the reasons and the motivations of the characters. DC Alice Washington, but the other characters as well, are very well developed, with a strong personality, and an individuality well placed within the plot.

One by One by Sam Frances is a recommended read to anyone interested in crime novels, happening against a musical background. I am very grateful to have discovered this talented author and her unique crime storytelling.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own