A review by orestesfasting
The Short End of the Sonnenallee by Thomas Brussig

hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A really lovely Bildungsroman, and a slice of ordinary life from a strange period in history. I believe this is a classic in Germany but that Franzen’s translation is the first in English; I could be wrong. Manages to charm you, and then knock you for six when you least expect - perhaps indicative of what occupied life is like.