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A review by cookies_for_madeline
نان آن سال\u200cها by Heinrich Böll
4.0
This novella takes place in post-war Germany, in the span of a Monday. It is the day on which Walter must pick up Hedwig, a young woman, from a station. He drives her to her new home, then they have coffee together. I am not sure where they went at the end. That is not the point I suppose.
Most of the story is flashbacks and explanations. Descriptions of how much Walter distrusts those around him (he saw them at their worst), how he stole valuable books from his father to buy bread, or continued to steal much later. How he makes women uncomfortable, even scares them. War shapes fundamental memories and defining moments. It shapes Walter: insatiably hungry, instinctively money-grubbing, predatory.
I thought it was a good, short read.
Most of the story is flashbacks and explanations. Descriptions of how much Walter distrusts those around him (he saw them at their worst), how he stole valuable books from his father to buy bread, or continued to steal much later. How he makes women uncomfortable, even scares them. War shapes fundamental memories and defining moments. It shapes Walter: insatiably hungry, instinctively money-grubbing, predatory.
I thought it was a good, short read.