A review by niallgoulding1
Marzahn, Mon Amour by Katja Oskamp

emotional funny hopeful inspiring relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was a random library selection by my wife. I had never heard of it but ended up really enjoying. A writer mid-life retrains as a chiropodist and works in an estate in the old East Berlin. Her customers are older and generally working class - people whose lives don't normally appear in literature except as criminals or victims. But here each life story gets a chapter and you see the rich lives of these ordinary people.

I found this to be a beautiful book - lighthearted but filled to bursting with real life. The very ordinary lives in this unremarkable place was shown to be as full and worthy of of attention as anything else. There was real love in the writing. It was refreshing to see the world  through the lens of someone who chooses to see the good in people and take pleasure in the little things. 

One of the cover blurbs was from Paul Hession and i couldn't think of a more apt person to promote the book. Anyone familiar with his book Leonard and Hungry Paul will see the shared humanity. Sometimes we can all be too jaded and cynical. These books remind me to be a little kinder and more interested in others. 

I'm happy I read this