Kairos
by Jenny Erpenbeck
Why read it
This deeply immersive work, which won the 2024 International Booker Prize, masterfully intertwines an intense, destructive age-gap relationship with the historic collapse of East Germany in the late 1980s. It offers a brilliant, devastating exploration of how private devotion and public ideology can crumble in tandem.
Where to get it
In the Netherlands, you can easily find this book at major independent bookstores like Athenaeum Boekhandel, Scheltema, and Donner, or online through Bol.com and Libris.nl. It is widely available in Dutch public libraries in its original German, the English translation by Michael Hofmann, or the Dutch translation. Ebook editions are available on Kobo and Kindle, while the audiobook can be found on platforms like Storytel and Audible.
What to expect
Expect an emotionally raw, melancholic, and intellectually demanding novel written in a dense, fluid style that blends perspectives seamlessly. The pace is slow and deliberate, requiring close attention to its rich historical and cultural references. Content warnings include a highly toxic, psychologically abusive, and manipulative relationship featuring a significant age gap (a 19-year-old student and a 53-year-old writer).
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