Jenny Erpenbeck- Kairos (tr. Michael Hofmann)- 2024 International Booker Prize Shortlist

Hello, I’m Bob, and I loved this thoughtful and fascinating book!
00:00 Introduction and Spoiler-Free Section
07:39 Spoilers
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[@Susan-lv2ee]

Hallo Bob, vielen Dank für diese ausgezeichnete Buchbesprechung (samt sehr charmanter deutscher Einleitung 👍loved it ❤) ! Ich bin schon sehr gespannt auf die Lektüre dieses Buches, die ich nacher endlich beginnen werde . Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland /Freiburg 😊, Susan

[@BobTheBookerer]

Hallo! Und vielen Dank- das ist so nett! Ja, ich habe gedacht, dass Kairos so tief und intelligent war, ohne hochnäsig zu sein. Ich muss ein Paar mehr Bücher von Erpenbeck lesen!

[@darrylchristopherdguerra4227]

Hey Bob, Kudos for the intro in German! I struggled a lot with Kairos. But after this glowing review, maybe I'll give it another shot.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Aha, thank you! And totally fair- there were a few periods of the book where I wasn’t quite sure what was happening, but I think she ties it together well!

[@BookishTexan]

As an Erpenbeck fan I still plan on getting to this so I will drop out when the spoilers come. Now I realize it is you who gave me the idea that a prize reading book is one that stands up to rereading. I will credit you from now on.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Oh nice, any others of hers you’d recommend? And no worries- I’m fairly sure I didn’t make it up myself!

[@BookishTexan]

@@BobTheBookerer I’ve read two of her books. Visitation which was brilliant and The End of Days which I thought was good.

[@the_snicklefritz]

As frustrating as the main characters were and as toxic as the relationship was, I found this book captivating. Which I think speaks to how impressive of a novel it is lol I just finished the shortlist for the International Booker and maybe it is recency bias, but Kairos was a standout for me. I loved Not a River, What I'd Rather Not Think About, the Details, and Crooked Plow, but they don't seem to strike with the same force that a Kairos does. I think the only book I'd be disappointing in winning would be Mater 2-10. I thought it was a good book, but not Booker-Prize-Winner worthy

[@BobTheBookerer]

Aha, yes! I normally find it really annoying to read characters like that, but like you said, it somehow tied together nicely for me!

[@markhnk]

"I loved Kairos. There is something very subtle and clever about the writing and the characterization. It had so many nuances. The way relationships and politics intertwine reminded me a bit of The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Weirdly, there is not much discussion about Kairos in Germany. It received some good reviews but not much buzz. Also, the fact that it was nominated, but part of it may also be related to the fatigue in Germany that everything German that ever gets award attention (like at the Oscars) is always either a WWII or East Germany narrative, pretty much without exception. Which is also why I wasn't particularly interested in the story of this novel when I just read the synopsis, but when reading it, it's just so much more.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Yes! I absolutely agree with what you say about it! And interesting to hear it hasn’t been as big there- I wonder if the win will change things.

[@josephlastname]

Herr Bookerer!

[@bookofdust]

I remember being stunned and blown away by the movie The Lives of Others and have wanted to go back and watch it again and I bought a nonfiction book about the Stasis that I’ve been meaning to read. Does this book have those vibes of the tension and the emotional and physical risk of interaction, or am I going to be frustrated that it’s not on those levels?

[@BobTheBookerer]

Oh I adored that film! And it doesn’t focus on the tension of the situation in quite the same way- in a few ways, the politics and history happen off-screen/page in Kairos, and there’s more of a focus on unspooling the threads of the relationship.

[@bookofdust]

@@BobTheBookerer Thanks, so it’s part of the context, but not necessarily the driver and shaper of the plot as it is in LoO.

[@BobTheBookerer]

@@bookofdust Yes, exactly. Some of the latter part of the book is more related to it but it’s more context/backdrop at times.

[@rudy679]

I thought I was having a stroke when this video started.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Ahaha, sorry!

[@janethansen9612]

I have never hated a character as much as I hated Hans, he was so awful. Is it just me or are others tired of reading about toxic relationships? Have I reached peak toxic relationship in books? I did appreciate the allegory to the relationship between East and West Germany which was interesting. I don't think the ending even really matters that much although maybe it adds another layer. They were both pawns of the political regime and I hated Hans with every fibre of my being.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Aha, totally fair! I found him pretty horrible to read (and I’m with you- I don’t mind messy characters, but I’m getting a little burned out on toxic ones!)

[@antonypearce8477]

No you haven’t misread the ending of the book! I saw it the same as you. I thought that was cleverly done and underscores the politics of the novel.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Oh phew, thank you! And yes! The ending I thought was very well done- it made me feel I should have seen it coming earlier!

[@rudy679]

Heard you went to an event with Ben. How was it?

[@BobTheBookerer]

Yes! It was great fun, thanks! And a nice excuse to just hang out and be bookish with him!