Go, Went, Gone

Jenny Erpenbeck

Granta Books

2017

336 páginas

11h 12m

ISBN-13: 9781846276200

"Richard has spent his life as a university professor, immersed in the world of books and ideas. But now he is retired, his library remains packed up in boxes and he steps into the streets of his city, Berlin. Here, on Alexanderplatz, he discovers a new community--a group of African asylum seekers on hunger strike. Hesitantly, getting to know the new arrivals, Richard finds his life changing, as he begins to question his own sense of belonging in a city that once divided its citizens into them and us. At once a passionate contribution to the debate on race, privilege and nationality and a beautifully written examination of an ageing man's quest to find meaning in his life, Go, Went, Gone showcases one of the great contemporary European writers at the height of her powers"--Dust jacket.

Resenhas (1)

4 (Muito bom)

Reflexive reading

Go, Went, Gone is a highly valuable book for anyone wanting to better understand the complex situation of immigrants and refugees in Germany. I thought the writing was exceptionally sensitive and poignant, prompting me to think deeply about the countless stories and the immense strength people must have to try a new life on a new continent under such difficult conditions. The novel effectively addresses the preconceptions people hold against those who often arrive with nowhere to go and who simply seek an opportunity to work. It is a sad and touching read, but it also beautifully highlights the human capability for adapting and the powerful will to secure a better life.