Opinion
Book recommendation: a new, brutally feminist take on The Little Mermaid
by Natalie Hemengül
How I will have read a book
6.4.2020
Translation: machine translated
I suddenly had this urge to read a book again. A book? Yes, that paper thing. You know: all eighties and stuff.
People cope with crises in different ways. Some buy toilet paper like there's no tomorrow. And have to put up with the question of whether they can even stool that much today. Then there are those who have always known. No matter what. Others sense a global conspiracy to abolish all senior citizens and I suddenly feel the urge to read a book.
These are usually rectangular things. So a blog post in paper form. Paper? White, thin ... The seniors, who according to conspiracy theorists are currently being abolished, still know it: paper. The book. And read, for hours. However, the following is not a book review. I repeat, NOT a book review.
Sudden need to read
How did this need come about? I have to explain briefly. Once upon a time, a long time ago, my wife gave me the new novel "GRM Brainfuck" by Sibylle Berg as a Christmas present. And I like her writing. The book has been sitting on the shelf for four months now, waiting to be read. I started it twice, but twice I capitulated after 50 pages. Too dark, too heavy a fare. After all, it was Advent. The time of lights and candles, Christmas markets and mulled wine stalls. The tempting scent of freshly baked cinnamon stars hung in the air.
So now I'm working from home. I'm writing texts alone in my room. The sun is shining outside, my head is smoking inside. Let's get this straight. I like working from home. It's not difficult for me to bring structure to my working day at home with a certain amount of discipline. And I'm probably a loner. Shutters down, lights on. Bulkheads sealed. In other words: I'm ready for Sibylle Berg.
Social media and the brainfuck
I'd be ready for her novel. The world has other plans. After three weeks of lockdown, our 24-hour fun society is reaching its limits. It's almost at a standstill. Companies are going bust, jobs are disappearing. That really sucks. Nobody can hoard that much toilet paper. Easter is just around the corner. We're not supposed to see our families. It sucks!
Digitally, however, it's all happening. Something pops up all the time. Even the tightest seals don't help. Self-proclaimed coronavirus experts are taking over the media on Facebook. Presidents and governors tweet at each other. Live streams on YouTube and Instagram are full of gymnastics, cooking, dancing and baking. If the French philosopher Blaise Pascal is to be believed, it was no different in the 17th century:
The whole misfortune of men is due to the fact that they cannot remain quietly in a room.
Why do we find it so difficult to keep our feet still for once? Get off our hamster wheels. Slow down. When, if not now? Or are our brains already so maltreated that we collectively lose our nerve after a few weeks if we don't have a permanent programme running? The answers to these questions may be found in Sibylle Berg's novel.
So here's to a new one. "GRM Brainfuck" for the third time.
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
Family
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
7 comments
later