The mind player

Peter Härtling's last book: a moving novel about aging, friendship, and loneliness. Architecture, music, literature, politics, and nature are the coordinates in the life of Johannes Wenger, which he has grappled with for decades. However, when he becomes in need of care, he must realize that he is missing quite a bit in life. It all begins with stagnation. Johannes Wenger, an eighty-year-old single architect, has fallen and has since been reliant on a wheelchair and care. This affects his self-image, makes everyday life difficult, and leaves plenty of room for loneliness and melancholy. His young family doctor, Dr. Mailänder, however, counters this and keeps Wenger alive, bringing him back into the world and inviting him and his family to a joint Easter holiday. The story unfolds as the grumpy old man reacts to this invitation and turns his attention to the doctor's six-year-old daughter.