Berlin, Germany:
52° 30' N
13° 23' E

Visitation
By Jenny Erpenbeck
Translated by Susan Bernofsky
This compact novel distils and illuminates more than 100 years of German history, from the Weimar Republic to the reunification of East and West Germany. Erpenbeck, a notable member of Germany's younger generation of writers, observes the passing of decades, the vagaries of politics, and the strife of war from a single setting—a lake house outside of Berlin. Inspired by her grandparents' summer home and drifting forward and backward in time, the author tells the stories of 12 of the property's inhabitants, known to the reader by simple monikers such as the Girl, the Architect, and the Visitor. Goodreads member Margot says, "It's one of those ultra-challenging little, slim books that is so filled with complex ideas that could have been 500 pages. Beautiful writing, a fabulous concept." View book »

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