Part of the Solution

by Ulrich Peltzer

It’s Berlin in the summer of 2003—sunshine for weeks on end, weather to fall in love. And that’s just what Christian Eich, the main character in Ulrich Peltzer’s acclaimed novel Part of the Solution , does; but that’s not all. Christian Eich, a thirty-something freelance journalist, is researching a story on the radicals of the previous generation in Germany. His path keeps crossing with Nele, a young member of a left-wing group of student activists who are resistant to the increasing control and surveillance of all spheres of life by state and commercial institutions. Not just a simple love story, Part of the Solution is in fact a thriller that leads from Berlin into the East German countryside and finally to Paris. Peltzer’s keen observations of urban life are enriched with many concrete details specific to Berlin. Part of the Solution captures the feel and the reality of Berlin today and goes beyond it, touching on details common to the precarious lives of all inhabitants of contemporary cities. The unlikely couple of Christian and Nele come together despite all the differences of generation and character in this decidedly political novel grounded in present-day realities. Despite his esteemed reputation in Germany, Peltzer’s novels have never before been available in English and this surprising and captivating book will be a fitting introduction for English readers unfamiliar with his work.

Genres: German Literature, Literary Fiction

451 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2007

Reviews

[Finor · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book I feel very ambivalent about.
It’s super hard to follow the dialogs and the story of the protagonists. Even though I could identify myself with them easily for they struggle with the typical aspects of life - money, health and love - I couldn’t get caught in the story - and I can say that for sure for I have fought myself to at least half of the book.
Don’t get me wrong, I think, the idea is very good. The different down to earth persons have a normal life with normal problems they try to solve in the middle of the chaotic Berlin. While doing that they fight for a better world and get caught in something I couldn’t really understand. Maybe I have to try harder but I can’t follow the story line at all and nowhere a sign of the golden threat.
So yeah… maybe I’m not old enough to understand. I will definitely try it another time.

[Lina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 Wann kommt extrem schwer in dieses Buch rein obwohl die Sprache am Anfang superschön und die Momente sehr gut dargestellt werden checkt man gar nicht worum es geht und auch nach den ersten 100 Seiten habe ich immer noch nicht verstanden worum es geht. Deswegen hab ich das Buch dann abgebrochen. Ich würde es wirklich nicht weiterempfehlen. Es war nicht gut.

[Ayleen Julio]

Nuevamente, primera vez que leo a este autor y me veo en la obligación de decir que es un libro con muchos matices, cuestión que al principio lo hace bastante complicado de leer, pero poco a poco una se va acostumbrando y va descifrando las historias, los diálogos, debates y pensamientos de los personajes. En eso -más que en su escritura tan rica en detalles- creo que reside la belleza de este libro al que llegué inesperadamente y sin saberlo, me fue conquistando.
Espero seguir leyendo más de este autor, hasta hace poco desconocido para mi.

[M.b.u. · Rating 3 out of 5]

heavy stuff :)

[Neer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A novel carried forward by debates, discussions, and thoughts of the characters.

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