Schuld war nur die Badewanne

by Evelyn Sanders

Die Küken sind zwar schon ausgeflogen, aber der elterlichen Nestwärme noch lange nicht entwachsen. Ob Liebeskummer, Wohnungssuche oder Examensvorbereitung, Mutter Sanders bleibt Dreh- und Angelpunkt der Familie. Und wenn sie sich einen solchen Luxus wie eine Lesereise erlaubt, geht alles drunter und drüber. Selbst die Gegenstände in der Wohnung scheinen sich verschoben zu haben.

Genres: Humor

Paperback

First published August 3, 2012

About the author

Evelyn Sanders (* 14. Mai 1934 in Berlin; eigentlich Evelyn Stitz) ist eine deutsche Schriftstellerin.

Evelyn Sanders ist in Berlin aufgewachsen. Später siedelte die Familie nach Düsseldorf um. Die gelernte Journalistin widmete sich nach ihrer Hochzeit der Kindererziehung. Ihr erstes Buch entstand eher zufällig, als sie für ihren ältesten Sohn zum Geburtstag ein Fotoalbum zusammen stellte, welches sie ursprünglich nur mit kleinen Texten versehen wollte. Im Folgenden entstanden viele weitere, heitere Familienromane.

Evelyn Sanders ist verwitwet, hat fünf Kinder und lebt als freie Schriftstellerin in Bad Rappenau.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Indeed much of the textual content of Evelyn Sanders' Schuld war nur die Badewanne (the title means something like it was the fault of the bathtub, a bit misleading to be sure, since the so-called bathtub incident is at least in my humble opinion basically just a very short and rather silly interlude, even if the author obviously thinks otherwise) has once again been a generally fun, fluffy and featherlight read (with me especially appreciating that the two youngest Sanders children, that twins Nicole and Katja play a much more significant role in Schuld war nur die Badewanne, and that Evelyn Sanders' description of her two youngest daughters' university education and how they become teachers has not only been entertaining but also quite enlightening to and for me personally with regard to how the university and educational systems work in Germany and yes, how very much different they are compared to Canada and the United States, and that of course, I have definitely also very much enjoyed reading about Stephanie's wedding and that she and Hannes obviously are totally suited to one another, that yes, they really are and represent the absolutely almost perfect modern couple so to speak).

However, as much as Schuld war nur die Badewanne has been for the most part a delightful and often laugh out loud funny reading pleasure for me (with also much included wisdom but always imbued with both hilarity and often satirical irony), there is one rather lengthy episode in Schuld war nur die Badewanne (about an official book signing and reading trip which Evelyn Sanders takes in the former GDR soon after the reunification of East and West Germany) that I for one have found at best naively and at worst even somewhat nastily and arrogantly penned. For while I can certainly understand and appreciate how both Evelyn Sanders and two of her daughters (who are travelling with her to keep her company) are annoyed at and frustrated by the lack of organisation they must confront during their trip (that the individuals who suggested this trip and are responsible for setting up the book talks etc. keep changing the venues, that many of the hotels booked are still being renovated, that there is actually not even all that much interest at present in the former GDR for Evelyn Sanders' books), sorry, but the presented and obvious textual arrogance of especially the two daughters regarding the former East Germany (and that the mother, that Evelyn Sanders herself also never seems to be all that critical of this and in my opinion even seems to at times actively encourage Stephanie and Nicole's words and attitudes), yes, that really does majorly rub me the wrong way and leave a bitter taste in my mouth (for at the very least, Evelyn Sanders should have realised that this kind of holier than thou, everything is horrible in the former GDR attitude would and yes should be been as insulting, as travellers, as tourists behaving badly and annoyingly).

And thus, even though the rest of Schuld war nur die Badwanne has been a solid four stars for me, my personal reading discomfort and annoyance at the arrogance of the Sanders family towards the former East Germany and especially its population, its residents during the author's book signing and reading trip, this did and does leave much to be desired and a lowering from four to a rather grudging three stars.