Nominees for the book awards portray a "dubious truth"
German Book Prize Longlist Announced: A Diverse Range of Novels Reflecting Current Anxieties
The German Book Prize has unveiled its longlist for 2025, showcasing an impressive array of 20 novels that delve into contemporary anxieties, historical reflections, and dystopian narratives. The longlist, which includes debut authors and established writers, is a testament to the vibrant German literary scene.
Kathrin Bach's debut novel, "Life Insurance," is a tragicomic family history set in the West German provinces of the 1990s. Nava Ebrahimi's "And Feathers Everywhere" is a mix of serial storytelling and social satire centered around a chicken slaughterhouse, while Dmitrij Kapitelman's "Russian Specialties" explores Russian culture, identity, or diaspora experiences.
Other notable entries include Marko Dinić's "Book of Faces," which uses language to mock Putin's propaganda about the Ukraine war, and Feridun Zaimoglu's "Son without Father," a poignant tale of a grieving son and a journey to Turkey that highlights the unity of a family.
The longlist also features novels written in various writing styles and unique voices, such as Thomas Melle's unspecified "House in the Sun" and Peter Wawerzinek's autobiographically influenced work about love and strength for healing after a cancer diagnosis.
The competition reflects the fragility and alarm of current times through different genres and voices, with motifs of uncertainty, absurdity, dystopia, autobiography, and fantastical elements. It also includes novels about school shootings, the Ukraine war, and the death of a father, among other heavy topics.
However, there are also humorous and witty novels on the list, such as Jacinta Nandi's "Single Mom Supper Club," which uses black, radical humor to highlight the societal issues faced by single mothers.
The shortlist for the German Book Prize will be announced on September 16, and the winner will be announced on October 13. The competition brings together 20 outstanding novels that reflect the diversity of our shaky reality.
The German Book Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards, with a total prize money of 37,500 euros: the winner receives 25,000 euros, and the other shortlisted authors each receive 2,500 euros. This year's longlist is a testament to the power of literature in mirroring and interpreting our world, offering readers a rich and diverse reading experience.
[1] German Book Prize Official Website [2] Der Tagesspiegel [3] Die Welt
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