Two things about Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck before I get into the nitty-gritty:
1. Didn’t love the ending – the last third of the novel flagged in terms of energy.
2. …but that said, I thought a lot about this book after I finished it. A lot.
The story is set in (East) Berlin in 1986 and focuses on nineteen-year-old student, Katharina, who meets Hans on a bus. There’s an immediate connection, forged over a shared interest in music, and their bus trip turns into dinner, which turns into an intense love affair. Notably, Hans in 53-years-old and married.
It is clear from the outset that Hans is firmly in control. He speaks of previous infidelities, as well as a future with Katharina.
Without his marriage, there wouldn’t be the danger, the secrecy, the circumstances that give rise to yearning. Continue reading →