by Sibylle Lewitscharoff
Sibylle Lewitscharoff is a German writer of Bulgarian descent. In this book she tramples on every aspect of Bulgarian pride. She and her sister accompanied the transfer of their father’s and some compatriots dead bodies to their homeland Bulgaria. Him and 40 other immigrants came to Germany in the early forties. Most of them are dead now. Their father was the first by taking his own life. After the official ceremony of the re-burial the sisters travel some time through Bulgaria. The author reflects on her father and how he failed on his daughters. These are the back-flashes into the immigrant community in Germany. The main thread is the journey. A relative called Apostoloff acts as driver and tries to show them the true beauties of his and somehow the sister’s homeland. But the author sees only trash in everything: food, teh beaches, music, and restaurants …. just everything is disgusting. It is funny but it also brought me into opposition to her because it is so one-sided. Her language is innovative therefore it makes it a good read.
Facts:
English title: n/a
Original title: Apostoloff
Published: 2009