Parallel Review

This book was on loan for 30 days and was read in a 2-hour sitting.

I wish I knew more about post World War Two Germany. One of my favorite genres of queer fiction is heartfelt infidelity. Matthias Lehmann provides a grounded story of an imperfect man struggling to pretend like he wants a family. Karl Kling's motives can be summed up as a hobo sexual with a preference for men in post-war Germany. The story is beautiful and Lehmann does a wonderful job painting towns Karl travels to with enough detail to feel familiar and unique. The emotional core of part in this large read has to be the woman in Karl's life that chooses to support him regardless of his ultimately selfish acts. My heart goes out to Lieselotte for letting this man bring his side piece into their home. It seems cruel and realistic that Helmut went from a sex worker to housemate. Hella living in an unstable home in a post-war society must have been tough with a father that didn't want you.

While I will critique Karl Kling's character I love him for the sheer audacity of his behavior and chronic lying. The truth is that he lives in a society that treated him unfairly because of his sexuality and in return he treated others the same way. His story is straight and done in a way that does not shy away from his behavior and refuses to blame the people that really loved and supported the post-vet. Queer characters being villains in their own narrative is a favorite of mine and for that I want to thank Lehmann for writing some to imperfect and real.