This book was a fascinating and enjoyable read. It had a gripping, well-written, and informative style.

This didn't work for me, the characters were unlikable, but also uninteresting - tough sell from there I'm affraid.

"Marzahn, Mon Amour" is nothing short of a literary masterpiece, a resplendent gem in the realm of semi-autobiographical narratives. The author's captivating journey from the tumultuous world of aspiring literature to the serene realm of chiropody is a heartfelt exploration of self-reinvention, and this metamorphosis unfolds in the backdrop of Marzahn, a suburb of Berlin marked by its towering edifices of concrete and a rich tapestry of human stories.

I was instantly drawn in to the slightly unusual style of this book- a narrator who watches the world goes by while she looks after the feet of people around her, and in so doing, is able to capture some of the stories of the changing history around her.

The book is mostly concerned with an area of Berlin that has a unique perspective on everything going on around it- riven by war and division, it is an area that also holds a mirror up to the rapid changes of German society, but manages to remain warm-hearted and generous, despite the coldness of the changes. A triumph of a book.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this audiobook.

The book is a fascinating set of vignettes told by a chiropodist, which I think is a fancier pedicurist. Marzahn is a superb of East Berlin and all her clients have interesting stories which she relates to us as she is treating their feet.
It is such a novel way of telling short stories/vignettes that, strung together, give us a lovely picture of a community. The introduction tells us this is partly memoir. But it is under Literary Fiction.

The book is narrated by Angeline Armstrong who does a marvellous job. It is translated from German by Jo Heinrich. The writing was smooth and I believe that it was well translated.

Everyday life and the privilege of being able to breathe and live a life is amazing, the author has captured this so eloquently. From the chiropodist chair the things you notice without words and the familiarity of routine gives this book a wonderful sense of safety and belonging to a community. Partly a memoir, the author gives up writing to train as a chiropodist, however this career breathes new life into her writing and it's a wonderful little book of life. A quick read as I couldn't put it own. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

What an unexpected delight! If you had told me I would love a book which is based around a chiropodist, her treatment of people's feet and the stories of her clients I would never have believed you! But this turned out to be a charming, cosy, hopeful book about human lives, about friendship, relationships, middle age, old age and second chances.
I would definitely read more by this author if more of her books are translated to English :)

Thanks to Belinda Audio via NetGalley for the advance audiobook.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. This gave me the feel of a Jhumpa Lahiri book. I'm so glad I requested this. Bolinda audiobooks are always so good. I know they won't disappoint and I'm glad I always request for them. Please give this a listen. You won't be disappointed.

Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Angeline Armstrong
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars

Winner of Dublin Literary Award 2023

Marzahn, Mon Amour is a poetic and poignant memoir by Katja Oskamp. Marzahn is a district in the eastern part of Berlin. In her forties, the author changes her profession and becomes a pedicurist. Through her encounters with diverse clients, mostly elderly residents of Marzahn, she tells the story of Marzahn and its people.

Each chapter, dedicated to one of her clients or coworkers, reads like a vignette. In each, she explores human connections, joys, and sorrows of everyday life. It’s remarkable how she finds beauty even in the most unexpected places.

The narration by Angeline Armstrong is excellent and suits the novel entirely.

Thanks to Bolinda Audio for the advance copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

Marzahn, Mon Amour is the author's semi-autobiographical love letter to the East Berlin suburb of Marzahn and those who dwell within its towering core.

Told in a series of vignette-like chapters, it is a beautifully tender look at humanity and the intricacies of everyday life.

Oskamp meanders gently from client to client using gorgeous free flowing prose to portray many layers of humour and life-affirming warmth.

A gorgeous short character study for those who want to lose themselves in the mundanities of day to day living but not one for those in need of plot driven reads.

I switched between the audiobook and paperback. The narrator had a perfectly complementary soothing tone which carried Oskamp’s character flawlessly to the listener; however I also feel the reader may benefit from the ability to linger more with the paperback given the quality of the writing.

Read If You Like
•Character study based literature
•Descriptive flowing prose

For Fans Of
•Ronan Hession
•Elaine Feeney

Favourite Line
“The middle years, when you're neither young nor old, are fuzzy years. You can no longer see the shore you started from, but you can't yet get a clear enough view of the shore you're heading for. You spend these years thrashing about in the middle of a big lake, out of breath, flagging from the tedium of swimming. You pause, at a loss, and turn around in circles, again and again. Fear sets in, the fear of sinking halfway, without a sound, without a cause.”

A really sweet grouping of stories about a woman who has retrained as a chiropodist and the clients she encounters and their stories. This is more a collection of short stories connected by the chiropodist and the other characters in her practice. I enjoyed each vignette and for some of the characters I was left wanting lots more. Some were genuinely hilarious and others poignant and moving. I just saw that this book has won the Dublin literary prize and it is my favourite winner of that prize in years. Really recommend this sweet read. The narrator was also excellent.

Marzahn, Mon Amour is the author's semi-autobiographical account of retraining to be a chiropodist after years of struggling to be an author. After training, the narrator of the book goes to work in a salon in Marzahn, a suburb of Berlin known for its high-rise concrete apartments.

Each chapter is a vignette dedicated the narrator's customers and colleagues. Her clients are mostly older and she tells not only their current story but also some of their backstory. The book doesn't have a big plot, it isn't thrilling and pacey. It is very astute however, the narrator shows how intimate their work is, how much care goes into each client. There is a tenderness and fondness for most customers. It's poignant, lifted by touches of humour and shows a spectrum of humans. The audio narrator does an excellent job, bringing through the German essence of the writing. If you enjoy slice of life books, this winner of the Dublin Literary Prize 2023 is well worth checking out.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Marzahn, Mon Amour
by Katya Oskamp
Translated from the German by Jo Heinrich
🇩🇪

I better write this quickly while I'm still in that glowy honeymoon phase that you get upon finishing a book that unexpectedly reaches into your heart and gives it a little squeeze. What's the hurry? you ask. Because I might not remember much about it in a few hours, but it sure is worth the short time it takes to read.

Edit: 5 months later and I still think about this. It had since been awarded the Dublin Literary Award for 2023, well deserved.

Part memoir, part biographical fiction, this is the story of a writer who retrains as a chiropodist and joins forces with Tiffy, a beauty salon owner and Flocke, a manicurist. The salon is based in the working class area of Marzahn, home to the Plattenbau high rise, prefabricated towers that scream GDR living, and now house predominantly elderly Berliners and refugees.

Each chapter is a vignette of the author's relationship with a client, from the condition of their feet to their individual idiosyncrasies. They are heartwarming, quirky and honest and they build into a wonderful kaleidoscope of colour that makes up a community.

If you love a quiet read about people and their disparate situations, their unique perspectives and the joy to be gleaned from moments of random connectedness, this might be a hit for you.

The audiobook, narrated by Angeline Armstrong is excellent, quiet and emmersive.

Thank you so much to #bolindaaudio and #netgalley for the ALC