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Jim Fonseca's Reviews > A Minute's Silence
A Minute's Silence
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[Revised, pictures and shelves added 4/28/23]
Translated from German, this small-format 125-page novella is an easy, misty read. Its soft, understated tone reminds me of Emily L by Marguerite Duras.
We know from the beginning that a German youth has lost his lover, a young woman, a bit older than he, who was his English teacher. The book alternates between the present (the memorial service for her, held at the school � the “Minute’s Silence�) -- and the boy’s memories of his summer fling with her.
His loss is all the more poignant because he can’t share it - he can’t announce to his parents, teachers or fellow students that they had this affair.
There is a lot of local color of the sea. All the events happen in a German seaside resort. The boy and his family are stone harvesters: they dredge up giant undersea rocks to use to make dikes and piers and the young woman dies in a boating accident. Worth a read.
The author (1926-2014) wrote about 20 novels and novellas but only about 5 are available in English.
Top image, a German modernist watercolor by Gunter Schulz-Ihlefeldt - 'The Harbor at Low Tide.' From 1stdibs.com
The author from nytimes.com
Translated from German, this small-format 125-page novella is an easy, misty read. Its soft, understated tone reminds me of Emily L by Marguerite Duras.
We know from the beginning that a German youth has lost his lover, a young woman, a bit older than he, who was his English teacher. The book alternates between the present (the memorial service for her, held at the school � the “Minute’s Silence�) -- and the boy’s memories of his summer fling with her.
His loss is all the more poignant because he can’t share it - he can’t announce to his parents, teachers or fellow students that they had this affair.
There is a lot of local color of the sea. All the events happen in a German seaside resort. The boy and his family are stone harvesters: they dredge up giant undersea rocks to use to make dikes and piers and the young woman dies in a boating accident. Worth a read.
The author (1926-2014) wrote about 20 novels and novellas but only about 5 are available in English.
Top image, a German modernist watercolor by Gunter Schulz-Ihlefeldt - 'The Harbor at Low Tide.' From 1stdibs.com
The author from nytimes.com
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A Minute's Silence.
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Reading Progress
November 14, 2014
–
Started Reading
November 16, 2014
–
Finished Reading
November 17, 2014
– Shelved
September 6, 2015
– Shelved as:
german-authors
April 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
romance
April 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
first-love
April 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
death-and-dying
Comments Showing 1-4 of 4 (4 new)
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Fergus, Weaver of Autistic Webs
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Apr 28, 2023 07:06PM
Oh, I was touched by your review. Thanks!
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Fergus, Quondam Happy Face wrote: "Oh, I was touched by your review. Thanks!"Hello Fergus, thank you!
Jim: Yet another obscure novelist brought to our attention, when we already have several lifetimes of books to deal with! Okay, just kidding but enjoyed the brief review & the included images. Bill
Quo wrote: "Jim: Yet another obscure novelist brought to our attention, when we already have several lifetimes of books to deal with! Okay, just kidding but enjoyed the brief review & the included images. Bill"Thanks Bill. So many obscure novelists, so little time!
