Review by Booklist Review
Thomas Brussig is a leading German writer whose work is less familiar to English-speaking readers, with only his breakout book, Heroes Like Us (2000), previously available in English. Jonathan Franzen (Crossroads, 2021) and Marquette professor Jenny Watson seek to address this oversight with their joint translation of Brussig's 2001 satire. The Sonnenallee is a street that ends near a border crossing at the Berlin Wall, serving as a symbol of the Cold War. The 1980s were East Germany's waning years, but the Stasi (secret police force) was still a fearsome presence and surveillance a looming reality. The residents of the street are resigned to living in absurdity, trying to give the appearance of good socialists while covertly longing for freedom. Meanwhile, teenager Micha Kuppisch and his friends not only yearn for the spoils of the Western world but also for the affections of classmate Miriam, the "most beautiful girl in the world." Brussig's farcical satire is full of heart, with humor permeating every page, documenting the indomitable human spirit.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
