Lilli Tollkien's Debut Novel Explores Traumatic Childhood and Neglect

Lilli Tollkien's debut novel, "Mit beiden Händen den Himmel stützen," delves into the traumatic childhood of its protagonist, Lale, who is removed from her drug-addicted mother's custody. The narrative follows Lale's experiences growing up in a chaotic, drug-glorifying men's shared flat, where her needs as a young girl are largely ignored. The novel juxtaposes brutality and neglect with moments of affection, creating a complex emotional landscape. Tollkien employs a dual perspective, alternating between an adult narrator who contextualizes events and a child's immediate, unjudged recollections, particularly in scenes of sexual abuse by a flatmate named Ansgar. The story unfolds chronologically through fragmented memories, with no single dramatic climax, instead emphasizing the protagonist's maturation and the cumulative weight of her experiences. Tollkien's prose is clear and observational, punctuated by poetic metaphors, and vividly evokes sensory details such as smells and spatial descriptions. As Lale enters adolescence, she faces further existential setbacks, leading to a self-destructive spiral of hopeful projects that ultimately fail. The novel offers a profound insight into the resilience required to endure such a childhood, capturing the essence of holding up the sky with both hands. The review, written by Paula Pugnat, was published on kulturnews.de and highlights the novel's intense realism and its unflinching portrayal of trauma.