Peggy Mädler's 'Selbstregulierung des Herzens' Shortlisted for German Book Prize
Peggy Mädler's book 'Selbstregulierung des Herzens' has been nominated for the Deutscher Buchpreis. The story follows three young couples in East Germany, spanning from the 1960s to the present, told through an all-knowing narrator. The main character, Georg, a quiet computer scientist, embodies the intricacies of the totalitarian regime. Other characters include a graphic designer, a pediatrician, a materials manager, and a worker in a chemical factory, offering perspectives on GDR systems. Mädler explores the impact of unstable employment on emotions and relationships, illustrating a transition from hopefulness to doubt regarding socialism. The theme of cybernetics serves as a metaphor for unmet aspirations. The narrative intertwines technical elements with love stories, illustrating the challenges of adapting to both authoritarian socialism and post-reunification capitalism. Review by Paula Pugnat.
Key facts
- Peggy Mädler's novel 'Selbstregulierung des Herzens' is shortlisted for the Deutscher Buchpreis.
- The novel depicts three couples in East Germany from the 1960s to the present.
- Main character Georg is a computer scientist portrayed between follower, perpetrator, and victim.
- The narrative uses cybernetics as a leitmotif to explore self-regulation in GDR society.
- The book examines the impact of precarious working conditions on emotions and relationships.
- It traces the transition from socialist optimism to skepticism and doubt.
- The review notes a lack of emotional intensity and a slow pace.
- The novel connects past GDR experiences to current political frustrations in East Germany.
Entities
Artists
- Peggy Mädler
- Paula Pugnat
- Ilona Hartmann
- Louisa Schumacher
- Manuel Bittorf
- Viveca Sten
- Anna Raab
Institutions
- Deutscher Buchpreis
- kulturnews.de
- Der Freitag
- Buchpreis
Locations
- East Germany
- Germany
- DDR