Valeria Gordeev's Debut Novel "Die Zikade entschlüpft ihrer goldglänzenden Hülle" Reviewed by Matthias Jordan

Matthias Jordan assesses Valeria Gordeev's first novel, "Die Zikade entschlüpft ihrer goldglänzenden Hülle," which is a contender for the Deutscher Buchpreis. The narrative centers on siblings Lada, residing in Berlin, and her brother Konstantin, who lives in Moscow. Unbeknownst to each other, they both assist their uncle Boris by smuggling items into Germany. The book delves into issues of migration, the European war, and the housing crisis in Berlin, enriched with vivid realism and multiple subplots. Jordan draws parallels to the works of Bulgakov, Kafka, and David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest." He ultimately asserts that this work stands out in German literature. Additionally, the review references Max Czollek's "Zweifelssohn" and Manuel Bittorf's musical reading tour scheduled for March 2027 featuring "Goldener Retriever."