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While We Were Dreaming

By Clemens Meyer
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3.96 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 1,391 ratings, 171 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In While We Were Dreaming by Clemens Meyer, the story unfolds in Leipzig, set against the backdrop of post-reunification Germany. It follows a group of teenagers as they navigate the tumultuous changes in society, grappling with dreams, disillusionments, and the raw challenges of youth. Exploring themes of friendship and rebellion, the book offers a gritty yet poignant insight into the lives of young people coming of age during a time of great transition.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in gritty, authentic tales exploring the lives of young people navigating the complexities of a transforming society in post-reunification Germany. It's a compelling story filled with raw emotion and vivid storytelling, capturing the essence of friendship, dreams, and reality.

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While We Were Dreaming is an extraordinary coming of age novel by one of Germany's most ambitious writers, full of passion, rage, hope and despair.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Longlisted for the 2023 International Booker Prize.

Rico, Mark, Paul, and Daniel were 13 when the Berlin Wall fell in autumn 1989. Growing up in Leipzig at the time of reunification, they dream of a better life somewhere beyond the brewery quarter. Every night they roam the streets, partying, rioting, running away from their fears, their parents, and the future, fighting to exist, killing time. They drink, steal cars, feel wrecked, play it cool, longing for real love and true freedom.

Startlingly raw and deeply moving, While We Were Dreaming is an extraordinary coming-of-age novel by one of Germany's most ambitious writers, full of passion, rage, hope, and despair.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

While We Were Dreaming by Clemens Meyer is celebrated for its profound stripped-back prose and is regarded as a testament to Meyer being one of Germany's significant literary talents. The novel is noted for its intricate storytelling, employing a Russian doll-like structure with stories layered within others, showcasing Meyer's skill in weaving complex narratives that defy conventional storytelling forms.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781804270288

Publisher: Fitzcarraldo Editions

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 March 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Fitzcarraldo Editions

Contributors:

  • Translated by Katy Derbyshire

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 195.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 528

Collections

Clemens Meyer Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction

About the Author

Clemens Meyer was born in 1977 in Halle and lives in Leipzig. Bricks and Mortar, his first novel to be published in English by Fitzcarraldo Editions, was shortlisted for the German Book Prize, awarded the Bremer Literaturpreis 2014, longlisted for the 2017 Man Booker International Prize, and shortlisted for the 2019 Best Translated Book Awards. His collection of stories, Dark Satellites, appeared with Fitzcarraldo Editions in Katy Derbyshire's translation in 2020. While We Were Dreaming (Als wir traumten), Meyer's debut novel, was originally published in Germany in 2007.

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