Herr Oblomov

Sven Regener: "Everyone must figure out what to do and what to do"

“What else is it - the content of life? The content of life is an absolutely meaningless concept "

The stereotype of German mentality and German behavior has developed a long time. A real German is performed and disciplined, public interests should always be higher than personal.

If a person does not read the newspaper in the morning, is late for work, does not chew on the dinner on duty Viennese sausage - it means that this person should not have anything to do with the Germans.

However, the above can not always be considered absolute truth. The Germans, like representatives of other nationalities, are very different. It is likely that someone may like another life that has nothing to do with the prevailing stereotypes. And not necessarily this someone should be young and the spirit of contradiction is filled.

Sven Regener, better known as a musician than as a writer, in his novel “Berlin Blues” easily proves that the Germans are very different. And not all changes in the political life of the country are more concerned about more than a couple of beer mugs.

The protagonist of the novel “Berlin Blues” is no longer too young, a few days remained until his thirty years. Recently, friends and acquaintances ceased to call him Frank, and now they prefer the more official “Mr. Leman”, involuntarily emphasizing the approach of old age.

Mr. Leman is not at all like a real German. He lives in the most marginal district of Berlin (in the novel still divided into eastern and western parts), Kroyzberg, and does not rush to move to a more “decent”. His apartment is in a state of permanent chaos and overgrown with mud from floor to ceiling.

For many years now, Mr. Leman has been working as a bartender in one of the bohemian establishments called "collapse". He has one real friend, Karl. Mr. Leman considers the rest of those around him, if not quite by psyche, then at least slightly abnormal.

He does not read newspapers and books, he does not have a TV, his face does not blow the “wind of changes” of the late eighties of the last century. Mr. Leman likes to drink beer, absorb electrolytes from chips and start pseudo -intellectual conversations devoted to serious problems. For example, the meaning of life or the content of it.

Frank Leman likes such a existence. He never thought about changing something. However, there is a feeling that even if the thought of changes occurred to him, she would be immediately rejected, as not corresponding to the principles of Mr. Leman.

For some time now, Mr. Leman has been pestering acute depression associated with the upcoming thirty years. He is annoyed by everything and everyone. Strange dogs come across the street, which can only be reassured with a good portion of Shnaps. The tipsy schizophrenics strive to break their nose. Parents are going to come to the revision. The only friend Karl is crazy. And everyone expects some actions from Mr. Leman.

On one terrible morning, when Frank Leman had to speak with his mother who were not spilled and fell into immense irritation from the sight of breakfast Berliners, a ray of light in this dark kingdom dawned on him. The beam of light was personified by the beautiful cook of one of the closest catering establishments, Catherine.

According to Mr. Leman, Catherine was beautiful and smart. He fell in love at first sight. For the sake of Catherine, Mr. Leman even agreed to go to the pool - a place that reflected the vulgarity and rudeness of Berlin life. For her sake, he was ready to go to the cinema and start talking about filling life with meaning.

Catherine lived a completely different life. At least she was interested in this life. Yes, and the ideas about the relationship of two people were completely different.

A beautiful cook did not give the novel such a meaning as Mr. Leman. Catherine admitted that she loves Mr. Leman, but not in love with him. For Frank, one and the other was not separated from each other. Therefore, the appearance of Catherine, who was walking with someone else and cute chirping, plunged Mr. Leman into the depths of its former depression.

The short return to life ended as suddenly as it began. On his birthday, Mr. Leman had to place his best friend in the clinic. Frank himself has nothing left but to get drunk alone.

One event still stirred Mr. Leman. On some kind of beer circle, the Berlin Wall fell. Looking at the immigrants from the east, Frank Leman suddenly thought whether it was worth starting a TV at home, but decided that there was no need to change anything in life. In the end, everything will somehow form, even without his participation.

“Berlin Blues” by Sven Regener is a novel about the uncertainty and people who have lost in it. The book about those who do not know how to survive the turn of the thirty years, after which some decisive steps are expected from a person. And a person is not that is not ready for them, but does not even see any sense in them.

And this is a novel about breaking walls and stereotypes.

Tatyana Morva

Regener, Sven. Berlin Blues. Translation from German V. Serov. St. Petersburg: The ABC-Classica Publishing House, 2006.