GRANDDAUGHTER

Bernhard Schlink's new novel is an exceptional audiobook. The nuanced portrayals of the characters come through remarkably well for listeners. Both Richard Burnip and Sarah Moule are fine narrators who perform with an impeccable tempo, pace, and cadence. The mysterious plot concerns a Berlin bookseller, Kaspar, who engineered his wife Birgit's escape from East Germany 40 years earlier. Now an unhappy alcoholic, Birgit drowns in their bathtub. Afterward, Kaspar finds her memoir, which reveals that she had given birth to a daughter whom she gave away at birth Kaspar seeks her out and discovers that she and her husband are neo-Nazis. His relationship with his ultra-nationalist granddaughter occupies much of the second half of the story. Schlink masterfully reveals the complexity of a reunified Germany. A.D.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2025]