The Instant

Amy Liptrot moves to Berlin seeking new experiences after years of sobriety in Scotland. From her apartment in Neukölln, she explores the city while navigating online dating and grappling with technology's role in modern relationships. She documents her nocturnal wanderings through Berlin's streets and parks, searching for wild goshawks and urban foxes. Her observations alternate between the digital realm of dating apps and the physical world of Berlin's architecture, nature, and nightlife. During her time in Berlin, Liptrot continues her practice of wild swimming in the city's lakes and canals, connecting her present to her past life in Orkney. She chronicles her experiences through screenshots, messages, and digital timestamps that mark pivotal moments. The memoir examines isolation and connection in an era where technology both unites and divides us. Through parallel explorations of digital and natural landscapes, Liptrot considers how we construct identity and seek belonging in contemporary urban life.

Readers appreciate Liptrot's raw honesty about dating apps, loneliness, and urban life. Many connect with her observations about seeking connection in the digital age and her descriptions of Berlin's nightlife and culture. Positive reviews highlight: - Sharp, poetic writing style - Accurate portrayal of modern dating struggles - Vivid descriptions of Berlin - Thoughtful reflections on technology and relationships Common criticisms: - Less compelling than her previous book The Outrun - Lacks a clear narrative direction - Too much focus on mundane details - Some sections feel repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings) Reader quotes: "Beautiful writing but meandering plot" - Goodreads reviewer "Captures the isolation of city life perfectly" - Amazon reviewer "Too much navel-gazing compared to The Outrun" - Guardian reader comment "Her observations about online dating resonated deeply" - Waterstones review

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🌊 Amy Liptrot wrote this book while living in Berlin, but she's best known for her award-winning memoir "The Outrun," which chronicles her recovery from alcoholism on Scotland's Orkney Islands. 🌟 The title "The Instant" refers to the German messaging app "Instant," which the author used during her time in Berlin to connect with potential romantic partners. 🏙️ The book explores modern urban loneliness through the lens of technology, contrasting sharply with the author's previous work about nature and isolation in rural Scotland. 🦅 Throughout her stay in Berlin, Liptrot became fascinated with the city's population of goshawks, creating a parallel between urban wildlife watching and digital stalking. 🗝️ The memoir was written during the COVID-19 lockdown, though it's set in pre-pandemic Berlin, adding an unintended layer of poignancy to its themes of isolation and connection.