The Old Child & Other Stories

The Old Child & Other Stories is a collection of short fiction by German author Jenny Erpenbeck, translated into English by Susan Bernofsky. The titular novella follows a teenage girl who arrives at a children's home with no identity or background. The book contains additional short stories that take place in various settings across Germany and Eastern Europe. Each narrative centers on characters who exist in states of transition, displacement, or uncertainty about their place in the world. The stories maintain a spare, precise style while incorporating elements of fairy tales and folklore. Erpenbeck's characters navigate complex relationships with memory, identity, and the physical spaces they inhabit. The collection examines how personal and political histories shape human consciousness, while exploring themes of belonging, transformation, and the boundaries between childhood and adulthood. The narratives resist easy interpretation, creating a tension between what is revealed and what remains hidden.

Readers describe these stories as dreamlike and haunting, with precise prose that creates unsettling atmospheres. Many note the book's exploration of East German identity and childhood trauma. Likes: - Clean, sparse writing style - Complex psychological portrayals - Effective use of ambiguity and symbolism - Strong opening novella "The Old Child" Dislikes: - Stories can feel cold and distant - Some plots remain too unclear - Translation occasionally feels stiff - Collection is uneven in quality Several readers mention struggling with the detached narrative voice while acknowledging its thematic purpose. One reviewer noted: "The emotional remove mirrors the characters' isolation perfectly, even if it keeps the reader at arm's length." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (30+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (50+ ratings) The title novella receives the most positive feedback, with readers calling it more accessible than the later stories in the collection.

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers A story of outsiders and misfits in the American South explores themes of isolation and the struggle for human connection through characters who defy social expectations.

The Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz Tales of transformation and childhood memories merge with surreal elements in this collection that blends reality with dream-like sequences in a pre-war Polish setting.

The Metamorphosis and Other Stories by Franz Kafka Short works that examine alienation and identity through characters who face inexplicable circumstances in mundane settings.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson A narrative of two sisters living in isolation presents themes of otherness and social rejection through the lens of possible madness.

The Piano Teacher by Elfriede Jelinek A story set in Vienna follows a woman's complex relationship with social norms through stark observations of power dynamics and cultural expectations.

🔖 Jenny Erpenbeck wrote this collection in German, and it was later translated into English by Susan Bernofsky, who has won multiple awards for her translations of German literature. 🔖 The title story "The Old Child" follows a teenage girl who behaves like an elderly person, exploring themes of identity and time that would become hallmarks of Erpenbeck's later work. 🔖 The author grew up in East Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall, and this collection reflects the psychological impact of living in a divided Germany through subtle metaphors and allegories. 🔖 Erpenbeck comes from a family of writers—her grandmother was Hedda Zinner, a prominent East German author and her father was physicist and philosopher John Erpenbeck. 🔖 The stories in this collection frequently use institutional settings (schools, homes, hospitals) as metaphors for societal control and conformity, drawing from Erpenbeck's experiences in the GDR.