Berliners
It’s 1961, and twin brothers Rudi and Peter are on the cusp of adulthood in a post-war Berlin, where getting to their favourite record shop in the next neighbourhood means crossing borders. Peter is a budding actor, student leader, and the golden boy of the family. Everything seems to come easily to Peter, except escape from their meagre existence. Rudi, constantly following in the shadow of his brother, yearns for recognition at home and at school.
After years of doing everything together, they start to explore new interests and ideas. Rudi’s photography and interest in the new girl push him to consider new perspectives. Peter finds an unlikely outlet for his acting and budding ideas. When the fissures in their parents’ marriage start to crack wide open, the boys are pulled in different directions until not even their great-grandmother’s steadfast presence can hold them together. Then overnight a wall is built that leaves one behind to a fate made worse by the failings of his family.
This coming-of-age story is layered over the epicenter of the building Cold War and the long tail of WWII. The fates of the brothers illuminate the ways in which propaganda can shape views and distort reality. The story of the brothers and their family is a heartbreaking look at humanity, with depth and nuance rarely portrayed in those on the wrong side of history. Readers who like complicated, ambiguous endings will love this one; those who long for a tidy resolution will be left wanting. A thought-provoking yet satisfying read for older teens and adults.
