Interpreters
- Book: Interpreters
- Location: England, Germany
- Author: Sue Eckstein
It was with sadness I learnt of the death of Sue Eckstein last year at the age of 53; Interpreters is only her second novel and judging by its scope she was just getting into her stride.
The book interweaves two disparate but related story lines, jumping between wartime Germany and 1970s Britain. The latter works more successfully, possibly because Eckstein is able to draw upon her own childhood memories to evoke the details that bring this era to life. There are some lovely vignettes, my favourite involving the Steiner community created around the main character’s brother, where the observations are spot on, incisive whilst remaining affectionate.
The other story is told through the device of a series of therapy sessions, in which the narrator relates her experiences as a young Dutch girl in Germany before and after the war. For my taste there are too many pauses, too much reluctance to go where the novel needs to go, and ultimately the whole thing has a second hand feeling to it. However, it’s redeemed by the quality of Eckstein’s writing, which is a joy to read.
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