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Road trip novel set across EUROPE

18th September 2020

Daughters by Lucy Fricke, translated by Sinéad Crowe, a road trip novel set across Europe.

Road trip novel set across EUROPE

This is one of the first novels chosen by the new imprint of Voland and Quist – V and Q Books – specialising in “remarkable writing” from Germany. The books are beautifully written, translated and presented, and have a strong sense of place. What more do you need in a book?

Indeed, Daughters is all these things, a pleasure to read and one of those titles that deserves wide recognition. Martha and Betty are taking Kurt (Martha’s father) down to Chur from Berlin, in his battered VW. He is terminally ill and an appointment at an end of life clinic in Switzerland awaits him. He sits and slumbers in the back whilst the two friends bond and chatter in the front seats. The countryside passes by, the women chunter, they stop and have a coffee and Bratwurst…. everyday things continue but seem more acute given the reason for the journey.

However, things do not turn out as one might imagine. Kurt has other ideas. And I am going to leave it there as any more detail might just count as a spoiler.

This is a book that is wonderfully presented, with excellent quality and design. It is beautifully translated by Sinéad Crowe who conveys the Germanic-ness of the story without the original language echoing down the narrative. It is wry, funny at times, barmy at others. It is a real gem. One to pick up if you want something just a little bit different!

Tina for the TripFiction Team

Tina for the TripFiction Team

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