Berlin

Description

A wickedly insightful, darkly funny novel in which a young woman in the grip of an existential malaise moves to a new city for a fresh start but her attempt at reinvention doesn’t quite go to plan

“On the run from responsibility and lying about her compulsions, the unreliable narrator in this unsettling debut is fascinating company… ” —The Guardian

When Daphne arrives in Berlin, the last thing she expects is to run into more drama than she left behind. Of course, she knew she’d need to do the usual: make friends, acquire lovers, grapple with German and a whole new way of life. She even expected the long nights gorging alone on family-sized jars of Nutella, and the pitfalls of online dating in another language. The paranoia, the second-guessing of her every choice, the covert behaviors? Probably come with the territory.

But one night, when Daphne is alone in her apartment, something strange, unnerving and entirely unexpected intervenes, and life in bohemian Kreuzberg suddenly doesn’t seem so cool. Just how much trouble is Daphne in, and who – or what – is out to get her?

Channelling the modern female experience with razor-sharp observation and a trenchant wit, Berlin announces Bea Setton as an electrifying new voice for her generation.Praise for Berlin:

“What a wonderful, keen, bright, hilarious, twisted narrator Bea Setton has created! I loved this novel from its first page to the last.”
—Tom Franklin, New York Times bestselling author of Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

“Uncommonly funny, cinematically vivid, and refreshingly honest about how we deceive others and ourselves.”
—Lisa Halliday, bestselling author of Asymmetry

“The unreliable narrator in this. . . debut is fascinating company. . . [Setton] writes perceptively about the destabilizing effects of vulnerability and loneliness in an unfamiliar environment. There’s also plenty of humor in Daphne’s overthinking and her cynical approach to dating. . . Setton builds her growing paranoia and sense of dread to terrific effect in this unsettling, compelling read.”
—The Guardian (London)

“Berlin is wonderfully funny, and Daphne’s observations about modern life, men and the challenges facing young women always hit the nail.”
—Financial Times (London)

“[An] engagingly self-conscious debut. . . our attention is firmly held by the wry wit of Daphne’s voice, as well as regular hints that she’s something of an unreliable narrator. . .  the book’s success lies chiefly in its line by-line charm.”
—Daily Mail (London)

“Anyone who’s started over in a new city—let alone in a another country—will relate to this debut novel. . . . One for Sally Rooney fans.” 
—Sunday Telegraph (London)

“Bea Setton’s scathing portrait of expat life traps her protagonist in layers of self-deception. Berlin is an enlightening primer for those tempted to relocate, as well as an astute accounting of a young woman’s checkered struggle to change her life.”
—Nell Zink, author of Avalon

“Bea Setton’s narrator Daphne, full of quirky observations, incisive humor, and a winning vulnerability, is a delight to chase through Berlin. Although I couldn’t always decide whether I wanted to scold her, shake her, or join her, I know I’ll never forget her.”
—Beth Ann Fennelly, author of The Tilted WorldBea Setton was born in France and spent her early years in the Parisian suburbs before moving to the US to study philosophy. Upon graduating, she relocated to Berlin, and the city became the inspiration for this novel. She currently divides her time between London and Cambridge, where she is studying for a PhD and working on her second book.Questions and Topics for Discussion

1.   Daphne is both self-aware and self-obsessed. Did you find her to be a sympathetic character at any point? Did you like her or find her insufferable, or both? Did you ever find yourself adjusting your perception of her? If so, when and why?

2.   The novel features much color and detail about city life, bringing atmosphere and dimension to the setting. Despite wanting to turn over a new leaf upon her arrival, Daphne can’t seem to escape unpleasant experiences. Is this book a love letter or a piece of hate mail to Berlin? Why?

3.   Daphne is an unreliable narrator and she lies constantly—both to herself and to others. She lies about her job and circumstances in order to secure a flat. She borrows clothes that aren’t hers, and she reads EG’s diaries. Why do you think she acts as she does? Does it endear us to her, or does it only serve to alienate her from the reader?

4.   Was Daphne ever in real danger in Berlin? What do you think of the character of Richard Grausam? Is he a real threat, or is Daphne exaggerating?

5.   Physical appearance and body image weigh heavily on Daphne. To what extent is the question of female embodiment explored in the novel? Discuss.

6.   Daphne is educated and comes from a privileged background. How might Daphne’s story have been different if she didn’t have the financial support of her parents?

7.   Daphne is often ironic and self-deprecating. Did you enjoy the novel’s dark humor? What is your overall impression of the book? Did you find Berlin to be sad, funny, entertaining, or something else entirely? Why?

8.   What did you make of Daphne’s classification system of men on online dating sites? Do you agree with the categories she creates? How do you think she would categorize the friends in her life?

9.   “What I wanted to say was that my life in Berlin was not what I had hoped. My existence and thoughts were dominated by indescribably banal worries. Does soya milk or oat milk contain more fat? Is Big Red gum sugar-free? Am I buying the right things? I had expected the tribulations of adulthood to be rather more . . . picturesque . . . I had, in short, great expectations. It wasn’t that I wished something worse had happened—of course not—but I expected my suffering to feel redemptive in some way. I thought life was meant to be meaningful, even when it was hard.”

Daphne says she wishes her life were more epic and dynamic. Is this perspective a vestige of immaturity in Daphne? Or do you find it relatable?

10.  If you were one of the narrator’s friends, what would you say to Daphne? What do you make of her relationships with those closest to her (Kat, Milosh, Gabriel, et al.)?

11. This novel begins and ends with a resolution to make a fresh start. Do you find Daphne’s constant reinvention inspiring, or is it another form of self-destructive behavior? Explain.

12. Has Daphne learned something by the end of the book? Were you left with the feeling that she is doomed, or is there hope for her yet?US