User-reviews: Ildikó von Kürthys novel "Weightless"
Ildikó von Kürthy, Weightless, whimsical, 256 p., 17,90 Euro,
© Frank GrimmJust before she turns 37, Marie gets what she always wanted: a marriage proposal. Their dreams of marriage, family and a cottage with carport and compost pile seem to be finally fulfilled. But when she is "Yes!" say, strange things happen. Five ChroniquesDuVasteMonde.com readers already know what is happening to Marie. They were first allowed to read and review Ildikó of Kürthy's new novel "Schwerelos" (in stores on October 1). Find out how they liked "Weightless" on the following pages. To the reviews
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I am a literary figure - Review by reader Sandra Baumeister
Sandra Baumeister
"Weightless" is the wonderful new novel by Ildikó von Kürthy, which fortunately has remained faithful to her personal style. "
I am a literary figure ...
... at least, with my 37 years and my childless career aspirations, I pretty much match the initial characteristics of Marie Goldhausen. She is the main protagonist in the new novel "Weightless" by Ildikó von Kürthy. Shortly before her birthday, her longtime and -winter friend Frank asks her the "H-question". Immediately everything has become unmanageable in her hitherto tranquil life. The biological clock is ticking louder and pushing for forward-looking decisions. Is that supposed to be it? Should she act according to age, predictably and reasonably, or ruthlessly follow her overflowing emotional chaos, as if there were no tomorrow?
Other wonderfully weird figures, such as her gay school friend Erdal with a desire to have children or her best friend Regina with permanent affair to help her make her decision. They trace the lifestyle of the late thirties in the most dazzling colors. Very enriching are also the loving and wise life advice of her dead, but still very present aunt. It completes with their hints the many impressive answers to the questions asked. The many unexpected twists make the book so special for me.
"Weightless" is the wonderful new novel by Ildikó von KürthyFortunately, she has remained faithful to her personal style. Once again she manages the balancing act between "entertaining" and "profound".
Thank you for this "warm-heart-making" novel - ideally suited for the approaching cuddly autumn days or laugh-tear-filled lecture hours - either with the best friend or the dearest of hearts.
My favorite phrase: "What a comfort: You're too old to get into a bar, but powerful enough to shut it down." (P. 42)
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Typical woman novel with very special aunt - Review by reader Alexandra Stengel
Alexandra Stengel
"The person who really makes the book worth reading is Aunt Rosemarie, a loveable, criticizing and mercilessly honest cross-head who gives the novel many impulses and rescues him from the typical monotony."
I'm not really a women's novelistbut since Ildikó von Kürthy's "Moonlight Tariff" has a permanent place in my bookshelf, I was looking forward to the new novel.
"Weightless" is quite typical of the genre. The story of Marie's relationship with Frank offers no surprises, but as always written with a lot of joke. The obligatory gay friend is deliciously described, but also meets all clichés. With the end of Marie's story, I was inclined to rate the book as "quite nice" - but then the last few pages have taken a really surprising turn and reconciled me.
The person who really makes the book worth reading is Aunt Rosemarie. This unconventional grande dame could also live in an Ingrid-Noll book and cause trouble. As a lovable, criticizing and mercilessly honest cross-head she gives the novel many impulses and rescues him from the typical monotony. I would have liked to read more from her!
What is the novel suitable for? The book is not one of the books that you have to save for a fall day in the reading chair in front of the fireplace. As an entertaining read for the train ride to work or before falling asleep, it is highly recommended.
My favorite phrase: Rosemarie: "Please promise me something Marie: Forget the braces and be a bit more like your hair!"
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"Convenience Food" for the library - Review by reader Anja Regitz
Anja Regitz
"You could tailor wonderful columns from the book, but for a novel, all that is not enough."
Rosemarie Goldhausen takes us on a journey - through her world of thoughts and through her previous life. We learn that her eponymous aunt and mentor, probably the only "unreasonable" member of the family, has died. We learn that her partner has proposed marriage to her, that her cousin is pregnant, that she has discovered a bestselling author and that she should be terminated anyway. We learn that they can insist on a talk show and can catch the talk show master and that their former school friend Erdal is now gay and has a strong desire to have children. In essence, this is the content of the book - a rapid ride through the stages of life of the heroine Marie.
Do you have to get to know Marie and buy the book? - I think: no. You can live well without having made the acquaintance with Marie Goldhausen. Sure, the book is amusing to read and also the familiar and usually intelligent wit of the author makes the novel a "typical Kürthy".
The author takes up well-tried topics such as the misunderstood woman with a lack of self-esteem, the macho partners, the gay best friend (we meet again the Turks Erdal from "Höhenrausch") - and in this novel the funky, but in the meantime deceased aunt, the Marie Goldhausen also accompanied from the afterlife and ultimately shows her the way out of her emotional chaos. All this reads entertaining, sometimes trying hard, the spark does not jump over in any case. Marie remained strangely pale to me, I could not develop any affinity with her. Erdal is oversubscribed as a showpiece, z. For example, when he wears a velvet suit with sequins and pink fuzz. And even the aunt was presented as an unconventional and rather bizarre lady nice, but even she did not really stick in my memory. In her debut album "Mondscheintarif", Ildiko von Kürthy paid a lot of attention to the characters and the plot and worked out both carefully. Unfortunately, this was gradually diminished in the following novels, and "Weightless" does not let me see a real story anymore.
The author presents many wisdoms, partly also platitudes, many female cliché pictures and in the middle of it meandering the main character's quest for Mr. Right, the answer to the question of whether Marie should marry her boyfriend and give up her job as a lecturer and also the pregnant cousin, who are gay children for the two Friend dismisses. But again and again threatens the loss of the red thread when Ildiko von Kürthy Marie looks back or jumps into another action.
The book looks like cobbled together from many ideas. You could "tailor" wonderful columns from the book, but for a novel, that's all too little. The author does not bother to keep the story together.
What is the book for? The book is great if you are looking for a novel that is more likely to be "Convenience Food" for the mind. The book is read quickly - on a rainy afternoon on the sofa or in the bathtub - but just as quickly forgotten.
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"Weightless" is the name of the new novel by Ildikó von Kürthy? and so he reads too! - Review by reader Dagmar Reister
Dagmar Reister
"Unfortunately, the whole story is very predictable and therefore stress-free."
"Mondscheintarif", the first novel by the author, was a direct hit. The latest novel "Weightless" is just a copy of the previous novels. But I think that for readers who do not know a novel by Frau von Kürthy, it's an amusing and well-written story.
As novel characters, we find a thirtieswho is successful professionally. Privately, she bores with her partner. Of course, she has weight problems, but she can solve in a few days with the ChroniquesDuVasteMonde diet dish.
Her school friend and at the same time her best friend is of course gay. Her married girlfriend is a stranger to a married politician. Her deceased aunt was more emancipated than she was.
Unfortunately, the whole story is very predictable and therefore stress-free. The author leaves no clichés. I like to read Frau von Kürthy's glosses and sometimes laugh really loud. But a series of glosses is unfortunately not a good novel.
What is the novel suitable for? The novel is suitable for readers who want to spend a rainy autumn day with an amusing book on the sofa and for the "weightless" is the first novel by Frau von Kürthy.
My favorite phrase: "I do not think I would have been educated, taken a job or developed my own humor if I had been born more with two cup sizes." (Rosemarie)
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Boring Abklatsch - Review by reader Krisztina Göllner
Krisztina Göllner
"You do not have to read this book!"
"Weightless" does not deserve his title. You can tell from the novel that the author is desperately looking for new topics. But even this has not succeeded this time.Again, Erdal, the gay friend who is a cartoon of all gays emerges. Marie Goldhausen, the protagonist has to deal with the really important issues of life, such as her weight, her appearance at the ripe old age of the late thirties, the question of the meaning of a marriage and the birth of a child. Fortunately, she does not have to give birth to the child herself, but can leave that to her cousin, who, thankfully, is virtually adopted by Erdal along with her child.
Rosemarie's main aide, her aunt, provides her with life-saving advice from Nirvana, as she unfortunately died with her boyfriend in a propeller plane in South Africa, but luckily Rosemarie left her diary.
With so much drama, it's no wonder that Marie can not enter into a bond of marriage to the longtime, boring and long-suffering friend Frank with a clear conscience, but - in the end trying to make something positive out of "one-night stands" - in search of herself and her true self Vocation makes. Frau von Kürthy, who now also grabs the '40s, has apparently processed the building blocks of her own life in her latest novel. Conclusion: You do not have to read this book!
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