Description
Buchklub
with Nils Philipp
Two classic works about the time of teenage years
For our next session, we invite you to explore two fascinating novels. Both novels shed light on the process of becoming oneself and illuminate our view of the contradictory role that sexuality plays in this process.
The Confusions of Young Törless (1906) by Robert Musil
When Robert Musil’s debut novel was published in 1906, the world was in a state of upheaval. Against the backdrop of outdated social structures and the search for meaning in contemporary life experiences, Musil’s story is about the maturation and self-discovery of the young Törleß at boarding school. In this microcosm, the protagonist attempts to categorize his experiences with decadent authority and hierarchy, which are reflected in his classmates. Sexuality and power are central experiences that are not initially evaluated, but want to be understood.
The Seclusion by Georges-Arthur Goldschmidt
The young protagonist in Georges-Arthur Goldschmidt’s 1991 novel Die Absonderung (The Seclusion) also has contradictory sexual experiences in a French children’s home, to which he is sent from Germany by his parents in 1938. In the dense narrative, the boy learns to view his body as both a source of shame as well as a means of defense. This dual perception reflects the complexity of sexual maturation as he is confronted with both the discovery of his body and the trauma of exile.
Nils Philipp is an art and architecture educator as well as a poet, photographer and decorator. After gaining insightful experiences as a janitor, lifeguard and deli vendor, he now works, among other things, as a bookseller. While he is waiting for his breakthrough as writer or art director, he reads plenty and with pleasure.
About the Village Book Club
• Book lovers and bookworms have been meeting on a bimonthly basis to discuss works of fiction and non-fiction (novels, biographies, and essays) focused on or related to LGBTQIA+ themes and personalities.
• Anticipating insightful discussions, we choose the next book two months in advance.
• While the evening discussions are conducted in German, participants are welcome to read the selected books in their preferred language.
• Free event without registration
