A novel about a pain called family. Full of wisdom, sadness, and consolation.
Twins Laura and Thomas have always been close, despite their differences in character. Laura, a caring mother and loyal wife to an art dealer, fulfils their parents’ bourgeois ideal. Thomas, the non-conformist, makes some sort of a living as a freelance journalist. Their choleric father died years ago. When their mother dies, the twins meet again at their parental home. Both have news to impart. Thomas left his partner; his new girlfriend is much younger than him. And Laura has cancer. It’s incurable; she only has months to live. But what torments her more than the thought of death is the question: “Have I truly lived?”.
As they go through the estate, the twins are assailed by memories. They quarrel, hurt one another, and dive deeply into their family’s history. Laura decides to get her life in order. This includes one last trip with her daughter and brother. But during their travels, tension escalates. Once more, the siblings must look back to be able to look forward and conquer the last stretch of the road together.
Anselm Nelft asks his readers to engage with painful topics. But once they do, they also find happiness and much to think about in his novels.
