While I found myself interested in the journeys or the Goldstein siblings, I felt like this was rushed and I didn't have nearly enough time to cement myself in any of their stories. This book takes us through 33 years of life and attempts to do it in about 250 pages. Personally, I didn't get enough background info or time to really get to know the characters and found myself confused at several point as to who was narrating and where we were in the story. I maybe would've liked this better if there was a bit more filler information or perhaps formatted differently, but as is I left feeling underwhelmed.

A unique and semi-speculative (dystopian) take on many of the issues we're seeing contemporary fiction tackle today--precarity in all of its forms, from relationships to institutions to art and creativity itself. Difficult to summarize, but well worth the read. I also really enjoyed the framing device that begins and ends the novel. 4/5 stars.

"Berlin Atomized" by Julia Kornberg is an extraordinary debut novel that captures the zeitgeist of the 21st century through the eyes of three unforgettable siblings. Spanning continents and decades, this kinetic narrative is a masterclass in storytelling, blending personal and global crises with a deft hand.

From the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires to the war-torn remnants of Paris, Kornberg's prose is both defiant and dexterous, pulling readers into a world that is as tumultuous as it is beautifully rendered. Each character is meticulously crafted, their journeys interwoven with the historical and socio-economic upheavals of our time.

Nina's poignant self-baptisms, Jeremías's immersion in the explosive music scene, and Mateo's tragic preparation to join the IDF, all serve as compelling entry points into a story that is as much about personal survival as it is about familial bonds. The novel’s second half, exploring a future of constant migration and conflict, is both a chilling prophecy and a hopeful testament to human resilience.

Kornberg's narrative is percussive and percolating with violent light, making "Berlin Atomized" not just a novel, but an experience. This is a tale about the end of the world, told by a generation to whom that world was promised, and it is nothing short of mesmerizing. For readers of Catherine Lacey and Joshua Cohen, this is a must-read.