Another clever, funny, and whip-smart novel from Nell Zink. Her latest follows a mismatched band of Berlin's Bourgeois as they journey through the city in pursuit of any destination. When an elderly princess finds that her gala honoring an Arab author will be poorly attended, she invites anyone she can to the event. Among these attendees are Demian, his baby trans daughter Nicole, the off-duty cop trailing Nicole who he's mistaken for a prostitute, Demian's best friend Toto, Toto's young internet date, the endlessly wealthy horndog Prince Radi, and Livia, a woman whose famiy wealth has its origins in the Third Reich, and her dog. The novel follows this group as they pass through Berlin's memorials to the victims of its dark history, a rave held in an abandoned subway tunnel, and Burger King.

The ultimately novel lacks teeth and any kind of consequence. It never fully leans into the absurd or provides an intimate, original look at Berlin. It's more Nell Zink for people, like myself, who love Zink's work, but is minor work compared Zink's previous novels.

Nell Zink is a master! Sister Europe is witty: even when it seems like it might be too on the nose, Zink finds a way to catch you off guard and make you laugh out loud.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy! This was a very well written one book (I really admire the author's prose). However, the book did not hold my attention in the way that I wanted it to. I really enjoy character driven books (and I don't need a plot to love a book) but unfortunately, I just couldn't connect to the characters. But that doesn't mean another person won't love this!

What a fun book! I read this in one sitting on a train ride. I feel like this was the perfect way to read this book as it tales the story of one night in the character's lives in Berlin. I highly recommend this novel if you are looking for a quick and enjoyable read.

Smart and delightful farce of upper crust Berlin arts and media people following a group of characters traipsing through the night of an under-attended literary awards dinner. Winsome, mordant, bouncing between acute character sketches that initially read satirical but belie a sense of gracious and wizened humanism about the modern condition and purgatorial afterparties.

Is there anyone more interesting then Nell Zink? This novel is just so precise.
SIster Europe features the wealthy class of Germany in a literary awards night followed by a celebration in the Berlin. Important and strange characters include the Royal Princess Naema and her adult grandson Radi. Naema is doing her best to ensure that her dinner for author Masud el-Huzeil is well attended. It's a dinner that she did not plan to attend herself so she has put a call out to potential attendees A cast of unusual and eclectic characters attend the event including a young transwoman and a very intelligent poodle named Fisti. Lots of discussion about gender, sex and class. Perfect for all Zink fans (and soon to be fans!) #knopfpantheonandanchor #sistereurope #nellzink