The descriptions, the prose, the characters are great and alive but this was too slow for my taste, which may be the point of all of these people stuck in an event that they don't really want to be at. The trans conversation may not age well but reflects an experience that is happening today.

I enjoyed this night of intrigue and (almost) salacious behavior! If you’re looking for a book that has a clear plot, this won’t be your cup of tea but if you want to follow a very colorful, wealthy, multi-generational cast of characters around for an evening, then don’t miss this book.

It’s an interesting character study I can’t stop thinking about - particularly Nicole, the 15-year old trans daughter of one of the main characters. When we first meet her she’s primping for a night out at a fancy dinner, in what she believes as dressed to the nines, but in reality is a perfect example of teens trying to dress older than they are. As the night progresses, we see her youth peek through, which is fascinating because we also get to see how the adults around her adjust to that.

All in all an interesting romp through Berlin’s upper echelons.

The book centers around a group of mostly upper-class individuals who come together at a grand literary celebration, with chaos and drama unfolding later. One of my favorite tropes in literature and media is when an unlikely group of people shares space together, which is why I picked up this book. I expected something along the lines of Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados, which, though not groundbreaking, was fun and briskly paced. This book, while also briskly paced, didn’t feel fun at all, and ultimately fell short of those expectations. I want to note that this wasn’t due to the unlikable characters - I've never minded that in books before - but because the plot (or lack thereof) didn’t interest me, nor did the characters. They all came across as pretentious, frequently breaking off to talk about literature, history, and culture at any given moment. Maybe this was the point, but it didn’t captivate me in any way. There are books that handle this kind of intellectual discourse in much more interesting and nuanced ways, and still manage to captivate readers, even when they’re long and dense (e.g., The Idiot and Either/Or by Elif Batuman). The writing in this book does convey a strong sense of atmosphere, but at times, it felt overwritten, as if trying to mask the lack of other elements that would have made it a better book. While it does make some interesting points about class, wealth, race and the trans experience, those moments are few and far between. Ultimately, I don’t think I was the right audience for this book, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had thought I would.

(1.5 stars rounded up)

Thank you to Netgalley, the author (Nell Zink), and the publisher (Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf) for an advanced copy. Thoughts and review are completely my own.

Taking place across one night in Berlin, this quirky novel pokes fun at the literary elite of the city, while providing plenty of social commentary and humor. Jumping from character to character as they descend upon a literary award dinner and depart from it, spilling out into the evening and into various adventures, I found myself wondering where we were headed but happy to be along for the journey.

A weird little book that somehow worked its way under my skin. It’s one night in Berlin, but it stretches far beyond that—into questions of identity, privilege, performance, and connection. The characters are messy, often insufferable, but also strangely magnetic. They drift through parties and city streets, always circling some unspoken truth.

The plot isn’t the point—this is more about tone, voice, observation. Zink’s writing is sharp, wry, and just the right amount of chaotic. I didn’t love every moment, but I couldn’t stop reading either. Strange, smart, and oddly moving.

sister europe was an interesting novel. I loved the Berlin setting, the shifting dynamics of sexuality and money, and the various characters. I liked that it took place over one evening.

I've often heard tales of books that people 'literally could not put down' but had never really experienced that myself - until now. Oddly enough, I started this novel around 4 pm and finished it sometime after 2 AM - which is pretty much the time frame within which the book itself takes place!

Another review likened this to the films of Whit Stillman, which is apt - it concerns a group of well-off pseudo- and real intellectuals, spouting pensées and bon mots while attending a literary lifetime achievement award ceremony for a celebrated Arab author in Berlin.

But it also bears a strong whiff of Luis Buñuel, since the characters mostly miss the promised Michelin-starred banquet, and the latter half of the book entails a midnight trip through the city in search of an open Burger King, a la The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.

This was my first encounter with Zink, but it certainly won't be the last - she's somewhat of a cult writer I take it, and her books don't seem to have oodles of ratings/reviews here - but hopefully that will change with some much-deserved praise and hopefully awards attention for this.

PS: I wasn't familiar with the '80s Psychedelic Furs song from which this takes its title but listened to it on YouTube - and why it's called that is still a mystery to me!

Sincere thanks to the author, Netgalley and Knopf for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Sister Europe by Nell Zink (Thank you @aaknopf @netgalley for the ARCs)

SISTER EUROPE begins as a group of people make their way to an elite Berlin dinner party honoring an author for his lifetime achievements. The gathering ends up continuing through the night, moving from the party and through the streets of Berlin as the group seeks to curb their late night hunger pangs with a trip to Burger King. As the group stumbles through Berlin’s historic sites, with some taking an underground dance party detour, they finally reconvene at a historic modernist bungalow with a glass facade that is snug and private with a mandatory transparency like an aquarium. The entire time they are trailed by a cop concerned about adolescent Nicole after her failed attempts at attention seeking in the red light district.

If this sounds like a bizarre set up, it is, but it is also one of the most unique and impactful explorations of identity, performance, and relationships I’ve come across. Zink is doing something unique here. The intermingling of old friends and new acquaintances set in a city like Berlin that offers constant reminders of the history and background that shape us creates the perfect setting for exploring identity and performance and how we navigate this with those around us. Using characters who are part of the social elite interspersed with others who are outsiders to this world along with the addition of a trans adolescent character provided such an interesting frame for a nuanced exploration of identity.

SISTER EUROPE is not driven by plot, it relies heavily on the internal monologues of its characters as they get ready for or make their way to the gala and their interactions with each other once they come together. I felt like I went on a journey with these characters just as they did. There were times I found them unlikable and couldn’t believe what they thought or said or how they behaved (I wrote loathsome, insufferable, exasperating, self absorbed, and entitled in my notes). But this is part of the magic, because they are real characters and as the novel progresses you start to peel back the layers and see the nuances that are central to the human experience while gaining deeper understanding into the history that contributed to who they are. I suspect some readers could find this offensive and balk at the things these characters say and do but I felt so excited to be reading something that pushes the boundaries of what is normally being hyped. There is also an underlying humor that is wry or dry or both that added to my appreciation of this novel.

This was the respite I needed from a string of recent reads that were solidly written but just didn’t stimulate the level of thought I’m looking for in my reading. I’m not sure others will need to give this as much time and deliberation as I did, but I slowly read each sentence and reread multiple passages because I wanted to take them in. I thought the writing was phenomenal. I loved it, and while I am not certain about recommending it broadly, if you feel like we have similar tastes I would 1000% say read this now. I want to read more books like this.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/RH/Knopf for an eARC of this novel. I read an interview with her in the NYTBR and wanted to read this right away - which I did.
6 people in Berlin one night, covering 12 hours. Demian - the father and friend, an architectural critic, German, married to an American woman. His 15 year old trans daughter, looking to explore her sexuality (14 is the age of consent in Germany). His good friend Toto - an American expat, who used to date Demian's wife. Toto's date - a much younger American woman, picked up on a dating app - he is surprised she appears, as she had blown him off multiple times before. Livia - the distant woman, German schoolmate of Demian, does English gardens, dealing with her family's Nazi past (her grandfather was a famous ace, she lives in the post-modern house he built, now surrounded by apartment buildings), she likes rich men, even if she would never admit to it. Demian and Toto both kind of have a thing for her. And the ambi-sexual Radi, in age between the others, a Middle Eastern prince who wants to be identified as Swiss, and comes from oil money (he almost gets knifed at a rave, since he "doesn't belong here"). Built around a literary ceremomy and dinner for Masur (again, Demian's friend), an elderly Middle Easterner, by way of Sweden, writer - who will remind you a lot of Rushdie! A minor literary award (from Radi's family), on a Tuesday night in Berlin, only 30 people turn up, not the 160 expected. Iyt goes on forever.
And a few other characters here and there populate the novel. The group of 6 walk about late night Berlin.
It is a fun romp, reminding me of a gentler, less brutally cynical Edward St Aubyn. But it is about so much more than just being "fun" - heritage, politics, German history, family, and relationships in general knowledge (or lack thereof) of other countries and cultures.
Looking forward to reading some more Zink, an expat American living in Germany herself. Unpublished for quite some time.
4.5 out of 5.

Nell Zink will never write the same book twice and Sister Europe is no exception to this rule. When I read what the book was about I was excited because I love books on Berlin. In fact I was in Berlin when I red the book. This book is short but packs a punch. Imagine being a celebrated author and you are being feted for all you have done for the world in Arabic literature. Then imagine nobody really wants to go to the event. Where are all your fans and friends? People do show up but it's a cast of characters that Zink brilliantly invites to her story and you'll have laugh out loud moments and serious ones too but more importantly you'll be enetertained. The characters include Princess name (my Gave) Demain, Livia and a dog named Toto to name a few. If your are looking for some escapism from this crazy world but don't want a 500 page book, than Sister Europe is just perfect. If you've never entered the world of Nell Zink this is the perfect book to start. We are lucky to have her!!! Thanks to Knopf and #netgalley for the read.

This will please Zink's fans even as it might baffle some readers. It's a character driven novel about a group of Berlin intellectuals (and a teen girls) who attend a literary award ceremony but the plot is slim. Each character has their chapter as it moves from the dinner until after. Some of this is philosophical, some prosaic, all of it is slightly satiric. The language is gorgeous. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of literary fiction.

Thank you Netgalley & Knopf Publishing for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️

The story that unfolded before me was a mesmerizing tale of Berlin's elite, gathered to honor a literary legend. But beneath the surface of champagne toasts and polite conversation, secrets and scandals simmered.
Naema, the princess-turned-patron, was a mysterious figure, her illness a clever disguise for the secrets she kept. Her grandson, Prince Radi, was a master of manipulation, orchestrating the evening's events with a calculating gaze.
As the guests arrived, each with their own hidden agenda, I found myself drawn into a world of intrigue and deception. Demian, the Berlin native with a heart of gold, was hiding secrets of his own. Livia, the wild child, was dancing with danger. And Toto, the American publisher, was chasing the next big thing – no matter the cost.
But it was Nicole, Demian's 15-year-old daughter, who stole the show. Her rebellious spirit was contagious, sparking a chain reaction of events that would leave me breathless.
As midnight struck, the group embarked on a wild ride through Berlin's underbelly. They danced with strangers, chased the sunrise, and uncovered secrets that would change them forever.
Nell Zink's prose was a revelation – a masterclass in seduction, weaving a tale that was both breathtaking and brutal. Berlin's midnight mirage had me questioning what was real and what was just a clever illusion.

Nell Zink's prose is always biting and clear, delving right into the heart of things as they really are. Sister Europe is no exception. Meandering from perspective to perspective, Sister Europe tells the tale of an underattended award ceremony for an author, being hosted by a minor royal in Germany. Absurd and inviting, we get a historical take on the rich people behaving badly trope. I'm not exactly sure what Zink is trying to acheive here but I enjoyed her writing nonetheless.

Sorry but this novel didn’t hold my attention. I have always been interested in reading from this author but I just couldn’t get into the plot/story. Her prose is very lovely and descriptive, but I was so confused by the absurd plot. The aristocratic storyline was a little too muddled for my taste. I will say the standout is the cover art. Might be the most beautiful cover I have ever seen laid eyes on.

In the novel, Sister Europe, we follow a diverse cast of characters through the course of one night. Each chapter jumps you to a different character as they begin the night at a literary award event and all the unexpected paths they will follow after leaving the event. All the characters were so well written and brought such interesting perspectives to the strange group of people pilgrimaging through the night. I thoroughly enjoyed the lyrical writing style of this book. I thought the book kind of lost some spark in the middle, but was able to turn it around with a very reflective ending.

very interesting story. would recommend. i liked the characters and their interactions, and the idea was cool. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

My thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advance copy of this novel about a literary celebrations for in author, set in Berlin, that takes on a life of its own, in many different ways.

I have been reading books all my life, for a variety of reasons. Escapism of course, to learn new things about the world, and to learn the truth about the world, something that many people try to keep from us. I also read because I love the style of authors. I don't know when I started noticing how different authors made be interested in the stories they were telling. How they told the story, the use of dialogue, the use of narrative voice. I really don't know. Maybe it was classes in literature. I always had authors I looked forward to, but was it the characters, the familarity of the story, I have no idea. I do remember the first time I read Nell Zink, and being stunned by how good of a writer Zink was. I enjoyed both the story and how Zink told the story, and from there I was a fan. Sister Europe is Zink at her best, a story about a literary party, the people involved, their lives, and mistakes, all coming together as the party ends and the quest for more food begins.

Masud al-Huzeil is an author of note, and is being celebrated for his outstanding achievements in the field of excellence in Arabic Literature, at a gathering in Berlin. The party is being sponsored by the Princess Naema, who usually loves these kind of events but time and illness has made her not willing to travel outside of her home in France. Naema is also surprised to find that there are not many interested in attending the gathering, and asks Masud to invite as many people as he can. Masuad reaches out to his friend Demain, who invites his friends, Livia and her attack poodle, and Toto an ex-pat American how has found a home in Berlin. Toto is a publisher of small press biographies on rock stars, and in turn has invited a date a woman he calls the Fade, for the fact she has never actually attending anything Toto has invited her to. Instead offering elaborate tales of things coming up, or illness, that he enjoys hearing, far more than what her company might be. Added to this party is Nicole, Demain's daughter, who is going through a lot, including an afternoon pretending to be a sex worker. Which has attracted the attention of a nationalist cop with his own issues. Dogs are walked, stories are told, troubles are shared, and flirting is carried on as the party leaves the hotel, into a city where anything can happen, and does.

A short novel but one packed with a lot going on. Each character gets to tell their story through alternating chapters, talking about their lives, problems, thoughts and feelings. Each person is richly detailed, sometimes too much is told, but it all fits in with the story Zink is telling. Berlin the city is also a character, one dealing with the weight of its history, and it legacy, along with many of the characters. Zink has a distinct style, able to make one wonder, and laugh usually at the same time, than wonder if it is appropriate.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. The characters are really well done, with a past that keeps occurring in the present, one that Zink really balances well with the others. Zink never does the same story twice and this is no exception. Fans will enjoy this, and for new readers this would be a good place to start with a truly exceptional writer.

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!