Agnes by Peter Stamm
Swiss fiction
Original title – Agnes
Translator – Michael Hofmann
Source – review copy
I have reviewed Peter Stamm three times before on the blog over the years. so when I got the chance to review his debut novel I jumped at the chance as he is a writer whose works I had enjoyed his other books. Agnes had come out in the UK but was never brought out in the US so it gave me a chance to go back twenty years this book came out in 98 in Germany and 2000 in English for the first time. He has written several novels but was a journalist iuntially and has written radio plays as well.
I was back in the library early the next morning, and even though I was waiting for Agnes, I had no trouble concentrating on my work. I knew she would come, and that we would talk anc smoke and drink coffee together. In my head our relationship was already much further advanced than it was in reality. I was already wondering abouther, beginning to have my doubts, though we hadn’t even been out together.
I was working well, reading and making notes, When Agnes arrived, around noon and she nodded to me, Once again, she put her foam rubber cushion down on a chair near me, spread out her things as she had done yesterday, picked up a book and started reading
The beginning of the relationship as they keep meeting in the library sharing coffee and a smoke,
An older writer he is unnamed is asked by his younger girlfriend Agnes a cellist studying physics and free spirit in her own way to write a story about her. Our narrator is in Chicago to write about luxury trains. He does what Agnes wants and writes about their relationship He does that but as they are happy and the everyday life of these two. The way they meet and fell in love but this doesn’t lead to the most interesting story about their relationship. As they work together on the story. But, when she tells him she is expecting a baby the narrative changes as he is older and doesn’t want a child he tells her that he doesn’t want the child this is a turning point in their relationship. but also in the story, he is writing about there relationship changes as he starts in that narrative to try and control the younger woman by making her into what he wants her to be as the two worlds the story and real life start to come intertwined as the relationship cracks apart.
We celebrated Christmas Eve together. It was some time since I’d shown Agnes what I’d written. Now I printed out the story on white paper and put it in a folder with a dedication.
“I haven’t got an ending yet,” I said,”But as soon as I do.Ill have the whole thing boiund into a little book for you ”
Agnes had knitted me a sweater
“God knows,I had enough wool, she said.
“Black wool”
“No I had it dyed. Light blue doesn’t really suit you.”I didn’t say anything. We were sitiing on the sofa, with a little christmas tree in front of us that Agnes had decorated with only candles.
Later on the feeling between the two has changed in the story.
As ever Stamm is a master of describing how relationships work but hew also is great at getting that moment when the relationships change the turning point so to speak that unseen event at the start of the narrative that initally seems like the perfect relationship even thou there is an age difference. This sees the writer trying to idealize Agnes later in the book. This is maybe free in style than his later books it is like he is trying a different way of writing in this book it is looser than his other books. But worth reading I alwaylike to try and see how a writer has grown this isn’t as cut and cleaned as say seven years but is still an interesting insight into the dynamics of relationships and also about writing about a relationship which when it is good can seem very boring. Have you read this book?
MarinaSofia
Oct 01, 2019 @ 15:36:24
Ha, I will probably be reading a Peter Stamm book for my focus on Swiss literature this month: his second novel, Approximate Landscape (don’t know if it’s been translated into English)
JacquiWine
Oct 01, 2019 @ 15:39:28
You’ve reminded me that I have a collection of Stamm’s stories somewhere, possibly hidden away in the spare bedroom. He’s an author I’ve been meaning to try for a while, so maybe it’s time to dig it out.
1streading
Oct 01, 2019 @ 18:27:06
I read this fairly recently too. Though Stamm isn’t a showy writer his novels do seem to look at life differently. They start with a fairly ordinary premise then take it to unexpected places.
winstonsdad
Oct 02, 2019 @ 09:00:03
Yes he always has a different angle on life in his books
Lisa Hill
Oct 02, 2019 @ 00:51:45
I find it fascinating to go back and discover a debut novel. It sounds like this one foreeshadows the writer he would become.
#Blush You know I still haven’t read Seven Years from when I bought it the year it was nominated for the Booker International…
winstonsdad
Oct 02, 2019 @ 08:59:05
Yes it is nice to go back especially for Stamm he is such an interesting writer