Title: Spieltrieb
Author: Juli Zeh
First published January 1, 2004
566 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9783442733699 (ISBN10: 3442733693)
Rating: 3.79
Overview
At only 12 years old, Ada has already embraced a shocking worldview. The highly intelligent student at Ernst-Bloch-Gymnasium in Bonn has decided that everything is equally valid, except for the challenges posed by her sports and German teacher Smutek and history teacher Höfi.
But then, the equally attractive and intelligent half-Egyptian Alev enters the picture, and Ada sees him as the perfect partner for an experiment that defies moral conventions. As their intellectual competition becomes an obsession, Ada struggles to determine who is really in control and whether there is any way to escape the game they’ve created.
Can reality and fiction be untangled, or is Ada destined to be consumed by the Spieltrieb?
About the Author
Juli Zeh, a novelist from Germany, gained recognition for her debut book, Eagles and Angels, which received the 2002 Deutscher Bücherpreis award for best first novel.
Since 1995, she has resided in Leipzig and pursued her studies in human rights law in Passau and Leipzig. In 2003, Juli Zeh passed the Zweites Juristisches Staatsexamen, which is similar to the bar exam in the United States.
Additionally, she holds a degree from the Deutsches Literaturinstitut Leipzig.
Editoral Review
Juli Zeh’s Spieltrieb is a complex and thought-provoking novel that explores the darker aspects of human nature. Zeh is a German author and lawyer who has been recognized for her literary contributions to the genre of psychological thrillers.
Published in 2004, Spieltrieb tackles issues such as bullying, violence, and psychological manipulation. The novel tells the story of Ada and Alev, two brilliant high school students who form a twisted relationship based on power dynamics and control.
Ada is a loner who is both fascinated and repulsed by Alev’s charisma, while Alev sees Ada as a challenge to be conquered. As their relationship progresses, they begin to involve other students in their games, leading to a chain of events that spiral out of control.
Zeh’s writing style is sharp and incisive, exploring the inner thoughts and motivations of her characters in a way that is both gripping and unsettling. The novel is set in Germany, and Zeh’s attention to detail creates a vivid sense of place that adds to the tension and atmosphere of the narrative.
One of the strengths of the novel is its exploration of complex themes such as power, control, and human nature. Zeh draws on psychological theories and philosophical ideas to delve deep into the psyches of her characters, exploring the ways in which they are shaped by their experiences and their environment.
The novel raises important questions about the nature of morality and the limits of free will, and encourages readers to reflect on their own attitudes and beliefs. However, the novel is not without its flaws.
The pacing can be slow at times, and the shifts in perspective between Ada and Alev can be disorienting. Additionally, the complexity of the narrative may be overwhelming for some readers, particularly those who are not familiar with the psychological thriller genre.
Despite these limitations, Spieltrieb is an important and engaging novel that deserves to be read by anyone interested in exploring the darker corners of human nature. It is a complex, thought-provoking, and nuanced work that will stay with readers long after they finish the final page.
Overall, Spieltrieb is a novel that raises important questions about the human condition and challenges readers to confront their own assumptions and beliefs. Based on its strengths and weaknesses, I would recommend this book to readers who are interested in the psychological thriller genre and who are prepared for a challenging and thought-provoking read.
4/5 stars.
