Berlin Notebook

These transparent yet fragile, toxic yet mischievous glimpses into the life of a filmmaker, poet, traveller, mother, and sensitive observer are diary entries that follow a rich tradition in 20th-century Czech literature. But unlike the censored and forbidden authors of the past, Kaprálová now observes a colourful, chaotic, dynamic, yet free world. She swiftly flits between Berlin, Strmilov, and Brno, encountering both local and far-flung, saintly beings. Her interest in them, whether in their tranquil existence or at fateful moments, always bursts forth in precise sentences. And whether it's her “dying Aunt Zuzana” or the butcher in a Berlin shop—just a few details are enough to create a close intimacy. The Berlin Notebook is a read without pathos, yet it is poetic and humorous, without overlooking the depth, complexity, and also the sadness of the world, tied to a vibrant eagerness for the next encounter.