
Meral Kureyshi
We Never Made it to the Sea
This event is in German.
Lili moves into a retirement home with her bedridden husband, prompting her family to seek someone to visit her regularly. The first-person narrator, who lives in the same house as Lili’s granddaughter, Sophie, and has shared the responsibility of raising Sophie’s eight-year-old son, Eric, agrees to do it. However, after securing a new job in a distant city, she struggles with her decision to leave, reluctant to share the news of her impending departure. As she grapples with the monotony of the retirement home and the strain on her friendship with Sophie, Lili’s death marks a turning point — offering the young women a chance for a new beginning. Through vivid scenes of everyday life, Meral Kureyshi masterfully portrays the lives of women across different generations, creating a compelling portrait of contemporary family life.
Contributors and biographies
Author: Meral Kureyshi
Moderation: Mariann Bühler