Note: The event will be held in English.
An evening with author and #PicadorProf Rachel Khong, celebrating our 20th anniversary. This event is part of »Deutschland liest ein Buch«.
A great American novel about what makes us who we are
The major US bestseller: a summer in New York that changes everything. A son in search of his origins. And the big question: What makes us who we are? Rachel Khong about »Real Americans« at Heimathafen Neukölln!
New York City, New Year’s Eve 1999. Lily Chen is 22, the daughter of Chinese immigrants and an unpaid intern at a trendy media company. When she meets Matthew – charming, handsome, and heir to a pharmaceutical empire – she falls for him instantly. Two worlds collide. And yet, anything seems possible.
Twenty-one years later, Lily’s son Nick lives with her on a remote island near Seattle. He can feel that something is missing. When he sets out to find his father, he uncovers secrets that change everything – not just for him.
The Picador Guest Professorship is brought to you by Uni Leipzig, American Studies Leipzig, DAAD Artist Program and Holtzbrinck Berlin.
In cooperation with EDIT Magazine, with Kiepenheuer & Witsch and their project »Deutschland liest ein Buch«
holtzbrinck-berlin.com
Rachel Khong is the author of Goodbye, Vitamin (2017, Holt), winner of the California Book Award for First Fiction. Real Americans (2024, Knopf), her second novel, was a New York Times bestseller. In 2018, Khong founded »The Ruby«, a work and event space for women and nonbinary writers and artists in San Francisco’s Mission District. With friends, she teaches creative writing as »The Dream Side«. She lives in Los Angeles.
Ilona Hartmann, freelance author and copywriter (most recently »klarkommen« 2024, Ullstein), who hosted the podcast »Und was machst Du am Wochenende?« for many years and currently hosts the show »Theoretisch Cool« on Radio Fritz.