Every_AT0 time_NN1 I_PNP spoke_VVD with_PRP the_AT0 German_AJ0 author_NN1 Jenny_NP0 Erpenbeck_NP0 over_PRP Zoom_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 conversation_NN1 began_VVD with_PRP her_DPS cheerfully_AV0 noting_VVG the_AT0 fun_NN1 ,_PUN biographically_AV0 scene-setting_AJ0 activity_NN1 we_PNP could_VM0 have_VHI done_VDN together_AV0 if_CJS I_PNP had_VHD been_VBN permitted_VVN to_TO0 travel_VVI to_PRP Germany_NP0 ._SENT We_PNP could_VM0 have_VHI gone_VVN for_PRP a_AT0 swim_NN1 at_PRP her_DPS small_AJ0 lake_NN1 house_NN1 ,_PUN about_PRP an_AT0 hour_NN1 's_POS drive_NN1 southeast_NN1 of_PRF Berlin_NP0 ._SENT We_PNP could_VM0 have_VHI eaten_VVN dinner_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 big_AJ0 kitchen_NN1 table_NN1 at_PRP her_DPS apartment_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP the_AT0 city_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC looked_VVD through_PRP her_DPS "_PUQ private_AJ0 archive_NN1 "_PUQ of_PRF ephemera_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 German_AJ0 Democratic_AJ0 Republic_NN1 ,_PUN or_CJC G.D.R._NP0 We_PNP could_VM0 have_VHI gone_VVN on_PRP a_AT0 bike_NN1 tour_NN1 of_PRF all_DT0 the_AT0 places_NN2 she_PNP lived_VVD ,_PUN studied_VVD ,_PUN and_CJC "_PUQ practiced_AJ0 kissing_NN1 "_PUQ while_CJS growing_VVG up_AVP in_PRP East_NP0 Berlin_NP0 ,_PUN just_AV0 steps_NN2 from_PRP the_AT0 Wall_NN1 ._SENT Sitting_VVG in_PRP her_DPS parked_AJ0 car_NN1 ,_PUN smiling_VVG into_PRP her_DPS phone_NN1 camera_NN1 ,_PUN Erpenbeck_NP0 told_VVD me_PNP that_CJT she_PNP got_VVD her_DPS bicycle_NN1 forty_CRD years_NN2 ago_AV0 ,_PUN as_CJS a_AT0 gift_NN1 for_PRP her_DPS Jugendweihe_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 coming-of-age_AJ0 ceremony_NN1 particularly_AV0 popular_AJ0 in_PRP the_AT0 G.D.R._NP0 "_PUQ The_AT0 mechanic_NN1 sometimes_AV0 gets_VVZ a_AT0 bit_NN1 desperate_AJ0 when_CJS I_PNP 'm_VBB coming_VVG ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP said_VVD as_CJS she_PNP began_VVD to_TO0 show_VVI me_PNP around_PRP her_DPS past_NN1 on_PRP foot_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 camera_NN1 occasionally_AV0 giving_VVG me_PNP a_AT0 closeup_NN1 of_PRF her_DPS nose_NN1 or_CJC ear_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ He_PNP knows_VVZ that_CJT I_PNP really_AV0 like_VVB this_DT0 bike_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Erpenbeck_NP0 ,_PUN now_AV0 fifty-four_CRD ,_PUN is_VBZ a_AT0 practiced_AJ0 guide_NN1 to_PRP her_DPS life_NN1 ,_PUN even_AV0 when_CJS narrating_VVG from_PRP a_AT0 shaky_AJ0 smartphone_NN1 ._SENT She_PNP is_VBZ naturally_AV0 open_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC she_PNP brings_VVZ the_AT0 same_DT0 intelligent_AJ0 lightness_NN1 to_PRP cynical_AJ0 observations_NN2 about_PRP capitalism_NN1 that_CJT she_PNP does_VDZ to_PRP showing_VVG off_AVP the_AT0 East_NP0 German_AJ0 toys_NN2 she_PNP used_VM0 to_TO0 play_VVI with_PRP ._SENT She_PNP sometimes_AV0 preëmpted_VVD my_DPS questions_NN2 by_PRP showing_VVG me_PNP objects_NN2 I_PNP did_VDD n't_XX0 know_VVI to_TO0 ask_VVI about_AVP —_PUN for_PRP example_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 polite_AJ0 letter_NN1 from_PRP Thomas_NP0 Mann_NP0 to_PRP her_DPS grandfather_NN1 ,_PUN telling_VVG him_PNP that_CJT he_PNP would_VM0 read_VVI his_DPS new_AJ0 book_NN1 when_CJS he_PNP had_VHD the_AT0 time_NN1 ._SENT When_CJS I_PNP did_VDD ask_VVI about_PRP something_PNI specific_AJ0 ,_PUN her_DPS response_NN1 might_VM0 be_VBI to_TO0 pleasantly_AV0 suggest_VVI that_CJT it_PNP was_VBD coming_VVG a_AT0 bit_NN1 later_AV0 on_PRP the_AT0 tour_NN1 ._SENT 
At_PRP first_ORD ,_PUN I_PNP assumed_VVD that_CJT this_DT0 was_VBD because_CJS she_PNP 's_VHZ done_VDN a_AT0 lot_NN1 of_PRF interviews_NN2 ._SENT Erpenbeck_NP0 is_VBZ one_CRD of_PRF the_AT0 most_AV0 celebrated_AJ0 authors_NN2 in_PRP Germany_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 winner_NN1 of_PRF many_DT0 prizes_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC is_VBZ occasionally_AV0 discussed_VVN as_PRP a_AT0 deserving_AJ0 candidate_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 Nobel_NP0 ._SENT (_PUL Consider_VVB this_DT0 another_DT0 such_DT0 discussion_NN1 ._SENT )_PUR Five_CRD of_PRF her_DPS works_NN0 of_PRF fiction_NN1 have_VHB been_VBN published_VVN in_PRP English_NN1 ;_PUN her_DPS most_DT0 recent_AJ0 book_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ Not_XX0 a_AT0 Novel_NN1 "_PUQ (_PUL New_NP0 Directions_NN2 )_PUR ,_PUN translated_VVN by_PRP Kurt_NP0 Beals_NP0 ,_PUN is_VBZ a_AT0 collection_NN1 of_PRF meditations_NN2 ,_PUN essays_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC speeches_NN2 that_CJT often_AV0 overlap_VVB —_PUN the_AT0 kind_NN1 of_PRF thing_NN1 that_CJT appears_VVZ when_CJS it_PNP 's_VBZ relatively_AV0 certain_AJ0 people_NN0 will_VM0 read_VVI anything_PNI you_PNP 've_VHB written_VVN ._SENT For_PRP an_AT0 author_NN1 in_PRP translation_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 rare_AJ0 species_NN0 in_PRP the_AT0 United_NP0 States_NP0 ,_PUN it_PNP 's_VBZ especially_AV0 significant_AJ0 ._SENT 
A_AT0 white_AJ0 wall_NN1 covered_VVN with_PRP paper_NN1 scraps_NN2 pinned_VVN to_PRP the_AT0 wall_NN1 in_PRP a_AT0 loose_AJ0 grid_NN1 
In_PRP Erpenbeck_NP0 's_POS Berlin_NP0 apartment_NN1 ,_PUN an_AT0 entire_AJ0 wall_NN1 is_VBZ covered_VVN with_PRP paper_NN1 and_CJC artifacts_NN2 from_PRP the_AT0 G.D.R._NP0 ,_PUN collected_VVN over_PRP the_AT0 course_NN1 of_PRF decades_NN2 ._SENT 
A_AT0 hand_NN1 holding_VVG a_AT0 braided_AJ0 lock_NN1 of_PRF blonde_AJ0 hair_NN1 
A_AT0 lock_NN1 of_PRF hair_NN1 ,_PUN from_PRP Erpenbeck_NP0 's_POS youth_NN1 ,_PUN that_CJT she_PNP keeps_VVZ in_PRP a_AT0 box_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 memoir_NN1 ._SENT 
But_CJC Erpenbeck_NP0 's_POS enthusiasm_NN1 for_PRP collecting_VVG stories_NN2 ,_PUN objects_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC her_DPS own_DT0 memories_NN2 is_VBZ less_AV0 an_AT0 indication_NN1 of_PRF professionalism_NN1 ,_PUN or_CJC of_PRF East_NP0 German_AJ0 Ostalgie_NN1 ,_PUN than_CJS of_PRF something_PNI fundamental_AJ0 about_PRP her_DPS understanding_NN1 of_PRF time_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 Guardian_NN1 's_POS Philip_NP0 Oltermann_NP0 called_VVD her_PNP the_AT0 "_PUQ weaver_NN1 bird_NN1 of_PRF German_AJ0 fiction_NN1 "_PUQ ;_PUN she_PNP fills_VVZ her_DPS novels_NN2 with_PRP research_NN1 and_CJC detail_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS well_AV0 as_CJS anecdotes_NN2 from_PRP her_DPS family_NN1 history_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS though_CJS trying_VVG to_TO0 save_VVI them_PNP from_PRP disappearing_VVG ._SENT Her_DPS work_NN1 is_VBZ especially_AV0 concerned_AJ0 with_PRP parallel_AJ0 worlds_NN2 and_CJC conflicting_AJ0 truths_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC its_DPS great_AJ0 achievement_NN1 is_VBZ its_DPS ability_NN1 to_TO0 imply_VVI the_AT0 sweep_NN1 of_PRF history_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 stories_NN2 of_PRF who_PNQ and_CJC what_DTQ gets_VVZ lost_VVN in_PRP transition_NN1 ._SENT In_PRP "_PUQ Visitation_NN1 "_PUQ (_PUL 2010_CRD )_PUR ,_PUN a_AT0 German_AJ0 lake_NN1 house_NN1 changes_VVZ hands_NN2 over_PRP the_AT0 course_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 twentieth_ORD century_NN1 ,_PUN its_DPS occupants_NN2 in_PRP varying_AJ0 states_NN2 of_PRF awareness_NN1 ,_PUN or_CJC denial_NN1 ,_PUN of_PRF their_DPS predecessors_NN2 ;_PUN in_PRP "_PUQ The_AT0 End_NN1 of_PRF Days_NN2 "_PUQ (_PUL 2014_CRD )_PUR ,_PUN the_AT0 same_DT0 woman_NN1 dies_VVZ five_CRD times_NN2 ,_PUN with_PRP each_DT0 death_NN1 (_PUL except_CJS the_AT0 last_ORD )_PUR followed_VVD by_PRP a_AT0 set_NN1 of_PRF circumstances_NN2 that_CJT would_VM0 have_VHI kept_VVN her_PNP alive_AJ0 ._SENT For_PRP Erpenbeck_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 past_NN1 is_VBZ layered_VVN under_PRP the_AT0 present_NN1 ;_PUN its_DPS shape_NN1 ,_PUN if_CJS nothing_PNI else_AV0 ,_PUN always_AV0 comes_VVZ through_AVP ,_PUN and_CJC attempts_VVZ to_TO0 cover_VVI it_PNP up_AVP only_AV0 make_VVB it_PNP more_AV0 obvious_AJ0 ._SENT 
The_AT0 English_AJ0 subtitle_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ Not_XX0 a_AT0 Novel_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ "_PUQ A_AT0 Memoir_NN1 in_PRP Pieces_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ suggests_VVZ the_AT0 way_NN1 a_AT0 life_NN1 coheres_VVZ through_PRP unexpected_AJ0 moments_NN2 ,_PUN which_DTQ place_NN1 an_AT0 individual_NN1 within_PRP history_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ I_PNP was_VBD told_VVN that_CJT in_PRP order_NN1 to_TO0 introduce_VVI myself_PNX ,_PUN I_PNP should_VM0 briefly_AV0 tell_VVI you_PNP how_AVQ I_PNP became_VVD the_AT0 person_NN1 I_PNP am_VBB ,_PUN and_CJC why_AVQ I_PNP write_VVB ,_PUN in_PRP roughly_AV0 five_CRD minutes_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ Erpenbeck_NP0 jokes_VVZ at_PRP the_AT0 beginning_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ I_PNP Become_VVB Me_PNP ,_PUN "_PUQ a_AT0 speech_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 book_NN1 ,_PUN before_CJS listing_VVG a_AT0 series_NN0 of_PRF details_NN2 that_CJT might_VM0 meet_VVI the_AT0 challenge_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ Should_VM0 I_PNP say_VVI ,_PUN must_VM0 I_PNP say_VVI ,_PUN that_CJT the_AT0 tenement_NN1 building_NN1 where_CJS my_DPS grandmother_NN1 lived_VVD together_AV0 with_PRP my_DPS great-grandmother_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP an_AT0 apartment_NN1 off_AVP of_PRF the_AT0 third_ORD courtyard_NN1 back_AVP from_PRP the_AT0 street_NN1 ,_PUN always_AV0 smelled_VVD like_PRP cold_AJ0 ashes_NN2 from_PRP the_AT0 heating_NN1 stoves_NN2 ?_SENT ._SENT ._SENT ._SENT That_CJT I_PNP 'm_VBB happiest_AJC when_CJS wandering_VVG through_PRP the_AT0 brush_NN1 with_PRP bare_AJ0 legs_NN2 ?_SENT ._SENT ._SENT ._SENT Did_VDD I_PNP already_AV0 mention_VVB that_CJT my_DPS relatives_NN2 gave_VVD me_DPS permission_NN1 to_TO0 flop_VVI down_AVP on_PRP the_AT0 rug_NN1 and_CJC suddenly_AV0 fall_VVB asleep_AJ0 during_PRP our_DPS East-West_AJ0 reunions_NN2 ?_SENT "_PUQ Over_AVP and_CJC over_AVP ,_PUN she_PNP emphasizes_VVZ the_AT0 way_NN1 a_AT0 narrative_NN1 is_VBZ never_AV0 as_AV0 solid_AJ0 as_CJS the_AT0 pieces_NN2 that_CJT compose_VVB it_PNP ;_PUN her_DPS own_DT0 stories_NN2 ,_PUN although_CJS written_VVN with_PRP an_AT0 almost_AV0 unbearable_AJ0 sensitivity_NN1 ,_PUN shift_VVB swiftly_AV0 and_CJC brutally_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 way_NN1 life_NN1 does_VDZ ._SENT "_PUQ The_AT0 times_NN2 change_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC sometimes_AV0 it_PNP 's_VBZ nice_AJ0 to_TO0 watch_VVI it_PNP happen_VVI ,_PUN but_CJC sometimes_AV0 it_PNP 's_VBZ not_XX0 as_AV0 nice_AJ0 ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP writes_VVZ ._SENT 
Currently_AV0 ,_PUN we_PNP 're_VBB in_PRP a_AT0 "_PUQ not_XX0 as_AV0 nice_AJ0 "_PUQ period_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP brought_VVD up_AVP the_AT0 pandemic_AJ0 during_PRP our_DPS first_ORD interview_NN1 ,_PUN last_ORD summer_NN1 ;_PUN Erpenbeck_NP0 was_VBD at_PRP her_DPS lake_NN1 property_NN1 ,_PUN where_CJS she_PNP writes_VVZ from_PRP a_AT0 tiny_AJ0 hut_NN1 with_PRP weak_AJ0 Internet_NN1 ._SENT She_PNP has_VHZ little_AV0 hope_VVB that_CJT the_AT0 crisis_NN1 will_VM0 transform_VVI the_AT0 world_NN1 :_PUN big_AJ0 business_NN1 will_VM0 expand_VVI ,_PUN low-wage_AJ0 workers_NN2 will_VM0 continue_VVI to_TO0 lose_VVI their_DPS jobs_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 rest_NN1 of_PRF us_PNP will_VM0 fail_VVI to_TO0 adopt_VVI the_AT0 "_PUQ more_AV0 modest_AJ0 way_NN1 of_PRF our_DPS parents_NN2 and_CJC grandparents_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ which_DTQ had_VHD its_DPS advantages_NN2 ._SENT "_PUQ But_CJC that_DT0 's_VBZ how_AVQ it_PNP is_VBZ ,_PUN in_PRP fact_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP writes_VVZ ,_PUN "_PUQ and_CJC so_CJS it_PNP makes_VVZ sense_NN1 to_TO0 brace_VVI yourself_PNX for_PRP whatever_DTQ may_VM0 come_VVI ._SENT "_PUQ 
Her_DPS pragmatism_NN1 comes_VVZ from_PRP experience_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 Wall_NN1 between_PRP East_NP0 and_CJC West_NP0 Berlin_NP0 fell_VVD on_PRP November_NP0 9_CRD ,_PUN 1989_CRD ,_PUN when_AVQ Erpenbeck_NP0 was_VBD twenty-two_CRD and_CJC in_PRP university_NN1 ._SENT She_PNP spent_VVD the_AT0 evening_NN1 that_CJT would_VM0 become_VVI the_AT0 fulcrum_NN1 of_PRF her_DPS life_NN1 hanging_VVG out_AVP with_PRP friends_NN2 just_AV0 a_AT0 few_DT0 blocks_NN2 away_AV0 from_PRP the_AT0 border_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ And_CJC then_AV0 :_PUN I_PNP went_VVD to_TO0 sleep_VVI ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP writes_VVZ in_PRP her_DPS 2013_CRD essay_NN1 "_PUQ Homesickness_NN1 for_PRP Sadness_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ "_PUQ And_CJC while_CJS I_PNP was_VBD asleep_AJ0 the_AT0 pot_NN1 was_VBD not_XX0 just_AV0 stirred_VVN ,_PUN it_PNP was_VBD knocked_VVN over_AVP and_CJC smashed_VVN to_PRP bits_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 next_ORD morning_NN1 I_PNP learned_VVD :_PUN We_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 even_AV0 need_VVI pots_NN2 anymore_AV0 ._SENT "_PUQ This_DT0 is_VBZ just_AV0 one_CRD of_PRF several_DT0 striking_AJ0 ways_NN2 that_CJT she_PNP characterizes_VVZ the_AT0 night_NN1 when_CJS "_PUQ everything_PNI that_CJT had_VHD been_VBN called_VVN the_AT0 present_NN1 up_AVP to_PRP that_DT0 point_NN1 was_VBD now_AV0 the_AT0 past_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ From_PRP then_AV0 on_AVP ,_PUN she_PNP writes_VVZ ,_PUN her_DPS childhood_NN1 "_PUQ belonged_VVN in_PRP a_AT0 museum_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Erpenbeck_NP0 was_VBD born_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 East_NP0 Berlin_NP0 district_NN1 of_PRF Pankow_NP0 in_PRP 1967_CRD ,_PUN to_PRP an_AT0 intellectual_AJ0 family_NN1 well_AV0 known_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 G.D.R._NP0 Her_DPS mother_NN1 ,_PUN Doris_NP0 Kilias_NP0 ,_PUN was_VBD a_AT0 translator_NN1 of_PRF Arabic_NN1 who_PNQ worked_VVD with_PRP the_AT0 Egyptian_AJ0 Nobel_NP0 laureate_NN1 Naguib_NP0 Mahfouz_NP0 ._SENT Kilias_NP0 's_POS mother_NN1 was_VBD a_AT0 seamstress_NN1 who_PNQ was_VBD taken_VVN to_PRP Siberia_NP0 as_PRP a_AT0 prisoner_NN1 of_PRF war_NN1 ;_PUN her_DPS life_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT0 material_NN1 for_PRP Erpenbeck_NP0 's_POS short_AJ0 story_NN1 "_PUQ Siberia_NP0 ._SENT "_PUQ Erpenbeck_NP0 's_POS father_NN1 ,_PUN John_NP0 Erpenbeck_NP0 ,_PUN is_VBZ a_AT0 physicist_NN1 ,_PUN philosopher_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC writer_NN1 who_PNQ 's_VBZ currently_AV0 working_VVG on_PRP questions_NN2 of_PRF "_PUQ how_AVQ learning_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT0 process_NN1 of_PRF developing_AJ0 values_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP told_VVD me_PNP ._SENT Her_DPS paternal_AJ0 grandfather_NN1 ,_PUN Fritz_NP0 Erpenbeck_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC grandmother_NN1 ,_PUN Hedda_NP0 Zinner_NP0 ,_PUN were_VBD communists_NN2 who_PNQ fled_VVD to_PRP the_AT0 Soviet_AJ0 Union_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 nineteen-thirties_CRD ;_PUN Zinner_NP0 was_VBD a_AT0 beloved_AJ0 actress_NN1 and_CJC writer_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC Fritz_NP0 Erpenbeck_NP0 was_VBD a_AT0 publisher_NN1 ,_PUN editor_NN1 ,_PUN writer_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC actor_NN1 who_PNQ was_VBD eventually_AV0 tasked_VVN with_PRP helping_VVG to_TO0 rebuild_VVI culture_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP the_AT0 forties_CRD ,_PUN for_PRP the_AT0 new_AJ0 East_NN1 German_AJ0 state_NN1 ._SENT (_PUL There_EX0 is_VBZ a_AT0 street_NN1 named_VVN after_PRP him_PNP in_PRP Pankow_NP0 ._SENT )_PUR 
Erpenbeck_NP0 's_POS parents_NN2 divorced_VVD when_CJS she_PNP was_VBD five_CRD years_NN2 old_AJ0 ,_PUN an_AT0 amicable_AJ0 split_NN1 that_CJT allowed_VVD Erpenbeck_NP0 to_TO0 see_VVI her_DPS father_NN1 daily_AV0 ._SENT Her_DPS childhood_NN1 was_VBD happy_AJ0 ;_PUN "_PUQ there_EX0 is_VBZ nothing_PNI better_AJC for_PRP a_AT0 child_NN1 than_CJS to_TO0 grow_VVI up_AVP at_PRP the_AT0 ends_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 earth_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP writes_VVZ in_PRP "_PUQ Not_XX0 a_AT0 Novel_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ though_CJS her_DPS family_NN1 's_POS status_NN1 meant_VVD that_CJT she_PNP did_VDD n't_XX0 live_VVI as_CJS insular_AJ0 a_AT0 life_NN1 as_CJS she_PNP might_VM0 have_VHI otherwise_AV0 ._SENT (_PUL When_CJS she_PNP was_VBD seven_CRD ,_PUN she_PNP even_AV0 spent_VVD a_AT0 year_NN1 in_PRP Italy_NP0 with_PRP her_DPS mother_NN1 ._SENT )_PUR As_CJS a_AT0 teen-ager_NN1 ,_PUN she_PNP apprenticed_VVD as_PRP a_AT0 bookbinder_NN1 ,_PUN hoping_VVG to_TO0 work_VVI in_PRP book_NN1 design_NN1 ,_PUN before_CJS switching_VVG to_PRP stage_NN1 design_NN1 ,_PUN before_CJS switching_VVG to_PRP theatre_NN1 ,_PUN before_CJS switching_VVG to_PRP opera_NN1 direction_NN1 ._SENT She_PNP was_VBD n't_XX0 a_AT0 "_PUQ punk_NN1 or_CJC something_PNI like_PRP that_DT0 ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP told_VVD me_PNP as_CJS we_PNP toured_VVD one_CRD of_PRF the_AT0 areas_NN2 where_AVQ she_PNP grew_VVD up_AVP ,_PUN the_AT0 Leipziger_NP0 Strasse_NP0 in_PRP central_AJ0 Berlin_NP0 ,_PUN now_AV0 a_AT0 difficult-to-love_AJ0 thoroughfare_NN1 filled_VVN with_PRP chain_NN1 stores_NN2 and_CJC tourist_NN1 attractions_NN2 ._SENT Once_CJS East_NN1 Berliners_NN2 started_VVD fleeing_VVG to_PRP the_AT0 West_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP the_AT0 nineteen-eighties_CRD ,_PUN some_DT0 of_PRF her_DPS friends_NN2 squatted_VVD in_PRP abandoned_AJ0 flats_NN2 ;_PUN when_CJS it_PNP came_VVD time_NN1 for_PRP Erpenbeck_NP0 to_TO0 get_VVI her_DPS own_DT0 apartment_NN1 ,_PUN her_DPS father_NN1 helped_VVD her_PNP find_VVI a_AT0 one-bedroom_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ Parents_NN2 make_VVB a_AT0 big_AJ0 difference_NN1 in_PRP everyone_PNI 's_POS life_NN1 ,_PUN even_AV0 in_PRP America_NP0 ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP said_VVD ,_PUN a_AT0 little_AV0 sheepishly_AV0 ._SENT 
A_AT0 bust_NN1 of_PRF Erpenbeck_NP0 ,_PUN which_DTQ was_VBD given_VVN to_PRP her_PNP on_PRP one_CRD of_PRF her_DPS visits_NN2 to_PRP the_AT0 United_NP0 States_NP0 ._SENT 
Erpenbeck_NP0 stresses_VVZ the_AT0 surprise_NN1 of_PRF East_NP0 Germany_NP0 's_POS collapse_NN1 ,_PUN how_AVQ swiftly_AV0 talk_NN1 of_PRF reform_NN1 became_VVD talk_NN1 of_PRF reunification_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ We_PNP were_VBD not_XX0 stupid_AJ0 ,_PUN you_PNP know_VVB ._SENT We_PNP could_VM0 see_VVI that_CJT the_AT0 government_NN1 was_VBD old_AJ0 ._SENT ._SENT ._SENT we_PNP could_VM0 see_VVI that_CJT the_AT0 elections_NN2 had_VHD been_VBN manipulated_VVN ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP said_VVD ,_PUN after_CJS proudly_AV0 showing_VVG me_PNP Max_NP0 Lingner_NP0 's_POS socialist_AJ0 mosaic_NN1 "_PUQ Building_VVG the_AT0 Republic_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ which_DTQ adorns_VVZ the_AT0 Federal_AJ0 Ministry_NN1 of_PRF Finance_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP Berlin_NP0 ._SENT "_PUQ Especially_AV0 when_CJS Gorbachev_NP0 started_VVD to_TO0 take_VVI over_AVP in_PRP the_AT0 Soviet_AJ0 Union_NN1 ,_PUN my_DPS family_NN1 was_VBD hoping_VVG that_CJT the_AT0 good_AJ0 people_NN0 would_VM0 take_VVI over_AVP ._SENT The_AT0 good_AJ0 people_NN0 are_VBB very_AV0 nice_AJ0 ,_PUN very_AV0 bright_AJ0 ,_PUN very_AV0 creative_AJ0 —_PUN but_CJC very_AV0 few_DT0 of_PRF them_PNP can_VM0 organize_VVI a_AT0 system_NN1 quickly_AV0 so_AV0 that_CJT it_PNP works_VVZ ._SENT "_PUQ Any_DT0 calls_VVZ for_PRP something_PNI like_PRP "_PUQ socialism_NN1 with_PRP a_AT0 human_AJ0 face_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ the_AT0 slogan_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Prague_NP0 Spring_NN1 ,_PUN were_VBD subsumed_VVN in_PRP growing_AJ0 protests_NN2 for_PRP democracy_NN1 ._SENT Reunification_NN1 quickly_AV0 came_VVD to_TO0 signify_VVI the_AT0 integration_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 East_NN1 into_PRP the_AT0 West_NN1 rather_AV0 than_CJS anything_PNI like_PRP a_AT0 compromise_NN1 ._SENT 
The_AT0 Mauerfall_NN1 can_VM0 be_VBI felt_VVN in_PRP all_DT0 Erpenbeck_NP0 's_POS novels_NN2 ,_PUN as_CJS a_AT0 way_NN1 of_PRF thinking_VVG about_PRP borders_NN2 ,_PUN transitions_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 elusiveness_NN1 of_PRF freedom_NN1 ._SENT She_PNP believes_VVZ ,_PUN and_CJC resents_VVZ ,_PUN that_DT0 Germans_NN2 too_AV0 often_AV0 simplify_VVI this_DT0 history_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 victory_NN1 of_PRF democracy_NN1 over_PRP totalitarianism_NN1 ,_PUN erasing_VVG the_AT0 lives_NN2 of_PRF millions_CRD of_PRF people_NN0 ,_PUN from_PRP the_AT0 optimism_NN1 of_PRF their_DPS economic_AJ0 system_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 word_NN1 they_PNP used_VVD for_PRP "_PUQ grocery_NN1 store_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ "_PUQ I_PNP was_VBD convinced_VVN in_PRP a_AT0 deep_AJ0 sense_NN1 —_PUN and_CJC I_PNP still_AV0 am_VBB ,_PUN I_PNP must_VM0 confess_VVI ,_PUN even_AV0 if_CJS some_DT0 readers_NN2 stop_VVB reading_VVG me_PNP right_AV0 away_AV0 —_PUN that_CJT it_PNP 's_VBZ not_XX0 a_AT0 good_AJ0 idea_NN1 to_TO0 have_VHI no_AT0 alternative_NN1 to_PRP capitalist_AJ0 society_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP told_VVD me_PNP ._SENT After_CJS Erpenbeck_NP0 finished_VVD her_DPS degree_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP 1994_CRD ,_PUN she_PNP got_VVD a_AT0 job_NN1 as_PRP an_AT0 assistant_AJ0 opera_NN1 director_NN1 in_PRP Graz_NP0 ,_PUN Austria_NP0 ,_PUN hoping_VVG to_TO0 escape_VVI "_PUQ the_AT0 endless_AJ0 questionings_NN2 "_PUQ she_PNP endured_VVD in_PRP Berlin_NP0 ._SENT "_PUQ It_PNP was_VBD ,_PUN like_AV0 ,_PUN '_PUQ Oh_ITJ ,_PUN we_PNP embrace_VVB our_DPS poor_AJ0 brothers_NN2 and_CJC sisters_NN2 from_PRP the_AT0 East_NN1 ,_PUN '_PUQ and_CJC I_PNP did_VDD n't_XX0 feel_VVI like_PRP being_VBG a_AT0 poor_AJ0 sister_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 East_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP said_VVD ._SENT "_PUQ I_PNP was_VBD rich_AJ0 in_PRP another_DT0 way_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP the_AT0 intellectual_AJ0 tradition_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 people_NN0 around_PRP me_PNP ._SENT "_PUQ 
It_PNP 's_VBZ possible_AJ0 that_CJT Erpenbeck_NP0 and_CJC her_DPS family_NN1 took_VVD the_AT0 G.D.R._NP0 's_POS collapse_NN1 especially_AV0 hard_AJ0 because_CJS they_PNP were_VBD relatively_AV0 well_AV0 off_AVP there_AV0 ._SENT But_CJC the_AT0 economic_AJ0 disparities_NN2 between_PRP the_AT0 former_DT0 East_NN1 and_CJC West_NN1 persist_VVB ,_PUN and_CJC are_VBB often_AV0 linked_VVN to_PRP the_AT0 rise_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 far-right_AJ0 Alternative_AJ0 für_NN1 Deutschland_NP0 party_NN1 ._SENT After_PRP reunification_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 Federal_AJ0 Republic_NN1 offered_VVN East_NN1 Germans_NN2 a_AT0 gift_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 hundred_CRD Deutsche_NP0 marks_NN2 ;_PUN Erpenbeck_NP0 never_AV0 picked_VVD hers_PNP up_AVP ._SENT She_PNP received_VVD a_AT0 grant_NN1 to_TO0 complete_VVI her_DPS studies_NN2 ,_PUN but_CJC the_AT0 rent_NN1 on_PRP her_DPS fifty-five-square-metre_AJ0 apartment_NN1 increased_VVN nearly_AV0 tenfold_AV0 ._SENT "_PUQ That_DT0 money_NN1 became_VVD something_PNI one_PNI has_VHZ to_TO0 worry_VVI and_CJC talk_VVI (_PUL !_SENT )_PUR about_AV0 was_VBD completely_AV0 new_AJ0 to_PRP us_PNP ,_PUN and_CJC filled_VVD us_PNP with_PRP a_AT0 kind_NN1 of_PRF desperate_AJ0 contempt_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP wrote_VVD me_PNP ._SENT Many_DT0 lost_VVD their_DPS homes_NN2 ,_PUN including_PRP Erpenbeck_NP0 's_POS family_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS former_DT0 owners_NN2 were_VBD permitted_VVN to_TO0 reclaim_VVI property_NN1 they_PNP had_VHD abandoned_VVN when_CJS the_AT0 border_NN1 went_VVD up_AVP ._SENT Erpenbeck_NP0 still_AV0 does_VDZ n't_XX0 believe_VVI in_PRP private_AJ0 property_NN1 ,_PUN though_CJS she_PNP does_VDZ own_VVI her_DPS apartment_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ It_PNP 's_VBZ the_AT0 dialectic_NN1 ,_PUN you_PNP know_VVB ?_SENT "_PUQ she_PNP joked_VVD ._SENT After_PRP the_AT0 Wall_NN1 came_VVD down_AVP ,_PUN she_PNP learned_VVD a_AT0 new_AJ0 way_NN1 of_PRF life_NN1 :_PUN "_PUQ Everything_PNI that_CJT you_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 own_DT0 is_VBZ taken_VVN from_PRP you_PNP ._SENT "_PUQ 
