A big read in many ways, tackling modern life post-German-unification through a non-judgemental focus on the sex industry, in many pages with many viewpoints and many voices. I'm writing this a couple of months after finishing the book, but I still have a strong impression of letting the language wash over me and being swept through the book.

The subject may be queasy for some (and in my innocence I learnt a few bits of interesting terminology) but there is lots of energy and life in all its ups and downs which has wider purpose exploring a sudden onset of capitalism, legalisation of prostitution, and broader picture of European interactions. There's a lot of humour too -- the sex industry being as subject to the seediness of accountancy, taxes, and property prices as any other business.

In all its richness, translator Katy Derbyshire has done a grand job of bringing it to English readership, and as usual it is a small independent publisher bring us new daring writing, in this case the incomparable Fitzcarraldo Editions. Fans of great boundary-pushing writing should read this and explore the publisher's other books. ( )