Stop satirising millennials – it isn't compelling fiction
About halfway through Allegro Pastel, the fourth novel by the prize-winning German writer Leif Randt, Jerome, a website designer, is on his sofa kissing Marlene, whom he went to school with, while Tanja, a young novelist who lives in Berlin, is going through a frosty patch with Janis, the tattooed guy she dumped Jerome for. A few months earlier, Jerome and Tanja were having 'slightly melodramatic' sex on the same couch. Soon, they'll exchange some tortured emails about missing each other, drop a pill at a wedding, kiss, and ultimately fail to get back together.
The first of Randt's novels to be translated into English, Allegro Pastel follows the length of Jerome and Tanja's relationship, from early romantic stirrings – they meet at the premier of the webseries adaptation of Tanya's first novel – through to Tanja's sudden, inexplicable aversion to Jerome when he reveals the website he's designed for her on her 30th birthday. This curdling of their desire into awkwardness and regret is a potentially fruitful story. But the question that emerges is: who cares?
For one, Randt doesn't hide how unlikeable his main characters are. Jerome's prejudices are never far from the surface and even Tanja admits her own caprice and vanity. As a narrative gambit, such characters could be interesting if the two weren't so shallowly observed. Tanja's character appears to be based principally on her love of badminton and Decathlon; Jerome's 'inner personality' becomes meaningful when it 'no longer reminded him of the text-to-speech function on his laptop, but sounded more like himself reading an iMessage'.
The writing is also astonishingly poor. Randt frequently squashes his characters' thoughts into clunky logical structures: 'On the one hand… on the other'. Perhaps it's simply an awkward translation – or perhaps it's an attempt to scathingly criticise the ennui of a certain kind of European millennial (an endeavour also made by Vincenzo Latronico with his recently published novel, Perfection.) But such impoverished interiority hardly makes for a compelling read. You wonder why Randt bothered with fiction when a flow chart would do.
And bafflingly, where there are opportunities for emotional texture, Randt instead delivers extraneous information. That includes the width of Jerome's mattress (1.4m-wide, if you're curious), various emojis, and a litany of brand names. Should we care, for instance, that Jerome serves Skyy vodka to Tanja, that Marlene uses an iPhone 8, that Tanja prefers EasyJet to Ryanair, and that they listen to Spotify in a rented Tesla? Brands can work as a shorthand for a type of person: but that's marketing or cultural semiotics, not fiction.
I gave Allegro Pastel the benefit of the doubt for longer than usual, mostly because I wondered whether it could really be so bad. Was it actually a sly pastiche or a smart self-parody? Was there a deadpan humour I wasn't quite getting? Unfortunately, Allegro Pastel simply is an empty book about vapid people. Sentences such as: 'Jerome could link most of his personal characteristics to his upbringing,' show that novels can be pitched as 'ironic' and yet still become parodies of themselves.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Win a copy of The Treasures by Harriet Evans in this week's Fabulous book competition
UNPUTDOWNABLE Win a copy of The Treasures by Harriet Evans in this week's Fabulous book competition Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HARRIET Evans is our go-to author for sweeping cross-generational stories with a family home at the centre – and this first in a trilogy definitely doesn't disappoint. When Alice's golden childhood in the 1950s comes to an abrupt end, she flees to NYC, where she is soon joined by English boy Tom, who's running away from his own past. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 10 lucky Fabulous readers will win a copy of this new novel in this week's book competition 10 lucky Fabulous readers will win a copy of this new novel in this week's book competition. To win a copy, enter using the form below by 11:59pm on June 21, 2025. For full terms and conditions, click here.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Brit pop superstar thanks Netflix hit Adolescence for ‘changing her relationship with her son' in heartfelt letters
The four-parter has become Netflix's second most-watched English language TV series SHOW OF THANKS Brit pop superstar thanks Netflix hit Adolescence for 'changing her relationship with her son' in heartfelt letters Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUPERSTAR Adele has written letters of thanks to the makers of Netflix hit series Adolescence. The British singer, 37, told the director of the award-winning show that she had made a point of watching it with son Angelo. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Adele has written letters of thanks to the makers of Netflix hit series Adolescence Credit: Getty 3 The series stars Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham Credit: AP 3 Adele pictured with Angelo Credit: Alamy And she praised the hard- hitting drama for 'changing her relationship' with the 12-year old — who she shares with her ex-husband Simon Konecki, 51. Film director Steven Spielberg is also a fan. The series, starring Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham, tells the story of a 13-year-old schoolboy accused of murdering a girl in his class after being brainwashed by misogynistic online content. Director Philip Barantini said: 'I am getting messages, inundated on Instagram, from people from all over the world who can relate to this story or have really been affected by it. 'That, for me, has blown my mind a little bit.' Speaking in a masterclass with the Royal Television Society, he added: 'I had a text message from Steven Spielberg who has watched it twice and I got letters from Adele last week — handwritten letters from Adele.' He continued: 'I mean, just like saying that she had watched it with her son and it has changed their relationship. 'Things like that are just beyond anything I ever imagined from this little show that we made with our family. 'You see things like Baby Reindeer and all of those shows — they come out and then they just blow up. 'It's a huge thing and that is the power of Netflix. Evil Adolescence teens butchered our kids after knife taunts & love feuds online…it's an arms war & no one feels safe 'For some reason, because we made it in Yorkshire and it is set in a small town in England, I never thought in a million years it would be the number one show in India or Venezuela.' The four-parter has become Netflix's second most-watched English language TV series, behind only Addams Family spin-off Wednesday. Adolescence has amassed 141.2million views since its debut on the streamer on March 13. It has also triggered a national debate and led to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying schools should show it to children. Sir Keir said he watched the series with his 14-year-old daughter and son, 16. He added: 'As a dad, I have not found it easy viewing.'
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I visited the cheap African holiday island that feels like Mykonos and Santorini with new easyJet flights
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TRAILING vibrant pink bougainvillaea frames white-washed buildings, spilling across blue window shutters and doors. A confetti of tiny petals drifts in the breeze, dancing along the narrow, cobbled streets. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 The small town of Erriadh sits at the centre of the island of Djerba, just off the south coast of Tunisia Credit: Getty 8 Hotels line the soft white-sand beaches on the island's north coast Credit: Shutterstock 8 Houmt Souk's pedestrianised streets are lined with shops and restaurants Credit: Getty Around every corner comes another eye-catching piece of technicolour street art. The walls and doors of the sleepy paths are a quirky, open-air gallery. The resemblance to the alleyways of Mykonos and Santorini is striking and my arty stroll ends at a small cafe under a sprawling canopy of trees in a sunlit square. But when I tell you a small cup of strong coffee here costs 25p, you'll know I am nowhere near the trendy Greek isles. The small town of Erriadh sits at the centre of the island of Djerba —which was used as a filming location for Star Wars — just off the south coast of Tunisia. And at its heart is Djerbahood, the passion project of a famous French art gallery owner who convinced some of the world's best street artists to travel to Djerba, and its inhabitants to allow their walls to be daubed. Now, more than 250 murals and sculptures have transformed the heart of the neighbourhood. Relatively undiscovered by us Brits, Djerba is a great-value option for those looking to explore beyond the Med favourites. Low-cost giant easyJet has launched year-round flights to the island from both London Luton and Manchester, with fares from just £115 return, and easyJet holidays has packages from just £373pp. The island's compact size means it's easy to explore its intoxicating mix of North African heritage and Mediterranean influences. Sizzling in summer, temperatures remain high all the way through to November and rarely dip below the 20Cs, even in the depths of winter, making it ideal for out-of-season sunshine. Five stunning, little-known holiday destinations Hotels line the soft white-sand beaches on the island's north coast, including our base, the 5H Radisson Blu Palace Resort & Thalasso. The resorts' vast pool, surrounded by loungers and cabanas, leads down to small sand dunes and a broad stretch of sparkling white sands dotted with straw parasols. Its contemporary rooms are spacious and bright, with marble-clad bathrooms and balconies or terraces to soak up that sunshine. 8 The Sun's Lisa Minot exploring Credit: Supplied 8 The fortress of Borj El Kebir has been protecting the island's inhabitants from invading armies since the 13th century Credit: Getty 8 Our base, the 5-star Radisson Blu Palace Resort & Thalasso Credit: Supplied With four restaurants, three bars and the biggest Thalasso spa on the island, you could be forgiven for not straying far. But the island's compact size means it's easy to explore its intoxicating mix of North African heritage and Mediterranean influences. Troglodyte dwellings In the island's capital Houmt Souk on the north coast, the minarets of mosques sit alongside the St Joseph's Catholic church. Jutting out on a headland surrounded by the Mediterranean sea, the fortress of Borj El Kebir has been protecting the island's inhabitants from invading armies since the 13th century. Today you can explore the impressive fortifications and admire the stunning sea views from its now thankfully peaceful ramparts. Houmt Souk's pedestrianised streets lined with shops and restaurants lead on to covered souks and a spice market, as well as a rather less fragrant fish market. There's plenty of opportunities for a bit of souvenir shopping, from local handi-crafts and clothes, to Pottery Square where you can buy colourful ceramics from just £2 with a little haggling. If you're in need of sustenance after all that shopping, look no further than El Fondouk. This fabulous conversion of an 18th-century caravanserai, or travellers' inn, is open daily for morning coffees and pastries in its sun-soaked courtyard – then fresh seafood with couscous, fish curries and meaty kebabs at lunch and dinner. Prices are also excellent given the quality, with main dishes from £8 to £12. Also worth a trip out from the excellent restaurants back at the hotel was Haroun, in the nearby marina. Its outside terrace comes in the form of an actual ship's deck, complete with rigging and ropes, and is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail or two as the sun sets. Inside, the dishes coming out of the kitchen include traditional Tunisian specialities such as brik — crispy filo pastry parcels filled with meat or fish — as well as fried calamari and fresh fish. Luke Skywalker grew up in a troglodyte home in Tatooine (get it!) and you can visit locations from the smash-hit franchise. Again, prices are very competitive, with main courses from £13.50. And while Djerba has more than enough to keep a holidaymaker happy for a week, it would be a shame to come this far and not head over on to the mainland and into a galaxy far, far away. EasyJet has multiple tours you can take from Djerba, over the ancient Roman Road that crosses the sea to southern Tunisia. The centuries-old causeway is essentially a bridge, and as you travel the five miles you're rewarded with stunning views of shimmering waters on both sides. As you travel through the arid desert landscapes of the mainland, huge rock formations rise dramatically from the flat plains. The rugged mountains are home to the Berber people, and at Chenini we peek into the unique troglodyte dwellings carved into the rocky hillsides and admire the palm trees and olive trees growing around the oasis by the Chenini Canyon. 8 Strolling the streets of Tataouine, you can easily see how George Lucas was inspired to use the location for Star Wars Credit: Getty 8 Fans can visit locations from smash-hit franchise Star Wars Credit: Rex Strolling the streets of Tataouine, you can easily see how George Lucas was inspired to use the location for Star Wars. Luke Skywalker grew up in a troglodyte home in Tatooine (get it!) and you can visit locations from the smash-hit franchise on the tour, including the Hotel Sidi Idriss and Ksar Hadada, an other-worldly Berber granary store that served as a key setting in The Phantom Menace. LISA MINOT
