Karen Duve in the wash house Potsdam: decent food eat right is difficult. And what is eating right? Karen Duve has taken the self-experiment with different diets and it recorded impressive entertaining. In her reading on 16.2.2011 in the wash house Potsdam Karen Duve entertainment, information and food for thought very well presented.
The reading was well attended. In addition to some older and middle aged audience mainly fell on the many young guests who otherwise dominate the night life of Potsdam.
followed by the reading of the Moderation across the book "eat properly". As an avid reader of Karen Duve's novels Taxi and rain novel I was particularly interested to see how it comes across well as non-fiction writer. So it was a moderator, who has for years had tried to invite Karen Duve to the wash house. As vegetarian for 25 years and under difficult conditions even in the GDR, he had an authentic relationship to the theme of the book "eat properly". Karen Duve, which as a result of their self-experiment lives only vegetarian for six months, however, still a novice in the field. She has even left open the option of eating meat, if the appetite should come over. This would, thanks to this way out but not yet come, she said.
The reading was despite the serious subject matter very entertaining, there was laughter in many places. The book is well used. Particularly bizarre reasoning seemed to be able to eat as a vegan for no more honey because the bees had been stolen, even if it probably did not even notice. I clearly saw the look of my own mother before me, as Karen Duve's frustration and helplessness of her mother described, after they eat not their usual delicious prepared food wanted. That was worse than all Berufsirrwege, that the mother was confronted over the years. By-law, who is agriculture minister, facing a family conflict. From its research for the book he had stressed on family celebrations held back his opinions to be quoted in the book. Karen Duve reported that she has not dared since the publication of the book until today, with her sister and thus to call his wife.
The reading was fun, because the author so human, came over with humor and without pointing fingers. To me personally this sympathetic and realistic approach to the topic of food was missing before. I feel bad to worst in discussions in which health fanatic rant or strict bio-buyers with a wagging finger at Discount-goers and people with Green Week mentality, or vice versa, the latter to make fun of former or even insult them. Karen Duve made it clear that most eaters move somewhere in between and that the food is not that easy.
By Karen Duve can laugh at the inner weakness that makes it difficult for many people, consistent and logical to shop and eat. Even if they know better and avoid just about the topic. Because it's true: Even the cheap grill pan from the freezer tastes good, as long as you are knowledge about the sad story of the chicken, the remains on the plate, hides. And that's human.
