"I Make Envy on Your Disco is the story of an art advisor who, fed up with his life in New York, flies to Berlin for a gallery opening and finds a once-divided city brimming with excitement and possibility"--
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Do you appreciate stories with a mixture of humor, introspection, and adventure?
Do you enjoy stories that involve travel and new experiences?
Have you ever tried to fo find clarity and perspective by stepping away from familiar surroundings?
Answered yes, read this book.
“I Make Envy of Your Disco” is a wonderful book filled with self-exploration and questions of identity. It captures the resolve, joy, and introspection we find when we travel to another city. Sometimes, in order to gain clarity and perspective on what is right in front of us, we need to step away from our familiar surroundings. This book beautifully illustrates that journey, showing how stepping away can lead to profound realizations and personal growth.
The protagonist's experiences are reminiscent of “Alice in Wonderland” adventures (these are, perhaps a bit more grown up...), where each encounter and challenge leads to deeper self-discovery. The narrative is filled with relatable moments that resonated deeply with me - each chapter made me reflect on my own life... sometimes I smiled, sometimes I teared up, nostalgia creeping up my throat. For instance, this line struck me on my time in NYC, when I'd yearn to get away: “I don't have time to think in New York. I don't have ten minutes that aren't interrupted by something. I can't even walk the dog without having 6 random interactions on the elevator.” In a big city, you thrive but you also crave peace and solitude.
The book also explores themes of aging and self-perception, “Every time I look in the mirror, I think I look older.” Not even my husband can convince me otherwise. These moments of introspection are what make the book so relatable and impactful. They invited me to ponder my own reflections on aging and how they perceive themselves over time. The protagonist's journey of self-exploration is not just about the external adventures but also about the internal battles and realizations that come with growing older.
Despite the protagonist's journey, the ending remains ambiguous, which, frankly, mirrors how life works. Not everything is tied up neatly, and this open-ended conclusion left me wondering what's to come of my journey? Life is continuous filled with uncertainties and that finding all the answers is not always possible - what's possible is going out searching from them; find comfort in the journey itself. Buy the ticket, get out there and explore, and bring this book along for the ride.
