Go Went Gone Book Review

Last updated on October 6, 2020

Go, Went, Gone is a fictional novel that explores the refugee crisis in Europe, with most of of the events taking place in Berlin.

Richard is a retired professor in the department of classical philosophy at Humboldt University and a widower. His recent retirement has left him at loose ends, figuring out what to do with his time.

Studying Subjects …

As Richard watches the news one night, be is shocked by a report about refugees. He’d gone right past a protest and not noticed the 10 men with dark skin or their sign “We become invisible”.

Richards first attends a meeting about the refugees but he leaves prematurely because he doesn’t want to say his name. He only wants to observe. Though his initial interest is a professional one that starts with observation and perhaps because he has too many empty hours in the day, he then moves on to visiting the men who are refugees to record their stories. At first, he has trouble remembering their names and the only way he can distinguish between them is by relating them to characters from Greek mythology. They’re less people and more subjects.

… Discovering Men

As the story progresses, the men become individuals and maybe even friends to Richard. He learns their stories and gets more and more involved in the life. His involvement reminds me of the admonishment to researchers that they change what they study.

Philosophy Through Fiction

Jenny Erpenbeck tells this fictional story with great sensitivity. In it, she explores the subject of borders and considers how we treat other people differently depending on their race, nationality, religion. It looks at the relationship between law and humanity, in war and peace, order and chaos.

This is a book of philosophy masquerading as fiction. The author drops in quotes from Seneca, Homer, Plato and other philosophers. The skillful juxtaposition of opportunity and experience between Germans and the men from Africa highlights the ridiculousness of some laws, how the men are set up for failure in the face of impossible situations. It doesn’t matter how many languages the men speak and what they’ve endured; the law gives this no credence.

Final Verdict on Go, Went, Gone

I recommend Go, Went, Gone. It is a great book to discuss in a book club to consider issues of equity and justice. There are lots of philosophical questions built right into the novel. You can also explore geography and history, that of Africa and Europe, the entanglements that exist. Most important, there is the opportunity to consider systems of oppression and interrogate the opportunities that we have to make change one by one by one.

I give this book 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Your Turn

Have you read Go, Went, Gone? Perhaps you’ve read one of the books that Erpenbeck refers to in the novel. Did that change the book for you, for better or worse? Or do you have a favorite quote from the book, or one that made you think?