Woman dies of cut finger” – “Mexican killed by cow” – “Girl (9) mauled by grandma’s dogs”. When it comes to tragedies, accidents and fatal diseases, Petula knows everything. She knows everything about the consequences of earthquakes , volcanic eruptions and other forces of nature, careless security measures, terrorist attacks, germs or contagious diseases. And: “that optimists die ten years earlier than pessimists” because they only recognize dangers when it is too late. “Pessimists are more realistic. They’re taking more precautions.”
In an album she treasures, Petula collects everything she can find on the web: reports of fatal accidents, technical articles, statistics and studies on injuries and illnesses. And there is a reason for her caution: Her little sister Maxine died three years ago. Choked on a button that had come off her pajamas and swallowed it in her sleep. Because Petula knitted the suit for her sister, she feels responsible for her death. Adults can talk about a terrible accident as often as they like.
Susin Nielsen carefully builds up her story, giving her characters, who are as warm-hearted as they are authentically drawn, time and space to develop. Only gradually do we learn why first-person narrator Petula never touches door handles, people or surfaces without gloves, does not go out onto the street without an alarm whistle around her neck and her keys firmly between her fingers, always ready to fend off any attackers with all her might. We learn about the fears and worries that determine her everyday life, the afternoons with her therapy group – and “robot man” Jacob, who is new one day. In a traffic accident, he not only lost his right forearm, but was also responsible for the death of his two best friends. At least that’s how he tells it.
Jacob carefully breaks down the walls Petula has built around herself, breaking the paralysis she and her parents have been trapped in since Maxine’s death
Unlike Petula, who is completely dominated by her fears, Jacob has remained “an open-minded, sociable person”. With the videos he shoots, he brings a breath of fresh air to the “tinkering for the crazy” group – but above all to Petula’s life.
One of Nielsen’s greatest strengths is never letting her stories become too difficult. In this book, too, she repeatedly describes scenes that warm the heart and make us smile. Jacob gently breaks down the walls Petula has built around herself, breaks the paralysis she and her parents have been trapped in since Maxine’s death, and otherwise helps everyone in the therapy group to overcome their trauma. When it turns out he wasn’t being honest, Petula must make a decision: is she ready to forgive Jacob and give her feelings for him a chance? (from 14)
Susin Nielsen: Optimists die earlier. Translated from the English by Anja Herre. Urachhaus, 2021. 256 pages, 18 euros.