High Life and Desperate Dreams in the Seventeen Floors
Life aspirations found on the 18th story
By Solveig Bach (with a dash of spice)
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Meet Wanda, Ming, Esther, and Aylin's mom, dwellers in the same swanky high-rise. The dads don't show up much, but Wanda ain't ready to settle for that life. She's got acting dreams and a kid to feed, so she's hustling even if she ain't got a degree.
Her uncle's apartment in East Berlin's high-rise feels like a rat trap with no escape, and Wanda's starting to think life's got her duped. But she's not giving up. Life's gotta be more than just scraping by on the seventeenth floor with mold, food smells, and bills piling high.
And just when she's about to give up, her agent rings. There's a film role up for grabs. All her hard work could pay off. She's so close, she can almost taste it. But then, Karlie, her kiddo, gets sick, and Wanda's stuck in a race against time to make it to the meeting with the producer, all while dealing with the guilt every single parent knows too well.
Everything's on the Line
The fancy bar with the gourmet nosh feels like a hallucination, just like the fevers that plague little Karlie on that shabby couch. Instead of film shoots and premieres, Wanda spends her time in the high-rise courtyard with other single moms who band together for support, even if they ain't got much in common.
When Karlie lands in the hospital with meningitis, dreams of the big screen fade away. All that remains is worry over her little one. Wanda loses the role, but the contact with the studly Adam Ezra stays. A new opportunity knocked, and this time, Wanda's determined to make it count.
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the high-rise hang in the balance. Whether Wanda and Karlie can break free of the cycle and find a better life remains to be seen. But Sara Gmür ain't in the business of handing out easy endings.
Rough and Ready
Born in Switzerland and raised on rap, Gmür's novels show a raw, gritty side of Berlin life that blends perfectly with the scripts of a promising Netflix series. Her characters are as real as they come, and the storyline hits close to home for any single parent hustling to make ends meet.
From Paris-Bar to film shoots in gentrified neighborhoods, Gmüer masterfully portrays the stark contrast between wealth and hardship in Berlin. The high-rise women's clique, including Wanda, Ming, Esther, and Aylin's mom, struggle to survive in a precarious world. Ambition and self-interest coexist with solidarity as they navigate the waters of poverty and motherhood.
Gmür's novel reads like a symphony of struggle and hope, offering insights into the lives of single mothers and the challenges they face. The rough edges of Berlin's socio-economic landscape intertwine with the glitzy world of Hollywood, creating a complex tapestry of grit and glamour.
- Poverty
- Mothers
- Berlin
- Literature
Additional Insight:Since the initial publication of the article, "Eighteenth Floor" has been met with critical acclaim for its raw and authentic portrayal of single motherhood in contemporary Berlin. Its themes of poverty, ambition, and the struggles of survival have resonated with readers, who praise the novel for its captivating narrative and deeply relatable protagonist.
- Wanda, in her pursuit of acting dreams, follows the community policy that encourages hustle and personal-growth, despite lacking a degree.
- Despite the luxury lifestyle of the high-rise, Wanda yearns for a change, delving deeper into food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and relationships within the high-rise community to find a sense of belonging.
- As fashion-and-beauty enthusiasts, some residents of the high-rise indulge in shopping for the latest trends, contending with the affordability concerns that come with poverty.
- In the brave new world of the high-rise, Wanda seeks refuge amongst single mothers, finding solace in and building relationships through education-and-self-development sessions.
- Awash with the vibrant culture of Berlin, Wanda's career-development takes a turn towards the daily care of her sick child, demonstrating the weight of pet care responsibilities for single parents.
- As Wanda navigates the tumultuous weather conditions in Berlin, she struggles to find balance between her aspirations and her motherly duties, tested by the challenges of single parenthood.
- In the midst of her difficulties, Wanda finds a source of inspiration in Sara Gmür's literature, which often tackles themes of poverty, smashing the glamorous facade of the high-life and reminding readers of the realities faced by single parents everywhere.
