Stromaufwärts: Aus einem Frauenleben

In this quietly vivid memoir, a young girl recounts life in her parents' cramped shop, where the scent of candles, soap and brushes mingles with the excitement of Christmas deliveries. The narrator describes the ritual of unboxing massive packages, the cracked sweets and broken figurines that become treasured snacks, and the way her brother joins in the small, imagined games. The narrative captures the tenderness and tension of childhood, from a careless knife wound to a mother's swift discipline, illustrating the fragile balance of love and fear in a modest household.

When the family moves to a new home, the siblings discover a narrow wooden bridge over a babbling stream and a hidden patch of fire lilies whose fragrant, cinnamon‑colored blossoms open and close with the day. This simple adventure opens a world of wonder beyond the shop’s walls, hinting at the narrator’s growing sense of possibility and the quiet strength that will guide her later years.