22 Bahnen [literally: 22 Lengths] is the first novel by Caroline Wahl. It has not been translated into English (yet).
Finished on: 25.9.2024

Plot:
Tilda is starting to work on her Master’s thesis in mathematics, and in a fair world, this would be everything she’d focus on. But instead she also has to take care of her 11 year old sister Ida, and, more or less, their alcoholic mother. That means working at a supermarket to keep them all afloat financially. The only time that Tilda really has to herself is when she goes swimming, 22 lengths every day. Then Viktor shows up at the pool, and brings back painful memories of his brother for Tilda, but also his own kind of fascination.

22 Bahnen is a nice, quick read that touches on some emotional topics without asking too much of its reader, making it a perfect lazy Sunday read.

Wahl is a very young author and this is her debut novel. Her characters are also rather young, and Wahl has a good hand for bringing them, and their language to life in a way that feels natural. Capturing youth jargon isn’t easy, but it feels true and unforced here, at least to someone like me who is not actually part of “the youth” anymore.

Tilda is a very nice character, though maybe not the most original one. The same goes for Ida and Viktor – I feel like we have seen versions of them in many other works. But that is okay because they still work, and Wahl lets them come together in engaging ways. What did feel fresher was Tilda’s very conscious decision to follow her dreams despite the fact that Ida is still not in a better environment. I had half expected them to find a way to take Ida with her.

There are some heavy issues like Tilda’s mother’s alcoholism (which I thought was handled in a realistic way) or the fate of Viktor’s family. But those issues never actually feel all that heavy, which is both an advantage for the Sunday-readiness of the book and a flaw when it comes to its emotional impact. Those things should feel heavier than they do.

Nevertheless, 22 Bahnen is a nice read that I blazed through easily and with enjoyment. It didn’t capture me much beyond finishing it, but I can see myself picking up more of Wahl’s writing in the future.

Summarizing: if you want something quick and engaging, this is for you.