789. The Afternoon of a Writer

The Afternoon of a Writer
Peter Handke
1987
Around 90 pages

This will be a relatable story to any aspiring artist, as Handke spends 90 pages chronicling the afternoon of a writer crippled by writer's block. 

Handke does very well in this space, with self-sabotaging characters battling some deep internal struggle. And he always keeps it short and sweet, which is appreciated. Anybody who has experienced creative roadblocks should click with this story, and maybe find some inspiration there as well.

Unfortunately, this is the last Handke on the List. He's definitely an author I want to revisit, once I have shuffled off this mortal coil. I mean, ahem, finish the List.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

In 1973, he won the Georg Büchner Prize, the most important literary prize for German-language literature, but in 1999, as a sign of protest against the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, Handke returned the prize money to the German Academy for Language and Literature.

UP NEXT: The Radiant Way by Margaret Drabble