In Memoirs of a Polar Bear, translated from German by Susan Bernofsky, Tawada traces the lives of three generations of polar bears. The grandmother finds literary fame in the Soviet Union before seeking refuge in the West, her daughter Tosca dazzles in an East German circus, and her grandson Knut grows up under the public eye in the Berlin Zoo. Through their stories, Tawada explores themes of displacement, identity, and belonging with remarkable depth and nuance. 

With its abstract portrayal of her relationship with her trainer, Tosca's section presents the novel’s greatest challenge. Yet, it enriches the narrative’s exploration of connection and consciousness. By the time we reach Knut—based on the real-life Berlin Zoo bear—the novel’s experimental style resolves into something profoundly moving. Tawada’s ability to illuminate universal themes through the eyes of her polar bear protagonists results in a work that is both thought-provoking and deeply human. 🐻‍❄🎪