Review: `A change of means of transport is permitted only with the official authorization of the responsible organs of the GDR'
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 26, 2014
Author Michael Califra's identity is as much a mystery as the story he writes. An attempt to find information about him is a fruitless search, unless he happens to be a producer of films. But while knowing some background of an author serves the inquiring mind, it in no way diminishes the impact of reading this excellent book that further explores the schism between the East and the West Germany divided for so long by a near impenetrable wall - and the mystery of life on both sides of that Berlin Wall.Califra opens his book in that transitional period of time when the Berlin Wall divided not only the East form the West Berlin but also altered the manner in which people thought and worked and lived in a city divided by a hostile zone. In a very virtual experience setting we meet US expatriate Richard who works in the computer industry marketing computer software for a small American firm and his friends Katerina who despite her family's preoccupation in the death industry of funeral direction is a lively hedonistic girl, Kurt a somewhat reluctant theology student (studying for the priesthood is at least better than working a real job), and Klaus - a border guard from East Germany who continues to have problems with the West German way of life and philosophy and longs to return to East Germany - a desire thwarted by the current friction of transitioning between the East and the West.  But Richard, our main narrator, is the key to resolve Klaus' dilemma: Richard choreographs Klaus' re-entry into East Germany, a favor that leads to Richard's encounter with a young nurse, Traudi, and a relationship begins to build, separated by the presence of the divisional Wall. But the year is 1989 and the Berlin Wall falls, the world rejoices, Germany is reunified, but what appeared to be a closure to the bonding of Traudi and Richard falls victim to circumstances beyond expectations.Rarely has an author been able to bring such a sense of immediacy to that critical period in history as Michael Califra accomplishes in this book. It is about fact but fact embroidered by the impact of human lives and loves so long in the shadow of that cruel Wall. This is a story that pleads to become a film. Come out of hiding, Michael Califra! Grady Harp, May 14