It is a novel about digital communication, self-realization and art. Martina Hefter's "Hey good morning, how are you?" is on the shortlist for the German Book Prize, which will be awarded on October 14. The 59-year-old author lives in Leipzig and the novel has autofictional traits.
Hefter - who is also a poet and performer - has created an artistic work that is as contemporary as it is poetic. It tells the story of Juno, an artist in her mid-fifties who lives in Leipzig with her seriously ill husband Jupiter, a writer. Jupiter has multiple sclerosis and cannot leave the apartment without Juno's help.
From writing to digital communication
Juno escapes from her everyday life by dancing - or on the internet. There she chats with so-called love scammers: These are internet scammers who use fake profiles to contact people looking for love and exploit them financially.
Juno uses these chats as a distraction when she can't sleep at night. And tests how much nonsense she can fantasize about until the scammers stop writing to her. After convicting one particular love cheat, Juno starts chatting with him again without any obligation. His name is Benu, he is much younger than her and lives in Nigeria. The two chat about their everyday lives and make small talk.
The way Hefter integrates digital communication into her text is authentic and often funny. The communication between the two unequal interlocutors reads like this, for example: ""Do you believe in God? I believe in him." "I used to, but not any more. I believe in space. I'd like to be an astrophysicist." "Lol." Red-exploding-star emoji. Then Benu sent another GIF. Jerry, the mouse from "Tom and Jerry", bent over laughing. Juno didn't know if it was meant ironically."
It's about ageing, colonialism and love
Astronomical references run through the text. Not just in terms of the names of the protagonists. Juno, for example, repeatedly refers to the stars and is also influenced by Lars von Trier's end-time film "Melancholia", in which a planet hits the earth.
It is also about ageing, colonialism and love. Hefter talks about these major themes laconically and delicately. With "Hey good morning, how are you?", she has succeeded in creating a work that is entertaining to read but also resonates.
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