Good Girl, Aria Aber
A girl can get in almost anywhere, even if she can’t get out.
An extraordinary debut about the daughter of Afghan refugees growing up between the silverfish-infested public housing of Berlin and the drug-fuelled nightclubs of its underground, Good Girl is a novel charged with soul and defiance. Although the novel often uses quite elaborate vocabulary and terminology, making it a slower read at times, Good Girl remains a remarkable portrait of youth, desire and shame.
Aria Aber explores, with unflinching honesty, how deep the roots of shame can grow, and the heartache that comes from feeling no true sense of home. It’s an ode to those feeling exhausted, searching for a sense of belonging whilst simultaneously running from letting anyone close enough to you. Set in the heart of Berlin, the novel both resents the city and struggles to let go of it. It navigates what it means to be an immigrant in Berlin post-1989, and the racial tensions that frequently catapult themselves to the surface, leaving Nila claiming herself as Greek and constantly chasing the ecstasy of depersonalisation. Nila is not a character you will necessarily like, but you will almost always be rooting for her.
Good Girl is also a story of growing up and the need for companionship and desire – filled with love, but never a simple kind. Nila is fuelled by a desperation to feel less, yet conflicted by her emotions for her family, lovers, Berlin, ultimately harming all aspects of herself in the process. Aber explores the wildness of youth – a craving for passion and adrenaline against the backdrop of violence and her family’s need for her to uphold their family honour. Nila’s recurring cycles of toxic love and amphetamines highlight how damaging the process of setting yourself free can be.
A truly masterful work of prose, Good Girl amplifies the voice of a young woman who dreams of leading the life of an artist. We frequently see the world through her camera lens, and how photography can both distort and highlight it. Her journey of self-discovery as an individual and an artist is portrayed with such precision, with emotions seeping into the pages. Loneliness runs deep through the veins of this novel, leaving an ever-haunting tone that somehow still feels so desperately alive.
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