Old varieties

A novel about how easy it is to lose control of your life and how difficult it is to get it back.

Sally and Liss—two women who could not be more different. Sally is about to take her final exams, but the only thing she longs for is peace. Peace from everyone and everything—from unsolicited advice, suggestions, restrictive rules and nosy adults… And so she decides to run away. The quiet Liss lives alone on a farm among fields and vineyards, looking after the vast estate.

Right from their first meeting, Sally discovers that Liss is different from other adults—she doesn’t force her to do anything, doesn’t judge her, and doesn't ask suspicious questions. Liss offers Sally a place to stay for the night, and one night on the farm turns into an indefinite stay. The girl helps Liss with the farm and, among the old pear trees and beehives, discovers the magic of the ordinary. However, her host is not nearly as strong as she seems, and perhaps it won't be Sally who needs saving in the end.

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A beautiful book, where the language adapts to the flow of the plot and the emotions of the characters. At every moment, the reader almost physically feels their sadness and anger. The rhythm and style of the narrative correspond precisely to the situations the characters are experiencing. The reader feels as if they are part of life on the farm…
— Leseschatz.com

In a quiet and light tone, the enchanting novel Old Varieties tells the fragile story of a young woman and an older woman who, through trial and error, build a living space together that they could call home.
— Süddeutsche Zeitung

In his new book, Ewald Arenz surprises as an author who can empathise well with his characters, with a feel for subtle psychological nuances. The turmoil in the souls of both women is contrasted with the beautiful description of the surrounding landscape, which lends the book a poetic and harrowing touch of romanticism.
— Nordbayern.de