Our book group choice for January 2025 is Eurotrash by Christian Kracht. Christian Kracht’s Eurotrash is a darkly comic and unsettling novel that follows a middle-aged man and his elderly mother as they embark on a bizarre road trip through Switzerland.
Haunted by their family’s dark past – their wealth built on the foundations of Nazi collaboration – and struggling with their own personal demons, the pair’s journey is one of both hilarity and despair. They attempt to give away their immense fortune to strangers, a quest that proves surprisingly difficult and leads to a series of absurd encounters.
Kracht’s prose is sharp and witty, capturing the absurdity of their situation while delving into deeper themes of guilt, memory, and the legacy of history. Eurotrash is a poignant exploration of familial relationships and the complexities of confronting the past, all set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing Europe.
Discussion Questions
- Is the narrator reliable?
- Which of the central themes of the book did you find most resonant? How well did the author deliver them?
- Do you think the mother or son ever reveal their true selves?
- What did you think of the author’s writing style?
- What did you make of the central characters: did you find the mother and son revolting? Peculiar? Something else?
- What did you make of the book’s title?
- None of the characters seem to attach much value on the concept of family. Why is this? And how does it impact their perspectives and attitudes towards the world?
- What, if anything, is the author saying about capitalism?
- To whom would you recommend this? Why?
Individual Ratings
Anthony's Rating 
DKB's Rating
EmmaT's Rating
Hayley's Rating
Baljit's Rating
Catherine's Rating
Sue's Rating