Between the lines: Maria Wolf

• What’s the longest or most unusual word you’ve used (in your texts) this week?

“Nacktmull” (“naked mole rat”). Surprisingly, people have been talking and writing about these strange little animals quite a lot recently. Is society perhaps fed up with the cult of beauty and ready to move on to more important values?

• Of all the languages you don’t speak, which one would you most like to learn and why?

Chinese, because it calls for a completely different way of thinking, which consequently means it opens up entirely new worlds. Also, trying to learn Chinese teaches us humility and respect for people from vastly different cultural backgrounds, who may have already spent several years in Germany but still can only barely speak German, let alone write it.

• What are you reading right now?

Max Frisch: his short stories, diaries, and other bits and pieces. Every couple of years I dive into his stories and novels to be reinvigorated by his keen take on existential questions.

• Beer or wine?

Wine. But I have been known to go through phases of beer drinking every now and then. 

• Beach holiday or city break?

Beaches, mountains, and Mother Nature as a contrast to my urban life. But there’s definitely something to be said for visiting friends and getting to know their city.

• Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate (plain) – it’s good anytime.