The Unconsoled 无可慰藉
The famous pianist Ryder came to a small town in Europe to give a performance. During his four-day stay in this town, absurd things happened one after another, which made me feel like stuck in an endless dream. For example, Ryder was expected to give a speech in his night robe. He also did not recognize his wife's father Gustav and regarded him merely as a stranger. However, through all these seemingly ridiculous and bizzare events, the writer gradually reveals the past of Ryder.
As soon as Ryder arrived in this small town, people started to seek his assistance in various affairs. This inevitably interrupted his already tight schedule, annoying him a lot. It seemed that all people tried to trouble Ryder with their problems. They only wanted to fulfill their own desires and never considered how Ryder would feel. Apart from these infuriating errands, Ryder also had to manage the relationship with his wife Sophie and his son Boris. They were unable to communicate effectively, and often ended up in quarrel. The inability to communicate not only haunted this family, but all over the town. The hotel manager Hoffman was never accepted by his wife who had a fine artistic taste. Hoffman's son Stephan was never recognized by his parents due to his lack of talent in piano. The conductor Brodsky never won his ex-wife's heart again. However, there are hints in the book that suggest people once enjoyed a happy life in this town before. It seemed that modernity and technology, which were supposed to make communication more convenient, made relationships more distant instead. There existed an invisible wall between people's hearts.
Everyone was depending on Ryder and trying to seek consolation from him. However, Ryder himself also needed consolation that he never received. Everyone was struggling to heal their wounds. In the end, everyone was left unconsoled.
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