Plot Summary

The Land of Green Plums

Herta Müller
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The Land of Green Plums

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1994

Book Brief

Herta Müller

The Land of Green Plums

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1994
Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Romania • 1980s

Publication Year

1994

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Land of Green Plums by Herta Müller, translated by Michael Hofmann, centers on the lives of four young ethnic Germans in Communist Romania, navigating the oppressive regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu. The protagonist, a young, unnamed female student, along with her friends, faces intense scrutiny from the secret police, leading to arrests and their eventual emigration to Germany in hopes of finding freedom. The book features themes of suicide, sexual exploitation, and state repression.

Dark

Unnerving

Melancholic

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

3.5

5,940 ratings

59%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

The Land of Green Plums by Herta Müller is a gripping exploration of life under a repressive regime, celebrated for its poetic language and vivid imagery. Reviewers commend Müller’s ability to convey deep emotional and political turmoil, though some find the narrative challenging due to its fragmented style. Nonetheless, it’s regarded as a powerful, thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Land of Green Plums?

Readers who appreciate Herta Müller’s The Land of Green Plums often enjoy introspective and poignant narratives set against oppressive political backdrops. Similar to readers of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and The Diary of Anne Frank, they value profound explorations of totalitarian regimes and personal resilience.

3.5

5,940 ratings

59%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Romania • 1980s

Publication Year

1994

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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