Zoo Station
The Story of Christiane F.
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4.5 • 51 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
This incredible autobiography of Christiane F. provides a vivid portrait of teen friendship, drug abuse, and alienation in and around Berlin's notorious Zoo Station. Christiane's rapid descent into heroin abuse and prostitution is shocking, but the boredom, longing for acceptance, thrilling risks, and even her musical obsessions are familiar to everyone. Previously published in Germany and the US to critical acclaim, Zest's new translation includes original photographs of Christiane and her friends.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A powerful memoir first published 35 years ago in Germany (a U.S. edition and film adaptation soon followed) shows no sign of tarnish in Cartwright's mesmerizing and urgent new translation. The story of Christiane F., a heroin-addicted teenager living in 1970s Berlin, begins with her family's move from the country to a fractured and confusing existence in the Berlin projects. Christiane's bleak circumstances (her father is physically abusive, her mother permissive and absent, her teachers cold and uncaring) lead the 12-year-old to experiment with drugs. She begins with pot and alcohol rapidly moving on to pills, acid, and finally heroin finding excitement and intense companionship with a group of David Bowie worshipping teenagers who populate the city's underground club scene. Eventually, Christiane resorts to working alongside her boyfriend as a prostitute at the Bahnhof Zoo train station to support her addiction.Chapters written from the perspective of Christiane's mother and other adult figures can sometimes disrupt the hypnotic effect of Christiane's narrative, but they also offer broader insight into a vulnerable population under the influence of a devastating new drug. Christiane's uninhibited voice crackles with cynicism over the hypocrisy and arbitrary rules she observes around her ("I hated it when people talked like they also wanted to save me. I got real marriage proposals. And all the while they knew full well that they were only taking advantage of our misery, the misery of the addicts, to satisfy their own desires"), as she documents the choices that bring her further into destitution and despair. Even in moments of utter depravity, Christiane remains sympathetic and wise, with a deeply embedded sense of morality. Although Christiane's message to readers is, without a doubt, "Do not follow me," she synthesizes moments of beauty and joy alongside those of horror, resulting in a deeply observant look at the search for love and meaning amid chaos. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
Heart wrenching
Love the way they depict Christian’s struggle growing up with addiction ….extremely touching and realistic. One of a kind story.
Zoo Station is an incredible read, genuinely.
This book is a literal masterpiece. I watched the movie ‘Christiane F.’ Which heavily influenced me to read the book to understand her story on a deeper level. The movie genuinely did not do this book justice. Don’t get me wrong; the movie is FANTASTIC, but there were so many things that were stated in the book that were never brought up in the film. I can honestly say that the book was a million times better than the film. You see so much more depth between the mother and Christiane in the book rather than the film. In the film, when the mother finds out about her heroin addiction; she is never shown or really spoken of again. Yet in the book, the mother tries over and over to help her daughter.
This book is so beautiful and I’m so glad I bought it. It’s definitely worth a read and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about Christiane’s story, it’s a heartbreaking one but it’s beautiful. I love this book.
Amazing
This book captured truly how the drug scene really is. She captured the honeymoon stage and then right when your life starts to deteriorate. This book really gives you a new perspective to addiction. Definitely one of the best books I have read.