Reading and discussion with Son Lewandowski from her debut novel *Routines* / Moderator: Anna Sennefelder

Son Lewandowski’s debut novel revolves around the drama surrounding young girls’ careers as gymnasts.
Reading in the gym at St. Ursula High School. Perhaps many impressive life stories begin with a simple question, such as this one: “Who among you can do a cartwheel?” In her debut novel, *Die Routinen*, Son Lewandowski shows how , starting with this question, the drama surrounding the gymnastics careers of young girlsunfolds. There’s the immense pressure in the gym, between the mats, and the scrutinizing glances. There is the ability to summon muscle strength, poise, and the utmost concentration at the decisive moment. But there is also mania, isolation, and absurdity. Above all, Lewandowski succeeds in capturing the radical beauty of this sport anew time and again. For a top-level gymnastics performance is so fleeting, yet demands so much preparation, repetition, pain, and falls. Lewandowski approaches this gymnastics world —which seems so closed off to outsiders— from many angles at once. She also dissects the toxic relationship between coaches and young gymnasts, creating a rare, special insight into a world of its own—one we can all take flight into, whether or not we’re fans of the parallel bars and balance beam. Grab a gymnastics mat and dive into the “routines” at the perfect location—the gym at St. Ursula High School.
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