In her novel *Tēvs*, Inga Žolude reconstructed the memories of her father, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s, and interwove them with the history of *Homo sovieticus* and the traumas of the 20th century.
The novel invited readers to draw parallels between Soviet and East German experiences of socialisation, and encouraged reflection on how political systems, family histories and social narratives shape and influence our memory.
In the discussion that followed, questions from the audience were answered and participants discussed memory, identity and how to deal with the past.
We would like to thank all participants for their interest, as well as the interpreters for their linguistic support and assistance during the event.
The event was organised in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Riga.