Dana Vowinckel, a talented new voice in fiction, recently published her first novel, Misophonia. Linehan’s treatment of cultural diaspora and familial discord is intimate, striking and authentic, drawing readers deeply into the story. Set against the backdrop of Berlin, Jerusalem, and Chicago, the story follows a teenage girl named Margarita as she navigates the complexities of identity during a transformative summer.
The story opens as Margarita travels with her mother to her father’s birthplace in Israel. As they journey, the book switches back and forth between Margarita’s and Avi’s past, giving details about both Margarita and her father, Avi’s lives. Now, Avi comes to terms with the emotional chasm his daughter’s death created. This dual perspective nurtures a layered and tender imagining of family connections scattered by distance and the passing of time.
Dana Vowinckel, 27, grew up splitting her time between Chicago and Berlin in an American-Jewish-German family. Her colorful professional and cultural background goes a long way in creating that immersive reading experience, especially in her writing for “Misophonia. Vowinckel received training in linguistics and literature at some of the most well-respected institutions in Europe based in Berlin, Toulouse, and Cambridge. This profound academic background provides her storytelling an unfathomable depth to explore such notable themes with unearthly profundity.
Second novel “Misophonia” quickly received a wave of critical praise upon its recent publication in Germany, winning the Mara Cassens Prize for the best German debut novel. Vowinckel was awarded the literature prize of the Association of Arts and Culture of the German Economy. The novel was subsequently nominated for the Leipzig Book Fair Prize, awarded for exceptional new works published in German.
Vowinckel’s visit to New York included events at Germany’s Consulate General and Deutsches Haus at New York University, where she shared insights about her work and its themes.
The book explores in detail what it was to be Jewish and German. In doing so, it brings to life the difficulties of reconciling moments of personal ambition and emotional expression with broader realities of global crisis. Vowinckel states, “Language is at the core of the book, not identity,” highlighting her focus on the linguistic elements that shape her characters’ experiences.
“Misophonia” portrays the clunky, at times cute, but ultimately endearing rhythms of a family wrenched through time and space. The story highlights the journeys of Margarita and Avi. Readers can witness their journey and conflict develop as they learn and grow over the course of the narrative.
In a short video, Vowinckel reflects on her creative process. She discovers that if she gives her main character a specific “job description,” it automatically creates a beat inside her writing. This focus on character development contributes a great deal to Margarita’s inner life and overall narrative arc.
