Der Zementgarten

The narrative feels intensely personal and unsettling. I wonder if this perspective was planned from the start or if it evolved during writing.

The way the kids navigate moral boundaries made me question what I would do in their place. Was that discomfort intentional or a reflection of real innocence lost?

The claustrophobic environment seems almost like a character itself. I'm curious whether the author envisioned this atmosphere from the beginning or developed it as the story progressed.