Didi Drobna reveals the burden of two worlds in Ostblockherz

Didi Drobna reveals the burden of two worlds in Ostblockherz

Didi Drobna, a talented author from Liesing, devotes her autobiographical novel “Eastern Block Heart” to the inalienable connections between two worlds – the East and the West. The story is not only a look at the author's identity shaped by migration, but also reflects the complex relationship between her origins and her life in Vienna. [My district reports that...]

Drobna was born in Bratislava, the eldest child of Slovak emigrants, exactly one year before the fall of the Iron Curtain. She grew up mostly in the federal capital, where as a child she often had to take on the role of interpreter. This experience, marked by an Eastern European pronunciation, turned out to be lonely for her. In “Ostblockherz” the author addresses the difficulties that migrants from the Eastern Bloc countries experienced in the 1980s and 1990s, such as a lack of internet and bureaucratic hurdles, which were often despairing.

A look at the father-daughter relationship

A central element of the novel is the depiction of the relationship between Didi Drobna and her father. He was the one who used his body for the family, but there was always a certain emotional distance. The break between father and daughter only ended when he became seriously ill and Drobna translated for him in the hospital. This encounter gave her the opportunity to better understand his inner world and led to the healing of their relationship. The novel also offers a deep insight into the process of forgiveness and understanding.

“Ostblockherz” is not only a book about migration and identity, but also illuminates the personal journey of a woman who draws from two cultures and wants to process her experiences in literature. The novel was published by Piper Verlag, has 176 pages and costs 22 euros. [Perlen Taucher adds that...](https://www.perlen Taucher.de/buch/didi-drobna/ostblockherz.html)

The context of migration in literature

The theme of migration is not only found in Drobna's work. Recently, other writers have also addressed the challenges of arriving and living in exile. Usama Al Shahmani in particular addresses the experiences of refugees and the constant search for a place abroad in his book. This literature reflects a broad horizon of experience and can be viewed as an important window into various human destinies. Deutschlandfunk Kultur highlights that...

The examination of the parents' generation and the hurdles of migration shows how much the topic of identity and home shapes the literary landscape. The diversity of voices ranges from the personal stories of migrants to reflective reflections on racism and exclusion, which are often overshadowed by migration. With “Ostblockherz” Didi Drobna is helping to further strengthen these voices and make them visible.