THE SHADOW OF THE FLEA
THE FLEA'S SHADOW
The Astonishing Career of a Trifle
Short Description:
A sentence. A suspicion. A shadow.
When the esteemed psychiatrist Dr. Jakob Reuter hears the seemingly harmless sentence "Do what you think is right" from his wife one morning, he has no idea that this marks the astonishing career of a trifle.
With subtle humor, keen observation, and loving irony, Paul Schattenberg tells of misunderstandings, hurt feelings, suspicions, and the human tendency to turn small things into big stories.
A novel about the art of interpretation – and when it would be better to stop.
Detailed Description:
Sometimes, a single sentence is enough to set an entire world in motion.
Dr. Jakob Reuter is a psychiatrist, author, and expert in interpersonal communication. Professionally, he explains to his patients how conflicts arise, how misunderstandings grow, and why people often hear more than what is actually said.
But when his wife Anna casually says one morning:
“"Do what you think is right."”
Jakob himself begins to doubt.
Was it approval?
Irony?
Disappointment?
Or simply just a sentence?
As Jakob tries to decipher the supposed meaning behind the words, a small uncertainty slowly grows into an ever larger shadow. Friends, colleagues, and acquaintances contribute their part until a harmless remark turns into a story that has long developed a life of its own.
By his side is the wise Else Sommer, who repeatedly asks him the same question:
“"Perhaps it was just a sentence?"”
With subtle satire, warm humor, and psychological depth, The Flea's Shadow tells of our longing for certainty, of the stories we tell ourselves, and of humanity's astonishing ability to make a mountain out of a molehill.
A novel about perception, reality, and the art of distinguishing between the two.
About the Author:
Paul Schattenberg
Paul Schattenberg writes about life's great misunderstandings.
With a keen eye for human peculiarities, subtle humor, and a great deal of insight into human nature, he dedicates himself to the small moments from which the biggest stories often arise.
In his novels, he is less interested in spectacular events than in the mechanisms behind them: misunderstandings, expectations, grievances, hopes, and the often surprising ways in which people create reality.
The Flea's Shadow – The Astonishing Career of a Trifle is his literary debut and at the same time a loving social satire about the art of giving things meaning.
Greeting from the Publisher:
JedesSeiteEinAbenteuer Publishing House
Some books entertain.
Some books make us think.
And some manage both simultaneously.
When we first read the manuscript for The Flea's Shadow, we not only had to smile but also caught ourselves multiple times.
Because this book tells of something we all know: of small misunderstandings, great assumptions, and the astonishing stories that can arise from them.
With subtle irony, great humanity, and remarkable powers of observation, Paul Schattenberg holds up a mirror to us – without lecturing and without judging.
We are delighted to publish this special work on JedesSeiteEinAbenteuer in early 2027 and warmly welcome Paul Schattenberg to our circle of authors.
We wish you great pleasure in reading.
Your team at
JedesSeiteEinAbenteuer
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