In the organizer's words:

Author reading in the COBRA canteen

Jens Kastner - "Fat Kois"
On 22.01.2026 | Free admission

Asia journalist Jens Kastner reads from his novel " Fette Kois: Wie ein deutscher Suchtkranker sich neu erfindet in Taiwan " - a story about culture shock, new beginnings and self-discovery.

About the book

Dürer, real name Olaf Gerdes, is a classic anti-hero: childhood trauma, drug addiction and little prospect of a better future. One night in a Berlin techno club changes everything: two young Taiwanese women give him the idea of going to Taiwan to teach English.
Far away from his old life, Dürer ventures a new start: from problem case to English teacher in kindergarten, and later even into journalism.

An exciting novel that combines personal destinies with authentic insights into Taiwan - told by an author who worked as a journalist in Asia for 15 years and published articles for the Financial Times, Nikkei Asia, Al Jazeera and the South China Morning Post, among others.

"An unusual story, full of exciting information about Taiwan and authentically told."
- Andreas Landwehr, former head of the Beijing office of dpa

Info at a glance

📅 Date: 22.01.2026
📍 Location: COBRA canteen, Solingen
🎟 Admission: free of charge