The Journey by Christina Berta

Set in Brussels, Belgium, The Journey tells the story of ten people from all walks of life, each with their own problems. A single event unites them and forces them to think about their predicaments. Faced with the choice of maintaining the status quo or recounting their innermost thoughts for everyone to scrutinize, what will they decide to do? The characters include a Turkish snack bar owner looking for a purpose in life; a hard-up pensioner; a European Commission trainee; a factory employee suffering from health problems; a Polish immigrant who works as a cleaning lady; a Thai cook; a businesswoman trying to balance work and family; a juvenile who wants to end his life of crime; a retired security guard; and a rollerblade enthusiast whose life is turned upside down by tragedy.