Lilli Tollkien in Heilbronn: Reading from Supporting the Sky with Both Hands
Date and Time
Location
Price
About this Event
Mood
Venue Type
A reading about vulnerability, self-assertion, and the power of storytelling
With Supporting the Sky with Both Hands, Lilli Tollkien invites you to a literary encounter that goes far beyond a classical reading. Her debut novel tells of Lale's childhood in Berlin in the 1980s, of a world between political utopia, freedom, and neglect – and the search for stability amidst a state of emergency. The event at the Literature House Heilbronn takes place in cooperation with SWR and will be recorded for SWR Kultur Lesenswert. ([literaturhaus.heilbronn.de](https://literaturhaus.heilbronn.de/aktuelles/details/artikel/mit-beiden-haenden-den-himmel-stuetzen.html?utm_source=openai))
A debut with literary impact
Lilli Tollkien combines autobiographically grounded experience with clear, poetic language. Her novel was published in spring by Aufbau and has been received by critics as compelling, linguistically strong, and formally outstanding; additionally, the debut was on the longlist for the German Book Prize 2026 and is among the finalists for the ZDF-aspekte-Literature Prize 2026. This is contemporary literature with ambition: a text about crossing borders, resilience, and the fragile idea of family. ([aufbau-verlage.de](https://www.aufbau-verlage.de/aufbau/im-gespraech/lilli-tollkien-mit-beiden-haenden-den-himmel-stuetzen?utm_source=openai))
Reading atmosphere at the Literature House Heilbronn
The Literature House at Trappensee is considered an idyllic, cultured place for literary encounters. The journey is well-prepared; due to the parking situation, traveling by public transport is explicitly recommended for the Trappensee area. This creates exactly the concentrated reading atmosphere in which voice, text, and resonance come particularly close together. ([literaturhaus.heilbronn.de](https://literaturhaus.heilbronn.de/anfahrt.html?utm_source=openai))
Moderation, conversation, and cultural context
The event will be moderated by Theresa Hübner. This promises an evening not only of a pure novel presentation but also of a literary conversation about origins, memory, language, and self-empowerment. For visitors, an evening is created that connects the author encounter with cultural depth and makes the reading an experienceable living format. ([literaturhaus.heilbronn.de](https://literaturhaus.heilbronn.de/aktuelles/details/artikel/mit-beiden-haenden-den-himmel-stuetzen.html?utm_source=openai))
What visitors can expect
An intense literary evening with reading, conversation, and a precisely observed debut voice is expected. Those interested in contemporary German-language literature, psychological narratives, and strong linguistic quality will experience an evening with emotional and intellectual reverberation here. Listening to Lilli Tollkien's novel live encounters a text that resonates long after – and sharpens the view of childhood, violence, and self-assertion. ([literaturhaus.heilbronn.de](https://literaturhaus.heilbronn.de/aktuelles/details/artikel/mit-beiden-haenden-den-himmel-stuetzen.html?utm_source=openai))
In the end, it is an evening that touches, challenges, and convinces literarily. The reading at the Literature House Heilbronn is worthwhile for all who want to experience contemporary literature not only through reading but also in the space, in the voice, and in shared listening. ([literaturhaus.heilbronn.de](https://literaturhaus.heilbronn.de/aktuelles/details/artikel/mit-beiden-haenden-den-himmel-stuetzen.html?utm_source=openai))
Official channels of Lilli Tollkien:
- Instagram: No official profile found
- Facebook: No official profile found
- Website: https://www.aufbau-verlage.de/autor-in/lilli-tollkien
- Publisher: https://www.aufbau-verlage.de/aufbau/mit-beiden-haenden-den-himmel-stutzen/978-3-351-04284-4
