I enjoyed this book because even though the main character is an old lady, some of her struggles felt relatable to me. This little book revolves around Mathea, a very lonely elderly woman who strugles with an internal conflict: she desperately wants connection with others but is too afraid to initiate it. Mathea avoids real-life interactions, spending most of her time in solitude , at home knitting, watching TV, and reading obituaries. She fears people, yet also fears dying unnoticed, without leaving a mark. She craves even the smallest interaction, wearing a watch just in case someone asks for the time or stocking up on sugar in case a neighbor asks to borrow some. She longs to join community gatherings, bringing rolls and jam, but is paralyzed by the fear of judgment and uncertainty about how to act.

While I appreciated the book, I would have given it a higher rating if not for the writing style of and lack of a plot. Sometimes, it was hard to know when I was reading the present events and when it's Mathea's memories. I found the first half of the book more engaging than the second, as it became somewhat repetitive, and not much was happening. However, the very last pages broke my heart.

Nevertheless, I still recommend this book and “meeting” Mathea, who is an odd and quirky character. The book is quite short, and even though it explores topics like old age and loneliness, it has funny moments.

This is not my kind of read. That being said, it certainly demonstrates a very thoughtful crafting, but the interior monologue did not really draw me in. It's a bit too dark for me. The crying out to be noted and remembered is something one presumes many grapple with as the seeming paths not taken. Nonetheless, I just couldn't connect with the character and frankly the challenge of trying to deduce some of the seeming riddles just disconnected me further.
I tried, but as my recommender said at least it is a short read.

ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten
dass ich so traurig bin
ein Märchen aus uralten Zeiten
das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn

A bitter sweet, heartwarming, heartbreaking story that you just can't stop reading and you wish it went on. I loved this book.

Depresija u pisanom obliku.

İsminden kaynaklı olarak uzun zamandır merak ettiğim bir kitaptı Hızlandıkça Azalıyorum. Bana hayatı tüketerek yaşamayı anımsattığı için kitabın derdini anlamak istemiştim. Nihayet elime alıp okuyabildim ama aradığımı bulmayı başaramadım doğrusu. Sürekli olarak ölüm etrafında düşüncelerini şekillendiren bir karakteri okuyoruz. Hayat, ölüm, aile, zaman üzerinde dolanıp duran bir kitap. Bu konular hakkında okumayı genelde sevsem de kitap bana biraz dağınık geldi. Okurken depresif havası beni rahatsız etmedi ama karakteri takip etmesi yorucuydu. Bir de beklentilerim biraz daha farklıydı doğrusu. Ama sonuç olarak kötü bir kitaptı diyemem. Belki yanlış bir zamana denk getirdim belki de ne zaman okuram okuyayım aynı düşüncelere sahip olacaktım. O yüzden başkasına tavsiye etme konusunda kesin konuşamıyorum.