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Springtime for Germany
Non-fiction
- GenresTravelGermanyNonfiction
305 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 13, 2011
I love travel writing. I love Germany. How could I resist this one?
I wish I had resisted it. It started off well with promise but soon descended into something that is more about the average Brit's (uninformed) attitude towards Germany and the Germans. It boiled down to: it's a big place, they like to get naked and they started two world wars. Sigh. zzzzz.
I wish I had resisted it. It started off well with promise but soon descended into something that is more about the average Brit's (uninformed) attitude towards Germany and the Germans. It boiled down to: it's a big place, they like to get naked and they started two world wars. Sigh. zzzzz.
March 16, 2019
The whole "Manny" business was annoying as hell.
There were various mistakes in the German and some factual howlers. Heidelberg (and Sandhausen) is definitely not "on the edge of the Black Forest".
And ultimately, are we supposed to be flattered that the author learned to, sort of, love Germany? He just seemed a bit too impressed with his own ability to find something to like in a country that doesn't have a glamourous reputation.
ETA: Another thing that irritated me was the author incessantly ascribing everything the Germans do/think/eat to their Protestantism, despite the fact that swathes of the country are Catholic.
There were various mistakes in the German and some factual howlers. Heidelberg (and Sandhausen) is definitely not "on the edge of the Black Forest".
And ultimately, are we supposed to be flattered that the author learned to, sort of, love Germany? He just seemed a bit too impressed with his own ability to find something to like in a country that doesn't have a glamourous reputation.
ETA: Another thing that irritated me was the author incessantly ascribing everything the Germans do/think/eat to their Protestantism, despite the fact that swathes of the country are Catholic.
May 18, 2010
"Springtime for Germany: Or How I Learned to Love Lederhosen" -Ben Donald (2007)
Although I initially had a difficult time getting into this book, after the first few chapters, I was hooked. Not in a page-turning, can't-set-it-down sort of way, but just in the fact that I was learning new and interesting things in every page.
Truth be told, the narratives about the author's personal life and his conversations with his "travel agent" were a bit boring, and I admit I skimmed those parts a bit. But I read this book while I was in Germany - it was given to me when I arrived by the person I was visiting - which made it that much more fun. Certainly there were parts of the book I couldn't identify with, as a two-week stay in Germany doesn't really allow for a visitor to go all over the country, but the parts that did pertain to my experiences did ring somewhat true. It was especially fun to play "what did you learn about Germany today?" with my host, citing new facts I learned each day. I also experienced quite a few things (seeing an FKK bathhouse, After Eight ice cream, drinking Kölsch, et cetera) and then was pleased to read about these things later on in the book.
Overall, it could have been more interesting, but I can't say I didn't learn a lot about Germany. And it definitely made me realize that while Germany isn't necessarily a "dream destination" for a lot of people in America, a large part of our cultural heritage (the Christmas tree and nutcrackers, fairytales) exist because of the Germans. Das ist gut, ja?
Began: May 2009
Ended: May 2009
Pages: 305
Although I initially had a difficult time getting into this book, after the first few chapters, I was hooked. Not in a page-turning, can't-set-it-down sort of way, but just in the fact that I was learning new and interesting things in every page.
Truth be told, the narratives about the author's personal life and his conversations with his "travel agent" were a bit boring, and I admit I skimmed those parts a bit. But I read this book while I was in Germany - it was given to me when I arrived by the person I was visiting - which made it that much more fun. Certainly there were parts of the book I couldn't identify with, as a two-week stay in Germany doesn't really allow for a visitor to go all over the country, but the parts that did pertain to my experiences did ring somewhat true. It was especially fun to play "what did you learn about Germany today?" with my host, citing new facts I learned each day. I also experienced quite a few things (seeing an FKK bathhouse, After Eight ice cream, drinking Kölsch, et cetera) and then was pleased to read about these things later on in the book.
Overall, it could have been more interesting, but I can't say I didn't learn a lot about Germany. And it definitely made me realize that while Germany isn't necessarily a "dream destination" for a lot of people in America, a large part of our cultural heritage (the Christmas tree and nutcrackers, fairytales) exist because of the Germans. Das ist gut, ja?
Began: May 2009
Ended: May 2009
Pages: 305
September 23, 2013
In this book Ben Donald introduces us some interesting themes, or better he would like to do it.
Getting over this book is a tough job. I mean, there are some interesting points and cues, but they are just sketched out and diluted with british humour (bigotry?) which is rather bothersome. Donald seems more at ease in lampooning a theme, rather than developing it. The point is that even lampooning a theme is an art. One cannot simply behave like a kid yelling "poo!" and expect a standing ovation from the readers.
This kind of childish irony - like a very bad refrain - comes back often during the reading, like a needless full stop (or a fart, to say it in a style that the author may appreciate) in the middle of a speech. And, like a needless full stop in the middle of a speech, it breaks the subject and the chapter, or any consideration done by the author. This happens for example, with the haunting references of Donald's quips referring to Germans attitute to naturism (Ok, they spend a lot of time naked, so what? Please go on with the narration, Herr Donald...). According to him, it seems that Germany is a Country built on Freikorperkultur, but a smart mind - free from this typical british bigotry - knows for sure that there's even something more. Pardon, much more. Pity that we already bought the book...
In a nutshell: my goodness, what an atrocious waste of precious time.
Getting over this book is a tough job. I mean, there are some interesting points and cues, but they are just sketched out and diluted with british humour (bigotry?) which is rather bothersome. Donald seems more at ease in lampooning a theme, rather than developing it. The point is that even lampooning a theme is an art. One cannot simply behave like a kid yelling "poo!" and expect a standing ovation from the readers.
This kind of childish irony - like a very bad refrain - comes back often during the reading, like a needless full stop (or a fart, to say it in a style that the author may appreciate) in the middle of a speech. And, like a needless full stop in the middle of a speech, it breaks the subject and the chapter, or any consideration done by the author. This happens for example, with the haunting references of Donald's quips referring to Germans attitute to naturism (Ok, they spend a lot of time naked, so what? Please go on with the narration, Herr Donald...). According to him, it seems that Germany is a Country built on Freikorperkultur, but a smart mind - free from this typical british bigotry - knows for sure that there's even something more. Pardon, much more. Pity that we already bought the book...
In a nutshell: my goodness, what an atrocious waste of precious time.
September 5, 2021
While I think the background story is a bit unlikely the book itself is still very entertaining, so five stars it is.
Being German myself I didn't know quite some of the places.
Of course I disagree with the author on quite a bit, but I gladly accept that his views are what a Brit would think of places in Germany. And he is right a lot of times too :)
Even though the places he visits are different of what I would ask him to visit he has a look at the biggest German cities, so that is fair enough.
Brits do think that a lot of Germans actually wear Lederhosen and go to Oktoberfest. So not true!
And I doubt a lot of Germans even know about Prora of have ever been to East Germany.
I wouldn't mind a second part about the lesser known parts of Germany.
Less the equivalent of London, Brighton, Manchester, Liverpool,
more York, Scarborough, Exeter, Great Yarmouth and Blackpool.
Being German myself I didn't know quite some of the places.
Of course I disagree with the author on quite a bit, but I gladly accept that his views are what a Brit would think of places in Germany. And he is right a lot of times too :)
Even though the places he visits are different of what I would ask him to visit he has a look at the biggest German cities, so that is fair enough.
Brits do think that a lot of Germans actually wear Lederhosen and go to Oktoberfest. So not true!
And I doubt a lot of Germans even know about Prora of have ever been to East Germany.
I wouldn't mind a second part about the lesser known parts of Germany.
Less the equivalent of London, Brighton, Manchester, Liverpool,
more York, Scarborough, Exeter, Great Yarmouth and Blackpool.
January 31, 2021
A very entertaining read, especially when you already have knowledge of both cultures! Not always totally accurate and relies on some common stereotypes but lighthearted and amusing nonetheless!
December 19, 2016
Ben Donald's book was both frustrating and informative. It aims for a humorous look at those wacky Germans, which is a niche that is sadly under filled, given the sheer quantity of similar books focusing on the French, Italians or even Brits. There are just not a lot of fun ways to learn about German culture and customs or even books that just give a feel of the place.
Springtime for Germany has a bad beginning, starting as it does with the fictional and silly premise that the author comes under the helping hand of a travel therapist, because he has lost his love of exploring new places. This therapist, a ridiculous German American named Manny, send the author to various places in Germany, each time having his concentrate on a different aspect of the German soul. It also begins with a snarky tone of amused contempt for the Germans, which made the first few chapters less than enjoyable.
But as Donald proceeds along in his travels, he settles down and begins to be interesting. I've been living here and knew most of the cultural references to some degree or another, but he often was able to provide me with a deeper understanding of several of these. And it's always fun to run into references to these cultural tics, as they are not well known outside of Germany. For example, there is a New Year's tradition here to watch a short British film called Dinner for One. This is something every German is as familiar with as we in the US are with How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but I've never met a non-German who ever saw it. This guy knows German culture and he had some interesting things to say about the reasons Germans value order and rules so much and why it isn't a big deal for them to sit in a sauna naked with strangers.
All in all a useful and interesting book marred by the author's need to force the humor. He's genuinely amusing when he isn't trying so hard.
Springtime for Germany has a bad beginning, starting as it does with the fictional and silly premise that the author comes under the helping hand of a travel therapist, because he has lost his love of exploring new places. This therapist, a ridiculous German American named Manny, send the author to various places in Germany, each time having his concentrate on a different aspect of the German soul. It also begins with a snarky tone of amused contempt for the Germans, which made the first few chapters less than enjoyable.
But as Donald proceeds along in his travels, he settles down and begins to be interesting. I've been living here and knew most of the cultural references to some degree or another, but he often was able to provide me with a deeper understanding of several of these. And it's always fun to run into references to these cultural tics, as they are not well known outside of Germany. For example, there is a New Year's tradition here to watch a short British film called Dinner for One. This is something every German is as familiar with as we in the US are with How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but I've never met a non-German who ever saw it. This guy knows German culture and he had some interesting things to say about the reasons Germans value order and rules so much and why it isn't a big deal for them to sit in a sauna naked with strangers.
All in all a useful and interesting book marred by the author's need to force the humor. He's genuinely amusing when he isn't trying so hard.
August 11, 2010
Finally finished this book - right before I leave for Germany! Some nice anecdotes about various parts of the country. My only problem with this book was since it was written by a Brit, there were a lot of references to things in England. This was tedious when I didn't get the comment. Otherwise, fun read.
September 11, 2011
Second time around - a look into the soul and culture of Germany.
March 3, 2013
short review to come.
February 4, 2015
Nach 80 Seiten abgebrochen. Das Buch ist weder witzig noch informativ, dafür strotzt es vor Fehlern.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews