Introductions

[Lynaia]

Joanna wrote: "Lynaia wrote: "Definitely bookshops. Cafes, history, wine, you name it. Anything you could tell me would be great. Specially non touristy stuff. And, anyplace we should avoid."

Hi Lynaia:

Cafes -..."


Thanks for the info. Didn't realize about the festival until after we had already booked our trip. I probably would have preferred a quieter time but the performances will be a plus. I actually first heard about the festival from the David Niven movie "Happy go Lovely." Then watched the travelogue on Edinburgh from Samantha Brown and found out it's in August. Chances are, we will mostly just amble a lot. That tends to be our style on vacation. But we do look for bookshops and cafes. Thanks again.

[Susan]

Hi Peter - welcome to the group. We are also very fond of neglected 20th Century authors, so you are in good company!

[Judy]

Welcome Peter, glad you found us.

[Bronwyn]

Welcome, Peter!

[Story]

Hi to all. I'm joining you from Vancouver, Canada. I have wide-ranging taste in books but have a special love for 20th and 21st century Britlit as well as novels in translation.

I'm excited about the upcoming discussion of A Far Cry from Kensington--a novel I really love.

[Susan]

Welcome to the group, Storyheart :)

[Nigeyb]

Hurrah. Welcome Storyheart - and welcome Peter

[Bronwyn]

Welcome, Storyheart!

[Lynaia]

Welcome Storyheart!

[Judy]

Welcome, Storyheart - I've read very little Muriel Spark, I must confess, but am looking forward to finding out more by reading this book.

[Story]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

[Susan]

We have noticed that, recently, we have a lot of new members who have not introduced themselves. Don't be shy - come and say hello. We do encourage participation - rest assured that your moderators do moderate and that this is a warm and welcoming space, with good debate and interesting discussions. Likewise, we would encourage members to vote in the poll for our themed, monthly book.

[Radiantflux]

Patrick here. I have been an Australian ex-pat for about twenty years, who's lived in the USA (LA and Boston at different times) as well as London. But mostly have gravitated to Germany. I am now firmly settled in Berlin with German wife and young child.

I would really like to understand Germany and Europe better, and am hoping this book will give me a better sense of what Europe is now, and where it is going.

[Susan]

Hi Patrick. Welcome to the group. We hope you find lots of books you enjoy here :)

[Nigeyb]

Welcome Patrick - looking forward to reading your musings


Radiantflux wrote: "I would really like to understand Germany and Europe better, and am hoping this book will give me a better sense of what Europe is now, and where it is going. "

Which book are you talking about?

[Radiantflux]

Many thanks for the welcome!


Radiantflux wrote: "I would really like to understand Germany and Europe better, and am hoping this book will give me a better sense of w..."

Sorry. Incipient cold: I meant I am hoping this "group will give me...".

[Nigeyb]

Aha. Thanks for clarifying Patrick. We'll do our best. We're planning a Berlin themed month very soon. Stay tuned.

[Radiantflux]

Nigeyb wrote: "Aha. Thanks for clarifying Patrick. We'll do our best. We're planning a Berlin themed month very soon. Stay tuned."

A Berlin-themed month would be interesting; there are so many ways you could go. Do you have any ideas about what era you want to approach?

I would love to see themes around France and colonialism, immigration, the communist east, 1968, 1920s Paris etc.

[Nigeyb]

Radiantflux wrote: "A Berlin-themed month would be interesting; there are so many ways you could go. Do you have any ideas about what era you want to approach?"

We'll invite group members to nominate books and then we all vote. The winning title will be the month's group read.

The moderators will also choose a book and that will focus on the period after WW2.

Talking of which, if you haven't read it, then I highly recommend The Lost Europeans by Emanuel Litvinoff. He's best known for his work Journey Through A Small Planet but Litvinoff claimed European, rather than British nationality. His political activism after the Holocaust was both dedicated and successful. Originally published in 1958, The Lost Europeans was Litvinoff’s first novel. It is the story of two Jewish men haunted by their pasts and seeking answers and closure in 1950s Berlin.

I have read so many great books set in Berlin - but am always on the lookout for more recommendations. We could probably do with a dedicated Berlin discussion thread.

Radiantflux wrote: "I would love to see themes around France and colonialism, immigration, the communist east, 1968, 1920s Paris etc."

Thanks Patrick. Some great ideas there. Along with the other mods we have already planned out the next 12 months and have an enormous wish list of ideas, I'll add those of yours that are not on the list to it.

Keep those ideas coming and we'll try to make them happen.

And remember that all members can suggest buddy reads - so just post your ideas and hopefully someone else will be interested in joining in.

[Judy]

Welcome, Patrick, glad you have joined - I recently visited Berlin and loved it, and am looking forward to learning more about its history. My grandmother's family came from the city, but this was the first time I have visited. There is a lot more I want to see, so hope to go again before too long.

[Lady Clementina]

Judy wrote: "Welcome, Patrick, glad you have joined - I recently visited Berlin and loved it, and am looking forward to learning more about its history. My grandmother's family came from the city, but this was ..."
I read the Berlin Stories for the first time last year and to my surprise quite enjoyed them.

[Seonag]

Hello Patrick and welcome to the group, I'm sure it will prompt much interesting reading!

Good to hear about the plans for a Berlin theme coming up - I lived there for four months in 1986 and found it an amazing, fascinating place.

Also to other new members, would just like to echo the comments about this being a friendly and welcoming space. I've been a member since Xmas and very much enjoying it (plus my reading levels have increased dramatically). I can't always think of ways to share insights from what I've read but am trying to participate where I can.

[Susan]

Glad you are enjoying the group, Joanna. We do our best to make this a welcoming corner of the internet :)

[Radiantflux]

Nigeyb: Thanks for the tip about the Lost Europeans. It's sounds very interesting.

Berlin is a fascinating city. I just finished reading Der nasse Fisch: Roman, the crime novel that formed the basis of the hit German series Berlin Babylon, about a police officer investigating a murder in Berlin in 1929. I found the plot so-so, but the evocation of Weimar Berlin was excellent. Not sure how good the English translation is.

I have been meaning to read A Woman in Berlin: Eight Weeks in the Conquered City: A Diary for some time. I live just near both the Wall and a huge Soviet war memorial/cemetery and am interested to learn more about both the period before and after (both East and West).

[Lynaia]

That's on my TBR list as well.

[Cameron]

Hello
On the topic of Berlin the book Fatherland, while not brillIant, has some interesting descriptions of the city, and is an easy read.

[Susan]

When the theme comes around, Cameron, feel free to nominate it as a book choice. Coincidentally, I recently downloaded Fatherland on Audible, when it was reduced.

[Radiantflux]

These seem OK, though I have read very few on the list:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/ger...

I wonder what are the best books on Berlin that haven't been translated into German.

[Nigeyb]

By the way the Berlin theme is not next month - but is due for later in the year

[toria (vikz writes)]

Just found this group while browsing (procrastinating) Goodreads. Your Group sounds like a brilliant idea. Can't wait to participate. I blog at Vikzwrites.wordpress.com. I really love the modernism of woolf and the weird of Shirley Jackson

[Nigeyb]

I think you might have found your home from home Victoria


Welcome aboard.

Grat blog too - you've just reminded me that I really must get round to reading Reservoir 13

[Susan]

Welcome to the group, Victoria. We have read Woolf in the group and have something linked to Shirley Jackson planned for later in the year - spoiler alert!

[Δέσποινα]

Just discovered the group, hi everyone! I am particularly interested in history books about 20th century, and I hope to learn a lot here. cheers!

[Susan]

Good that you found the group - you are very welcome :) I hope you find a lot to interest you.

[Nigeyb]

Welcome Δέσποινα

[Lynaia]

Welcome!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Hi Everyone! I didn't start life here in rainy southeast Alaska, but I've lived here for 40 years - guess I'm here to stay.

Currently, I have a personal goal to read a book published in each year of the 20th Century authored by a woman. I just started keeping track last year, so lots of years yet to fill in. I read men, too, they're just not a part of that challenge. My interests are varied, but I lean heavily toward historical fiction and/or period fiction. I note earlier in this thread there are those who enjoy the Golden Age mysteries and those are also on my list of go to title/authors. Josephine Tey anyone?

I moderate a couple of groups here at GR - one a challenge group, the other about Anthony Trollope. The challenge group is quite active, the Trollope group not so much, but he is definitely a favorite of mine.

Looking forward to learning more about the books you all are reading.

[Judy]

Welcome, Elizabeth, glad you found us. That sounds like a fascinating challenge.

I also love historical and period fiction, and Golden Age mysteries - Josephine Tey is one of my favourites too, and I've just finished reading all her mysteries, shame she didn't live long enough to write more. I've also read all of Trollope's books, but a long time ago now!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Judy wrote: "I've also read all of Trollope's books, but a long time ago now! "

Oh, well done! I still have 10 or so novels yet to read, and then there are his short story collections. Not sure how many of his nonfiction I'll read.

[Judy]

On Trollope's non-fiction, his autobiography is very interesting, and I also liked his book about Thackeray as I'm a fan of him too - I remember his travel books as being a bit slower to get through, but still worth reading.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Judy wrote: "On Trollope's non-fiction, his autobiography is very interesting, and I also liked his book about Thackeray as I'm a fan of him too - I remember his travel books as being a bit slower to get throug..."

I have read his autobiography. In that he talks about Thackeray being such a good author. For some reason I haven't found time to work him yet. I hope to, though.

As to this group, I have a long and continuing interest in World War One. Anyone else?

[Susan]

Welcome to the group, Elizabeth. As well as Reading the 20th Century, Judy and I run another group you may like - Reading the Detectives. You might find much to interest you there too.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Lynaia]

Welcome to the group. I've also enjoyed Anthony Trollope's books although I haven't read nearly as many. I haven't read Josephine Tey yet but she is on my TBR list.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan wrote: "Welcome to the group, Elizabeth. As well as Reading the 20th Century, Judy and I run another group you may like - Reading the Detectives. You might find much to interest you there too.

https://ww..."

Thanks! I'll check it out!

[Nigeyb]

Welcome Elizabeth

[Susan]

Great, Elizabeth. I think both groups have a lot to suit your reading tastes - obviously you are a reader after our own heart :)

[Jan C]

Welcome Elizabeth.

[Kirsten]

Can't remember if I've introduced myself.

My name is Kirsten and I live in Kennewick, Washington, USA, which is in the brown part of the Evergreen State.

I live with my mother and my elderly dog.

I love all sorts of literature. I love the old spy novels from the early days when people were terrified of anarchists.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Hi Kirsten - we're almost neighbors!

[Kirsten]

Thanks, Elizabeth! At least (maybe) in the same time zone. (Can you see Russia from your house?)