The Read Around The World Book Club discussion
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The Fox Was Ever the Hunter
June 2018 - Romania
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First half of the book
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Melanie
(last edited May 25, 2018 01:42AM)
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Apr 30, 2018 09:41AM
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I just picked up a beautiful hardback of the book for less than 6 Euro - so will be joining in next month. Yay!
I do have this book translated in english . I read a couple of chapters and her style is so different but I like it ! I wish I could have the original one - in romanian.
bookslover_roxana wrote: "I do have this book translated in english . I read a couple of chapters and her style is so different but I like it ! I wish I could have the original one - in romanian."I'm afraid there is no original in Romanian as Mueller writes in German ;). She belonged to the German-speaking minority in Romania and left Romania for Germany in 1987. (side-note: There are even contemporary Romanian writers who claim that she should not be considered a "Romanian writer"...)
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That's an interesting discussion point and well worth having, because it is a question of belonging and the right to call a place your home. Now, is Mueller allowed to consider Romania her homeland considering that she is from a German speaking minority that has lived in Romania for centuries, often for as long as the High Middle Ages. Contribution of the German minority to Romanian culture is evident in many things, words in the language for example, but also literature and architecture. What is a home? And when are you allowed to call it a home? I find this super interesting since I don't live in my country of origin and find myself in the weird position of being a year away from being classed a "Foreign German" but I am not British either. I am writing a book at the moment, which most likely will never be published, but will I be a German writer despite the fact that I am writing in English, or will I be an English writer despite the fact that I am just a resident here.
Melanie wrote: "Orgeluse wrote: "bookslover_roxana wrote: "I do have this book translated in english . I read a couple of chapters and her style is so different but I like it ! I wish I could have the original one..."I fully agree with you that this is a super interesting topic! As far as Mueller is concerned, there was the discussion of whether or not to invite her to the Frankfurt Bookfair this spring, when Romania was the "guest country". In this context it was mentioned that she as someone writing in German was not considered a "Romanian writer". I found it odd at the time, because she had lived in Romania for most of her life and she is also fluent in Romanian (she studied it and also worked as a translator). Her novels focus on what life was like under the Communist Dictatorship in Romania if you did not cooperate which I assume was similar for Germans and Romanians.
At one point in her life, Mueller was approached by the Romanian secret service who took advantage of exactly the fact that there were people of different ethnicities in Romania who could be brought to spy on each other due to rising suspicion!!!
As far as the incidence surrounding the Bookfair is concerned, I have the feeling that some Romanian writers did not want her to take part in the Frankfurt Bookfair as the Fair is about selling books and gaining popularity. As Mueller is already well known in Germany but Romanian writers are basically not, they might have feared getting less attention and they might have had a point, even if the argument is a weak one...
As far as your situation is concerned, the term "Foreign German" is pathetic. I just ask myself: What is the difference then between simply "German" and "Foreign German"? And is the term applied to stress the "foreign-ness" or to even make sure it stays like that?? What would you have to do to be considered British??
This seems to be Brexit at its most peculiar and we have not yet seen the end of it, I fear...
Wherever you will end up in this next year make sure you do not lose your sense of humour!
It looks like I’m missing a fantastic discussion! I’ll chime in later. I’ve only read the first chapter and my first impression is hmmmmm. What can those further in tell me about her writing style? It seems clarification is missing. Is she considered an experimental writer? Does it get more comprehensible as the story goes on?
Aside from the discussion about who is a native writer, what do people think of the text? I am finding it to be subtle, quietly terrifying read, with stark, but beautiful language and building tension.
Orgeluse wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Orgeluse wrote: "bookslover_roxana wrote: "I do have this book translated in english . I read a couple of chapters and her style is so different but I like it ! I wish I could have ..."Melanie wrote: "Orgeluse wrote: "bookslover_roxana wrote: "I do have this book translated in english . I read a couple of chapters and her style is so different but I like it ! I wish I could have the original one..."
I"ve thought about the discussion of which country she represents as an author. I came to this conclusion, she is a Romanian author if that is how she identifies. No one can tell her what her identity is. There are scores of authors that wrote books in other countries and identified themselves as authors of their country of origin.
I asked a friend of mine that lives in Italy what she thought. She was born in Russian, raised in Germany and now lives in Italy. She said identifies with all the countries she's lived in in some way. I'm guessing, like everything else in life, it is dependent on the individual.
On a personal note, I was born and raised in Alaska. Since I left at 18 (I'm not 51) I have lived in several states, my current state of Washington for the longest, and I still identify as an Alaskan, despite the fact that I started and have raised my family in WA.
Now for the book. I finished it earlier this evening and just wrote my review. My first impression of, hmmmmm, sticks. The first half of the book I felt like I was in outer space. I could identify and understand characters but had no idea what Mueller was trying to say and where she was going with her vagueness. I'll post my thoughts of the second half in the appropriate discussion thread.
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I also found the first half of the book disorienting and even vague, but I assume Mueller knew what she was doing and it was deliberately meant to leave the reader with a subtle sense of unreality. At the same time, there is a definite sense of unease and even fear beginning to escalate. I felt that I didn't want to be there and yet I needed to see it through.
Just crossed the halfway mark today. So far I am not impressed. It feels more like a series of vignettes and less like a story, I am still hopeful for the second half. This is a little disappointing because I have read the “Hunger Angel” by the author and loved loved loved it.
Kathrin wrote: "Just crossed the halfway mark today. So far I am not impressed. It feels more like a series of vignettes and less like a story, I am still hopeful for the second half. This is a little disappointin..."Can't wait to hear your final thoughts, having read Hunger Angel. I would like to try another of her's to see if it was just this one or if she really isn't for me.
Linda wrote: "I also found the first half of the book disorienting and even vague, but I assume Mueller knew what she was doing and it was deliberately meant to leave the reader with a subtle sense of unreality...."I'm sure she knows what she's doing but I wish her readers did too. lol
So I just got halfway through and am finding it to be a strange read. The writing is beautiful and evocative; almost too evocative. There’s so much metaphor that my mind is filling with snapshots of weird imagery and I often lose track of what is actually happening. Mel, I picked up on the pubic hair/stubble theme early on, too. Also the flipping sunflower seeds - can nobody in this town enjoy their sunflower seeds as a tasty snack rather than spitting them out all over the place? Melon seeds, too. I can’t work out the significance of some of these recurring motifs.
I love how she has created this oppressive mood, though. I think I might get on with her essays better than this novel.
I am having a difficult time making myself read this book! I’m not sure I will finish it...
Mod
Your time is very precious right now, don't force yourself.
DNF from me, not my cup of tea.
