Group Reads -> December 2021 -> Nomination Thread (Weimar Germany won by Grand Hotel by Vicki Baum)

[Nigeyb]

Who else is nominating? Or thinking about it?


I suspect we have all our nominations so this is a final call unless anyone replies to say they need more time


Nominations

Grand Hotel by Vicki Baum (WndyJW)
Gilgi, One of Us by Irmgard Keun (Roman Clodia)
Going to the Dogs: The Story of a Moralist by Erich Kästner (Susan)
Laughter in the Dark by Vladimir Nabokov (Kathleen)
Käsebier Takes Berlin by Gabriele Tergit (Alwynne)
Weimar Culture: The Outsider as Insider by Peter Gay (Jan)
Little Man, What Now? by Hans Fallada (Nigeyb)

[Blaine]

Terrific list. Nothing from me this month. I have a favourite with my vote. But also a second, third, fourth and fifth.

[Nigeyb]

Time to vote


Here's the poll...

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...


Nominations

Grand Hotel by Vicki Baum (WndyJW)
Gilgi, One of Us by Irmgard Keun (Roman Clodia)
Going to the Dogs: The Story of a Moralist by Erich Kästner (Susan)
Laughter in the Dark by Vladimir Nabokov (Kathleen)
Käsebier Takes Berlin by Gabriele Tergit (Alwynne)
Weimar Culture: The Outsider as Insider by Peter Gay (Jan)
Little Man, What Now? by Hans Fallada (Nigeyb)

[Nigeyb]

Grand Hotel by Vicki Baum is out in front but only by one vote



Here's the poll where you can view, vote, or switch your vote...

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...



Nominations

Grand Hotel by Vicki Baum (WndyJW)
Gilgi, One of Us by Irmgard Keun (Roman Clodia)
Going to the Dogs: The Story of a Moralist by Erich Kästner (Susan)
Laughter in the Dark by Vladimir Nabokov (Kathleen)
Käsebier Takes Berlin by Gabriele Tergit (Alwynne)
Weimar Culture: The Outsider as Insider by Peter Gay (Jan)
Little Man, What Now? by Hans Fallada (Nigeyb)

[Susan]

It's REALLY close this month. No obvious front runner...

[Roman Clodia]

Wow, close indeed!

[Nigeyb]

Yes. A six way tie for first place all locked on 2 votes each.

[Nigeyb]

Grand Hotel by Vicki Baum now has a one vote read


Was the film Grand Hotel based on this book? I vividly remember that film as a kid, so many decades ago now. A bit of a star-studded, glossy soap opera vibe as I recall. If the film is based on the book are they very different? Or is is quite a faithful adaptation?

I remember I watched the film to the end even though I was simultaneously finding it both annoying and compelling.

[Alwynne]

Nigeyb wrote: "Grand Hotel by Vicki Baum now has a one vote read


Was the film Grand Hotel based on this book? I vividly remember that film as a kid, so many decades ago now. A bit ..."

Yes it was, it's the one that Jack Lemmon keeps trying to watch in Billy Wilder's 'The Apartment' - how I ended up wanting to see it.

[Alwynne]

Nigeyb wrote: "Yes. A six way tie for first place all locked on 2 votes each."

Is this the time for some backroom dealing?!

[Roman Clodia]

Haha, Alwynne! When does the poll close? Thing is, I'm even torn on my second choice... ;)

[Susan]

I voted for Grand Hotel but would be happy to read the Nabokov. I would like to read more him.

[Roman Clodia]

Yes, those two are my second choices, Susan, bound to be very different - but which one to go for if I switch my vote...?

[Brian E]

So many good choices. I thought about reading one with a NYRB edition but that only narrows it to three, I think, the Tergit, Baum and Kastner.

[Jan C]

Wow! My nomination is trailing by just 1 vote! That's great for non-fiction.

I started Weimar Culture: The Outsider as Insider the other day. Not very far but it looks good so far. My Kindle includes footnotes. But they can be ignored by people who don't like footnotes. Personally, I love them.

[Nigeyb]

The poll closes Saturday morning at 7:59 am UK time

or

Friday 11:59PM Pacific Daylight Time

[Roman Clodia]

Nigeyb wrote: "The poll closes Saturday morning at 7:59 am UK time"

Thank you!

[Susan]

Looking like we have a winner now, unless there's a sudden change. I have been brave and downloaded "Grand Hotel," as I want to read it anyway.

[Brian E]

I recently read that Scott Frank, screenwriter. director and creator of the NETFLIX series The Queens Gambit is making a movie of Laughter in the Dark with Anya Taylor-Joy, the star of The Queen's Gambit.

[WndyJW]

I’m pleased we’ll be reading about this period. It’s fascinating and terrifying that nations that took pride in their modernism, that aspired to be cosmopolitan, descended into literal hell.

The last 6 years showed us how that happened and history teaches us it could get much worse,

[Nigeyb]

Me too WndyJW. I hope Grand Hotel will give us some good insights into that period.

[Susan]

A very close vote this month and some excellent choices. Always so impressed with the nominations.

[Ang]

That this is published by NYRB is a bonus. I have ordered it from Blackwells.

[Nigeyb]

Grand Hotel it is


Thanks everyone

Great nominations, interesting discussions and a close run vote

What more could we ask for?

I'll sort out the rest of the admin soon.

It's nearly time for ParkRun (which might mean something to a few of you).

We will likely run a buddy read of the Fallada book too.

Remember anyone can initiate a buddy read at any time. Just find at least one other person interested in reading and discussing a book and you're good to go once you agree timing. You can set up a thread yourself or any of the moderators is happy to do it for you. We'll also add it to our list of all current and forthcoming reads.

[Susan]

Sounds great. Looking forward to both, thanks, Nigeyb and enjoy your run!

[Alwynne]

Nigeyb wrote: "Grand Hotel it is


Thanks everyone

Great nominations, interesting discussions and a close run vote

What more could we ask for?

I'll sort out the rest of the admin soon.

It's nearly time for Pa..."

Nigey great that you want to do a buddy read of Fallada but given how close the vote was I'd like to suggest a buddy read of the Nabokov if any of its other supporters would be interested. Found a heating company who've shaved 600 off the price of a new boiler so can throw caution to the winds and buy some more books so may join in the Fallada too!

[Hugh]

I would still be interested in reading the Nabokov.

[Alwynne]

Hugh wrote: "I would still be interested in reading the Nabokov."
Great Hugh.

[Nigeyb]

Two is all you need - when would you like to do it?


I'm thinking December for the Fallada, if that has any bearing on your decision? We could try and do all the Weimar inspired titles in December?

[Alwynne]

Good idea Nigey, I think Ben might be interested too, and maybe some others. So shall we say December provisionally but give any other takers a chance to say what they think?

[Roman Clodia]

I'm in for Nabokov, December sounds fine to me.

[Nigeyb]

Great news.


I've added both the Nabokov and the Fallada into the schedule for December. As Alwynne says, we can change the timing if participants would prefer

[Pamela]

Nigeyb wrote: "I've added both the Nabokov and the Fallada into the schedule for December."

Excellent, I’ll be in for the Nabokov in December then!

[Nigeyb]

That's good to read Pamela


Discussions set up, books on our bookshelf and added to the schedule.

Boom!

[Kathleen]

I'm excited to read Grand Hotel, and delve into this period!

I'm also interested in the Nabokov buddy read, but may not be able to squeeze it in December, we'll see. I can always read a little late. :-)

[Alwynne]

Brilliant, thanks Nigey, maybe If anyone's looking for a film to put them in the mood, I found an excellent version of Dietrich's 1930 'The Blue Angel' on YouTube, great representation of Weimar, and Dietrich is amazing in it. It's based on Heinrich Mann's Professor Unrat Professor Unrat but updated and relocated to the Weimar era

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tRgu...

[Susan]

Oh, I liked the Nabokov. I will see how many I can fit in :)

[Roman Clodia]

I'd love to read something about Marlene Dietrich after she appeared in The Dead of Winter by Nicola Upson (sorry, on phone, can't link).

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'd love to read something about Marlene Dietrich after she appeared in The Dead of Winter by Nicola Upson (sorry, on phone, can't link)."

This is an interesting overview:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...

Steven Bach's biography is okay Marlene Dietrich: Life And Legend I also read a dual biography of Dietrich and Riefenstahl, a sort of compare and contrast between Dietrich who rejected Nazi ideology and Riefenstahl who embraced it. It's not a great book but okay as an introduction and some interesting factual material Dietrich Riefenstahl: Hollywood, Berlin, and a Century in Two Lives

[Judy]

Dietrich is one of my all-time favourites so I'd love to read something about her too. I've got a 2-Bluray set of The Blue Angel with the separately-filmed German and English versions of the film - both fantastic as she sings the songs in both languages.

Apparently the English-language version was lost for many years, but I saw it on the big screen in about 1980/1981, so not sure if it had just been rediscovered then. I was very surprised as I had no idea there was an English version and was expecting the German one, but it was great to hear Dietrich singing Falling in Love Again in English.

[Nigeyb]

Oh yes, love Der Blaue Engel! Love MD!

[Susan]

There is also a novel about her Marlene. I haven't read it, but I am intrigued by Alwynne's suggestion - Dietrich Riefenstahl: Hollywood, Berlin, and a Century in Two Lives. I know you didn't give it a great write up, Alwynne, but something along those lines would be interesting, so I might have a search and see what I can find.

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'd love to read something about Marlene Dietrich after she appeared in The Dead of Winter by Nicola Upson (sorry, on phone, can't link)."

I've wondered about the Upson series, would you recommend them RC?

[Alwynne]

Judy wrote: "Dietrich is one of my all-time favourites so I'd love to read something about her too. I've got a 2-Bluray set of The Blue Angel with the separately-filmed German and English versions of the film -..."

She's wonderful isn't she and the scene where she sings is so incredibly seductive even now. I have a dvd of the German version but haven't updated to the Blu-ray bill have a look! I re-watched Hitchcock's 'Stage Fright' last year and she's great in that too.

[Alwynne]

Susan wrote: "There is also a novel about her Marlene. I haven't read it, but I am intrigued by Alwynne's suggestion - Dietrich Riefenstahl: Hollywood, Berlin, and a Century in Two Lives

[Alwynne]

Part of it may be the translation Susan, very unwieldy style. I didn't hate it just didn't love it but also was so keen to read it that it was bound to disappoint anyway. Interested to see what you turn up Susan. Dietrich is featured in Lara Feigel's The Bitter Taste of Victory: Life, Love, and Art in the Ruins of the Reich account of post-WW2 Berlin and that's a book I'd definitely recommend.

GR is doing weird things with formatting today it seems!

[Susan]

I will have a look - thanks, Alwynne. Oh, just realised I have read that one already! An author I have really enjoyed.

[Roman Clodia]

Which one have you already read, Susan?

I remember now that I put the Dietrich & Riefenstahl on my tbr after I read Nazi Wives: The Women at the Top of Hitler's Germany. I like Feigel so thanks for the recommendation, Alwynne.

[Roman Clodia]

Alwynne wrote: "I've wondered about the Upson series, would you recommend them RC?"

Ye-es, with the caveat that they're modelled on Golden Age murder mysteries and can be uneven. Upson's writing is excellent, fluent and smooth, and she does a nice job of queering the period.

The first couple are a bit lurid and melodramatic in places (which I didn't mind). Fear in the Sunlight is one of the best ones, and features the Hitchcocks filming a Tey screenplay. I also liked The Death of Lucy Kyte a lot, and London Rain which is set in the BBC as they gear up for the Coronation broadcast.

But I've read them all and have never dipped below a 3-stars. There are some developments in the lives of the main characters across the books but unless you're a die-hard must-read-in-order, there's no problem dipping in and out.

[Alwynne]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "I've wondered about the Upson series, would you recommend them RC?"

Ye-es, with the caveat that they're modelled on Golden Age murder mysteries and can be uneven. Upson's writing i..."

Thanks I'll go for the first one you recommend, if they don't have to be read in order that makes it much simpler.