Reading German Books in 2020 discussion
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Group Reading in 2023?
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That is disappointing but understandable. Thanks for the work you did do. My Classics group have a year long buddy read with various German authors nominated for each month so I’ll be joining in those reads.
I’ll probably still climb a mountain here, however, because I have many contemporary German translations to read as well. Will follow and enjoy all entries and comments. Happy New Year to you all. 🎉🤗
I wish you well Lizzy, and like Penelope I'm going to continue here too!
I'll be sticking around too... will still be reading in German, and always fun to see what others are reading and get ideas!
same here, i ill be around here too and try to climb a mountain.always open for a buddyand/or group-read
In the interests of keeping group reads going Kubelot and I are suggesting a first quarter read of All Quiet on the Western Front and or any other Erich Maria Remarque which you may like to read/reread. Because it is already February maybe we could take the project through to the end of April. I have been watching the 2022 film version of AQOTWF and it is excellent if disturbing.
Please let us know what you think and we hope you'll join us.
All Quiet on the Western Front was already on my list to get to this year, so count me in!
Erin wrote: "All Quiet on the Western Front was already on my list to get to this year, so count me in!"Fantastic! I'm trying to create the group read notification but not having much luck. probably because I'm not the moderator. Anyway its under Group Reads so we'll see how it works.
Thanks for creating the thread Penny, I'm in as well.
Sounds good to me! I haven't read AQOTWF in years!
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
I finished this book several days ago but have found it hard to organise my thoughts. Was surprised to find myself amused at times over the antics and the camaraderie that existed between these young men. Beautifully written. My overall impressions were that it was shocking to see the waste and the pointlessness of war. Remarque's writing is exceptional.
I have also watched the new film version of this book. Unfortunately it just seemed to be a bloodbath and I found it difficult to watch.
I just got my copy from the library- will be starting soon!
Just finished Im Westen nichts neues. I pretty much concur with everything Penelope said! Can't believe I'd never read this before!
I am going to read some more Clemens Meyer whose writing, what I've read, I have really enjoyed. Recently purchased the book longlisted for the International Booker Prize, While you were Dreaming (not yet listed on Goodreads) and Bricks and Mortar. I know these books were published in Germany some years ago but they are only recently available to me in translation.
Is anyone else a Clemens Meyer fan?
I'll do this over the next two months or so.
He’s a hit or miss author for me. I abandoned All The Lights a few years ago, but was bowled over by the second short story collection, Dark Satellites.https://lizzysiddal.wordpress.com/202...
I have no interest in Bricks and Mortar, but do want to read While We Were Dreaming. I’m hoping he comes to Edinburgh Book Festival this summer, so that I have a good excuse to bump it up the TBR.
I haven't read Clemens Meyer so far, but his books were on my list for quite a while. I will create a Q2 group read for him, maybe someone else will join
I certainly will. Thanks for setting it up.
Hi All, any plans or suggetions for the next couple of months?How about Christoph Hein? I don't think he has been so far discussed here, but his novels are definitely worth a try. I'm not sure how much of his works are available in english, performing a quick search i found at least a couple...
I have found two Christoph Hein in English translation. I’m on hols at the moment so will wait until I’m nearer my home before I press the purchase button. Let me know if it is the decided read.
enjoy your holidays Penny.There's no hurry, i propably won't ne able to start anything prior mid-august, just started V. by Pynchon and it is a slow read which requires full undivided attention, Also have lots to do at work to prepare for the vacation break.
Let's give the others two weeks, if no one comesup with a better idea, we can read Hein.
What titles have you found in english? I'll try to pick those in german
Yes we are having a really good time but funny because we are in Victoria which is very cold, full winter gear. Where I live is very mild and warm sunny days. We think we’re mad to come South for winter.The two Hein titles I found are Settlement : a novel and The Distant Lover. Settlement looks good not sure about the other.
Sorry can’t do the titles the usual way but only have access through Hot Spot and it doesn’t work.
I'm afraid i will never get used to the fact, that you have winter in the summer down under ;)I haven't read neither one of those, but both sound tempting, i'm in for any of them or both. Der Fremde Freund is an early novella and it's quite short,one of his first prose writings, i have for sure the polish translation at home, but will try to lay my hands on the german version, Landnahme was published twenty years later so it would make a great opportunity to compare how his style evolved over the years
Hi all, definitely not a classic, but I am reading 'Sophia's hoffnung. Die farben der Schönheit'. By Corina Bomann. I really enjoyed her previous trilogy. Looking forward to reading this. It is fairly easy reading, but it is really compelling
I'm putting this on my TBR list! It sounds like one I'd really enjoy. Right now I'm reading Solange sie tanzen by Barbara Leciejewski, also not a classic, but by an author I enjoy. Happy reading
I have looked for Corina Bomann and there are English translations! I cannot pinpoint the one you mention except that it is a trilogy. Is that correct?.Do you want to consider this author for one of our group reads.
Open to all suggestions 🤭
Also Barbara Leciejewski?
the entire day i was trying to recall where i heard the title ,"Sophias Hoffnung", now i got it. my mom recently read it and eas quite fond of it. So far i havent read neither Bomann not Leciejewski, but i'm in in case they are considered for the group reads.
As for Bomann, i would probably go with "Sophies Hoffnung" in case of Leciejewski "Fritz und Emma" Sorry Penny it seems neither one of those two titles has an rnglish GT page, do they max have not bern translated.
Hein is on my to read list for years, so i will read him either way, but it would be nice to read him in a group ;)
sorry for the typos, i meant: english Good Reads page
None of Barbara Leciejewski's novels have been translated into English. I'm trying to change that, but I'm not having any luck.
Oh well just have to keep plodding along with my intro to German lessons and hope one day….I placed my order for Hein so I’ll have two to read there.
great news, i'll set up a group read page for Hein later today.Shall i set up also a page for Bomann? anyone interested in reading both authors in parallel?
Yes let’s do that. Thanks and happy reading.
Is any one participating in Lizzy's Literary Life (Volume 2) German Literature Month XIII . some prompts to follow or not and always interesting. It is also Non Fiction November and I have two books I would really like to finally read.
The Zookeepers' War: An Incredible True Story from the Cold War by J.W. Mohnhaupt, trans. Shelley Frisch and
Farm in the Green Mountains by Alice Herdan-Zuckmayer trans. Elisa Albert.
I have tried the Farm several times but the usual thing for me - the font is so small it takes all my concentration and full sun in the middle of the day to get through the pages. Determined, however, that this year will be the year.
Penelope wrote: "Is any one participating in Lizzy's Literary Life (Volume 2) German Literature Month XIII . some prompts to follow or not and always interesting. It is also Non Fiction November and I have two boo..."
Hooray! Great to have you join us, Penelope. The Mohnhaupt is a bit of an eye-opener, fantastic read.
I'm in! As it's also Novella November (and I'm a slow reader of German), I'm going to read either Michael Kohlhaas or the Metamorphosis. Currently also reading Gehen Ging Gegangen by Jenny Erpenbeck. Anyone read any of these? Penelope, I totally get the small print issue! Here's to sunny days...
Reenbean wrote: "I'm in! As it's also Novella November (and I'm a slow reader of German), I'm going to read either Michael Kohlhaas or the Metamorphosis. Currently also reading Gehen Ging Gegangen by Jenny Erpenbec..."Great! Novellas by Kleist and Kafka are good choices.
Reading German Books in 2020
Books mentioned in this topic
The Zookeepers' War: An Incredible True Story from the Cold War (other topics)Farm in the Green Mountains (other topics)
Bricks and Mortar (other topics)
All Quiet on the Western Front (other topics)
All Quiet on the Western Front (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
J.W. Mohnhaupt (other topics)Alice Herdan-Zuckmayer (other topics)
Christoph Hein (other topics)
Clemens Meyer (other topics)
Erich Maria Remarque (other topics)
More...
Although I won’t be group reading, i still aim to read 25 G-lit books this year, and will track this in the appropriate space. Plus keep an eye on what you lovely lot are reading too. Because I’m always in the mood for more discoveries.
Which means the forum will stay in place for 2023.. Here’s to much enjoyable German literature reading.