Buddy Read Spring 2024 Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada

[Nike]

Editions vary in number of pages between 490 and 765

[Cat]

Thank you, Nike! Is there a particular pace you would like to aim for, in terms of a tentative/flexible reading schedule?

Would you like us to mark discussions as (view spoiler)[spoilers (hide spoiler)], especially if others wish to read with us?

It's a delight to me that you're reading this in Swedish. We can compare translations! Off Topic: I would be very open to any recommendations from you about Swedish literature in translation - especially classic lit!

I'm deeply appreciating Osebol by Marit Kapla at present - the beginning is so relaxing! The Details by Ia Genberg and Wretchedness by Andrzej Tichý are tbr.

[Nike]

I'm sorry I haven't answered you until now, I've been in bed with the flu.

I haven't got the slightest idea about the pace. First I thought I 'll finish this before the end of this month, then I was thinking that I would let this take a few weeks since I always read more than one book simultaneously.

What do you suggest?

I'm so amazed that you've introduced to me an author in my country that I've never heard of! I had to look up Andrzej Tichý. I haven't yet read The Details by Ia Genberg - one of the most talked about books the last two years - but it's awaiting me from a pile of newly bought books next to me in my sofa (yes, there's no place for them in my book shelves so they've started piling up even there, I have to organize that somehow). I haven't read Marit Kaplan either but Osebol is also a book I certainly know of but this Andrzej is completely unknown to me.

May I ask you where you are from since you read Swedish literature?

I would love to suggest classic author Stig Dagerman and his book The snake from the 1940's. A modern classic I'd love to suggest is Blackwater by Kerstin Ekman from early 1990's.

[Cat]

No worries at all, I'm sorry to hear this! How are you feeling now? Is your partner okay?

A few weeks sounds just right! What are your thoughts on Alone in Berlin so far?

The characterisation is intriguing - reminding me of this review where a psychotherapist briefly mentions how compelling she finds the character of Enno. Right from the first instance of him, Fallada is creating such a taut sense of this character.

Thanks very much! Your home, with this snug stack of fresh reads, sounds dreamy!

[Nike]

Finally I've finished it!

I've had too many books to read simultaneously (due to me participating in way too many GR reading challenges and on top of that I've been ill over and over again. (And since I've got underlying chronic ailments I get worse than then the average person.)

This book is a masterpiece. I've been taking long breaks between the intervals when I've read it to be able to absorb it, digest it. I was so overwhelmed by the last 200 pages so I had to pause every second chapter or so!

Do you live in Europe? If you do you know how the extreme right wing movement are growing in parts of Europe and I believe this literary work is of utter most importance today. Everyone should read it.