Around the World in 80 Books discussion

It seems most of the books I find for Eastern Europe relate to WWII. Does anyone have suggestions for good books that are not set during wartime in these countries? Thanks.

Poland
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Hungary
Austria
Liechtenstein

I can't help with Slovakia and Liechtenstein as I haven't visited them yet.

For Poland you could try some Stanislaw Lem if you like science fiction. He's been on my list to read for a while. Maybe next year finally.

I like the Brenner series and they would count for Austria. Four of them have been translated into English and Resurrection is the first one.

You could always read some Kafka for Czech Republic, although that's maybe not that upbeat. The Trial is a brilliant book for its take on beaurocracy.

The only book I've read of Liechtenstein is Stamping Grounds by Charlie Connelly, which is a decent (and timely for 2018) book of a football fanatic who decides he'll go all in to record the attempt of Liechtenstein's national team to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, and in the course gets to see much of the small country.

I know you requested no wartime, but the Czech Republic has a comic take on a soldier in the First World War with The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek. Similarly, an Englishman wrote a rather comic take on the Austrian Navy with A Sailor of Austria: In Which, Without Really Intending to, Otto Prohaska Becomes Official War Hero No. 27 of the Habsburg Empire by John Biggins.

From Poland, there are a number of short stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer; some are upbeat, some are not. Also, from Austria you could try works by Stefan Zweig, though I did find his book The Post-Office Girl to be rather melancholic.

Liechtenstein: Ludmila: A Story Of Liechtenstein Not much in Liechtenstein, period.

Lots of Czech and Polish authors who write about non-WWII & non-war themes:

Czech Republic: Books by Michal Viewegh, Miloš Urban, Josef Škvorecký, Iva Pekárková; Vladimír Páral; Patrik Ouředník; Jan Neruda; Božena Němcová; Gustav Meyrink; Jiří Karásek ze Lvovic; Milan Kundera; Ladislav Klíma; Ivan Klíma; Franz Kafka; Bohumil Hrabal; Karel Čapek; Michal Ajvaz

Poland: Olga Tokarczuk (Poland & Czech Rep.), Magdalena Tulli; Andrzej Stasiuk; Isaac Bashevis Singer; Bruno Schulz; Andrzej Sapkowski; Grażyna Plebanek; Jerzy Pilch; Zygmunt Miloszewski; Dorota Masłowska; Anya Lipska; Marek Krajewski; Tadeusz Konwicki; Marek Hłasko; Witold Gombrowicz

I'll add more later

Thanks everyone. I think I'll probably switch out Liechtenstein for another country.

I can suggest some books from Hungary:
The Paul Street Boys by Ferenc Molnár - this is set in 1889, sot not during any of the ww-s. It still has some serious message

Be Faithful Unto Death by Zsigmond Móricz - this is also set during the 1890s and is about children as the previous one, but it also has some serious message

Anna Édes by Dezső Kosztolányi - this is set between 1912 and 1922, but its not about the war. It paints a realistic picture about life in Hungary during that time

The Man with the Golden Touch by Mór Jókai it is set in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The story starts in 1828.

The Door by Magda Szabó - this one is a true story about the author’s maid.

Thorn Castle by István Fekete - set during the 1950s

Eclipse of the Crescent Moon by Géza Gárdonyi - this one is set during the war against the turkish. I know, it is war, but it is great, and teenagers read it in school here.

Satantango by László Krasznahorkai an utopia from a contemporary author

Fifth seal by Ferenc Sánta
So these are the ones that come to my mind at first. They are all great and enjoyable classics of Hungarian literature, I love them all. If you would like something else, just let me know!

Zsofi wrote: "I can suggest some books from Hungary:
..."

Thanks!

I enjoyed the The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Family's Century of Art and Loss, it covers both Hungary and Austria. A little WW2 in that one as well, though.

I'm not sure if this qualifies for a separate discussion, but I have the same "problem" with most African countries. Any ideas on African books not exclusively dedicated to poverty/slavery/war?

Kaja wrote: "I enjoyed the The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Family's Century of Art and Loss, it covers both Hungary and Austria. A little WW2 in that one as well, though.

I'm not sure if this qualif..."

Good question! I have the same problem

Any ideas on African books not exclusively dedicated to poverty/slavery/war?

Any of the Alexander McCall Smith series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency which he specifically wrote to introduce non-Africans to ordinary day to day life in Botswana.

Also:

Mango Elephants in the Sun: How Life in an African Village Let Me Be in My Skin

The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild

My Mother's Lovers

A Guide to the Birds of East Africa (novel; not really a bird guide)

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood

The Hairdresser of Harare

Nice, thank you! :)

Those are some great choices, Storyheart! Some other African books that come to mind are:

Aya: Life in Yop City by Marguerite Abouet

Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Dance of the Jakaranda by Peter Kimani

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey (this is the first book in another African mystery series set in modern-day Ghana)

Secrets of the Savanna: Twenty-three Years in the African Wilderness Unraveling the Mysteries of Elephants and People by Mark Owens

Overloaded Ark by Gerald Durrell

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba

Also, one of my favorite books is South Africa's Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton. Yes, it does deal with poverty and apartheid, but it is beautifully written.

Austria - The Accidental Empress and Mozart's Last Aria

Kaja wrote: "Any ideas on African books not exclusively dedicated to poverty/slavery/war? "

There is a detective series that takes place in Ghana featuring Darko Dawson. I've only read the first one, Wife of the Gods, but I enjoyed it. It shows you both modern and traditional Ghana. I just finished Baking Cakes in Kigali, which takes place in Rwanda post-genocide. It's impossible not to allude to the horrors of the country's past, but the author uses a light touch and the book was warm and uplifting.