Reading German Books in 2020 discussion

Currectly languishing on my bookshelves:

- How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone by Saša Stanišić
- Traveling on One Leg by Herta Müller
- Die juristische Unschärfe einer Ehe by Olga Grjasnowa (in Dutch)
- The Wall by Marlen Haushofer

if people know of any exciting contemporary writers in German, let me know! I'd love to try out a few new ones!

Sanne wrote: "if people know of any exciting contemporary writers in German, let me know! I'd love to try out a few new ones!"

Juli Zeh
Jenny Erpenbeck
Daniel Kehlmann
I've read books by all three, and intend to read more from them.

One I'm interested to try: Eva Menasse

Thanks for these names! I'll check them out.
I've read Tijl by Daniel Kehlmann a while ago and loved it! Are there any other titles of his you recommend?

Tijl is on my radar to read someday.
I've read Het meten van de wereld and really enjoyed that one.
And something completely different Je had moeten gaan which was quite strange, and yet compelling to finish it. Not sure I would recommend that one, but the fact that this author wrote two books that were so different, picked my interest.

oooh, they both look great! I've been hesitant to pick up another book of his exactly because they seemed so different from Tijl, so I didn't know what else to pick up next. Thanks for the tips!

In case you're also a member of a Dutch public library: the e-book platform has titles of all authors you mentioned expect Jenny Erpenbeck...

Will be adding to my list:
- Quasikristallen and Dieren voor gevorderden by Eva Menasse - both translated by a translator I really love. Annemarie Vlaming really knows how to transform the style and prose of an author into Dutch.

- Het meten van de wereld and Je had moeten gaan by Daniel Kehlmann. Both sound great!

Yes to the library! both my local library and the onlinebibliotheek.

Looking at the profile of a specific translator, or a user with a shelve with German books can be an inspiration to find new books.

And another contemporary German author Mariana Leky.

Arenda wrote: "Yes to the library! both my local library and the onlinebibliotheek. "

... I may or may not have already started reading...

How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone by Saša Stanišić was one of my favourite reads of this year. Hope you enjoy!

I hit the ground running and have already finished the novella Je had moeten gaan(You should have left) by Daniel Kehlmann.
It was the perfect little creepy read on a misty, gloomy day like today...

Sanne wrote: "I hit the ground running and have already finished the novella Je had moeten gaan(You should have left) by Daniel Kehlmann.
It was the perfect little creepy read on ..."

Kehlmann is soooo creepy

I finished Quasikristallen by Eva Menasse. This is a story I need to chew on before I make up my mind what I thought of it, but I love her writing style (and I knew I was in capable hands with translator Annemarie Vlaming, as she has translated some of my other favorite German language books as well) and will definitely seek out more of her work.

I raced through The Murder Farm by Andrea Maria Schenkel last night. I was rather underwhelmed. It was all a bit too easy, convenient. There were no plot twists I didn't see coming, and no insights into characters or human nature that really made me think. So it was a quick read, but forgetable.

Sanne wrote: "I raced through The Murder Farm by Andrea Maria Schenkel last night. I was rather underwhelmed. It was all a bit too easy, convenient. There were no plot twists I did..."

I absolutely agree. I had high hopes for that but sadly, no.
In case you speak German and if you are interested in the real murder case I recommend this podcast: https://www.lautgut.de/podcasts/dunkl...

Anja wrote: "Sanne wrote: "I raced through The Murder Farm by Andrea Maria Schenkel last night. I was rather underwhelmed. It was all a bit too easy, convenient. There were no plo..."

Thanks for the recommendation! I love crime fiction, so this sounds goooood.

I've recently listened to The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and what a surprise this classic was! I was always half-convinced that Kafka would be heavy reading, but this was such a fun experience for me. Love love love the tone of his writing.

I recently finished Sie kam aus Mariupol by Natascha Wodin (in the Dutch translation by Anne Folkertsma)

What an impressive piece of non-fiction! I love the way she researched her family history, and the story of her mother's life. Though 20th century Ukraine is grim reading - so I've had my tax of WW2 books for now. Once I feel up for it again, I'll have to check out the follow-up, in which she explores her father's history.

I finished The Blue Sky by Galsan Tschinag today. I love this book! It's really immersive and takes you to the world of a young boy on the Mongolian steppe.


(This is my 6th book, so officially I'll have to move up a level, but I'm not sure if I can move this thread to another folder?)