German Literature Month!! I can’t believe I forgot about this. This is a one-month event (naturally) hosted by Caroline of Beauty is a Sleeping Cat and Lizzy of Lizzy’s Literary Life. Last year I had a blast participating in the event and discovered some great authors like Heinrich Boell, Ferdinand von Schirach, Joseph Roth.
This is the schedule for the event this year:
Week 1: Novellas, plays and poems
Week 2: Literary novels
Week 3: Genre fiction: crime, fantasy, horror, romance
Week 4: Read as you please
Here are the books that I want to read (I might, of course, change the list entirely as I go; I’m unpredictable that way.)
Week 1: I have a few books piled up from last year, that I didn’t get around to reading, which include a couple of novellas. The one I’m sure about reading this week is Schachnovelle / The Royal Game by Stefan Zweig.
I have a book of poems by Heinrich Heine that sounds surprisingly nice and I want to try a couple of poems by Goethe that I’ve heard/read about.
I also have a book, a play called Des Teufels General / The Devil’s General by Carl Zuckmayer. All I know is that it’s about the war, and if I find time, I would like to read it as well.
Week 2: Last month, at a book sale, I found a precious little copy of Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha. I have always wanted to read that book and there couldn’t be a better time. Some books I want to try include those by authors Bernhard Schlink, Thomas Mann, Hans Fallada, Franz Werfel among others, but I have absolutely no idea, which of these books I’m actually going to find.
From last year’s stock I have Das Boot / The Boat by Lothar- Günther Buchheim. I saw the movie a long time ago and I’m hoping a little idea of what happens might help me understand that huge novel in its original German.
Week 3: German genre fiction is a complete blank for me and I’ll need to do some research when the time comes. Right now, the only names that come to mind are Ingrid Noll for thriller and E. T. A. Hoffmann for fantasy/supernatural fiction.
It’s been far too long since I have a read a German book and I can’t wait to get started! What are you reading?
Tabula Rasa 
Good luck with your choices 🙂 I'm already a long way in (I started my reading early!). I read 'Schachnovelle' for last year's event, and it was great. I also read and reviewed 'Angst' last week, so I'm on the lookout for more of Zweig's work 🙂
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Wonderful list, Priya! That Stefan Zweig novel looks interesting. The Heinrich Heine poems sound wonderful! Hope you enjoy reading Hermann Hesse's 'Siddhartha'. I have read it a few times and liked it every time. Bernhard Schlink, Thomas Mann, Hans Fallada – they are all wonderful! I have a couple of books each of Schlink and Fallada – hoping to read one of them atleast. Have a nice time during German Literature Month! Can't wait to read your reviews!
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I'm so glad you are joing us.
I like your list.
As for genre week, we have a very loose definition. You can also choose a historical novel.
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Hi, thanks for stopping by! I guess I joined in very late. I had entirely forgotten about the event, until I saw Vishy's introductory post. Schachnovelle seems great so far, I just hope I finish reading it today!
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Thanks, I'm sure I'll find something to read by week 3!
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Thanks Vishy, I can't wait to get started, either! I hope the books are all as interesting as they sound 🙂
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Some wonderful authors under consideration there! Lovely to find your blog.
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Interesting list of books. I also have a (very old) copy of Das Boot on my shelf – it is worth a read, claustrophobic in places though! Good luck! Sarah
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