Fiction based in Germany?

[kazzawazzawoo]

Can anyone recommend any fictional books based in Germany? Not necessarily about the war (I have read lots already), but also current day ones.

[OverAndAbove]

Winter Games by Rachel Johnson is good

www.theguardian.com/books/2013/mar/24/winter-games-rachel-johnson-review

[mousmous]

craig russel - blood eagle

[DocDaneeka]

Le Carre or Deighton for some cracking Cold War fiction.

[PartialFancy]

There's a recent Le Carré set in current Germany: A Most Wanted Man.

[Gremlingirl]

The Moment by Douglas Kennedy is lovely.

[kazzawazzawoo]

Great, thanks, I'll take a look at these

[DocDaneeka]

That's true Partial. It's a good one too.

[kazzawazzawoo]

Not too keen on spy stories, would love to read something contemporary.

[AphraBane]

4 books about Berlin

Two books by Thomas Brussig (he's written more, but these two have been translated into English):

Heroes like Us
At the Shorter End of Sonnenallee

Hans Fallada: Alone in Berlin is rather good (but better in German)

Sven Regener: Berlin Blues

[DirtyBlonde]

Death in Berlin by MM Kaye, a very readable murder mystery (one of a series of "Murder in ..." books set in the various places she knew as a trailing spouse).

[kazzawazzawoo]

Thanks for the suggestions.

It seems everything based in Germany is either during WWII or spy/thriller stories. I'm looking more for something about everyday life over there, but may have to start reading German instead - I can, but find it slow going these days, it's nearly 20 years since I moved back to the UK.

[BrianButterfield]

I'm reading The Girl on the Stairs by Louise Welsh - that's set in contemporary Berlin.

[RuinedAndNotorious]

All That I Am by Anna Funder is very good, but it is set mostly during WWII.
Let us know if you do find anything more contemporary! There was a thread the other week about reading your way round Europe with recommendations for books set in each country. Might be worth searching for it to see the suggestions for Germany.

[mousmous]

not crime or war, rather modern classics.
= patrick suskind (the guy who wrote 'the perfume') 'double bass'
= robert schneider 'brother of war'
= heinrich mann 'the blue angel'

[kazzawazzawoo]

Thanks, both of those look interesting, I've downloaded sample chapters from Amazon. I'll search for the thread you mentioned, Ruined.

[mousmous]

sorry 'brother of sleep' not war

[kazzawazzawoo]

Thanks mous I'll have a look for y them.

[Gremlingirl]

My Berlin Kitchen by Luisa Weiss is good too. It's not fiction but is all about living in Germany, German food and has some really lovely recipes. I live in Germany at the minute but am moving back to the UK soon, and it's the book I know I'll read and cry over when I'm really missing Germany!

[kazzawazzawoo]

Gremlingirl that looks great and I've downloaded a sample to my kindle, although thinking possibly a book would be better, as there' s probably photos in it.

[kazzawazzawoo]

I found the thread about Europe thanks, very helpful.

[BasketzatDawn]

Have you tried Jenny Erpenbeck and Judith Hermann? Contemporary writers. JE's noted one is Visitation. JH has written Alice, same title in German and in English. Also some short stories which are very good. There's more but I can't recall titles.

[Valsoldknickers]

Lurker but have now joined at last! How about 'Until the final hour' by Traudl Junge who was Hitler's Secretary? Not a tale about ordinary German folk but really interesting all the same.

[EduardoBarcelona]

berlin wall my part in its downfall is good too

[kazzawazzawoo]

Berlin Wall looks good, thanks.