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Original poster

Fiction based in Germany?

52 replies

kazzawazzawoo · 18/05/2014 11:10

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

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Imliketotallyummm · 22/07/2014 23:00

Great, thanks, I'll look for it now.

GameOfScones · 22/07/2014 22:39

Has anyone suggested Sorry by Zoran Drvenkar yet?

I read it a while ago and can't remember if I liked it or not, but the story stuck with me.

A group of friends set up an agency to help people make restitution with those they have wronged.

They do very well out of it until a new client is also revealed to be a serial killer who seems to be tormenting them for reasons of his own.

I think it was set in Berlin in the present day.

Imliketotallyummm · 22/07/2014 11:07

Thanks, I'll have a look at them.

SecretSpi · 21/07/2014 19:16

Again, they don't exactly fit your brief, being written in the late 20s and early 30s, but I love Irmgard Keun's books. "The Artificial Silk Girl" and "After Midnight" are both available in English translation and give you a good idea of what life was really like in those times for a young woman.
I live in Germany and this is an interesting discussion as it highlights the dearth of books available in English set in contemporary Germany. Maybe I should write one!

Original poster
kazzawazzawoo · 09/07/2014 22:26

Thank you, some good suggestions there.

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tripfiction · 09/07/2014 20:55

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Original poster
kazzawazzawoo · 05/06/2014 15:55

No worries, it's a good source of suggestions.

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verona · 05/06/2014 15:51

Oh sorry, didn't notice that

Original poster
kazzawazzawoo · 04/06/2014 23:52

Thanks Verona I'll have a look at his books.

Someone below linked to the Goethe Institut page Smile

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verona · 04/06/2014 14:49

Ferdinand von Schirach, a criminal lawyer, has written a couple of books of short stories based on cases he's worked on. I read Guilt which was very good.
On the Goethe Institut website I came across a list of German authors. I only glanced at it but think they were all contemporary and I assume they have work translated into English.

Original poster
kazzawazzawoo · 04/06/2014 13:03

Thanks Igneo, I will look those up Smile

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Igneococcus · 04/06/2014 09:59

I got a few more suggestions, Love virtually is among them:
Berlin Blues by Sven Regener
Love Virtually by Daniel Glattauer
The Weekend by Bernhard Schlink
Rain by Karen Duve
The Tower: A Novel by Uwe Tellkamp
Measuring the World by Daniel Kehlmann

Helden wie wir by Thomas Brussig, the poster who suggested that says she prefers Sonnenallee but that is not translated.
Russendisko, by Wladimir Kaminer.

I might actually read a few of those myself.

Original poster
kazzawazzawoo · 03/06/2014 22:30

Thanks Blue, just realised I already have Love Virtually already on my kindle Smile I've also downloaded a sample chapter of One Day We'll Tell Each Other. Thanks.

I'll look at Kerstin Gier's books too.

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BlueEyeshadow · 03/06/2014 22:22

Love Virtually by Daniel Glattauer, tr. Jamie Bulloch & Katharina Bielenberg - not as mushy as the title suggests.

Someday We'll Tell Each Other Everything by Daniela Krien, also translated by Jamie Bulloch. Set around the time of reunification so not right up to date.

If you read German, Kerstin Gier is funny and easy going.

Original poster
kazzawazzawoo · 01/06/2014 11:43

That's very helpful, thanks Igneo. Smile Smile

I haven't read Fallada yet, but have Alone in Berlin on my kindle ready. I also have downloaded a sample chapter of The Swarm, looks quite interesting. I'll take a look at the others.

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Igneococcus · 01/06/2014 07:40

kazza I asked on the German forum, it's a bit quiet there at the moment because Thursday was a holiday and I think a lot of people took Friday off (Brueckentag) and are away.
I got a few suggestions though and one I think is particularly helpful. Here is a list of translated books Not all of them will be set in Germany but the list makes a good starting point. There are loads of names on there that I have never heard of.
Someon recommended this The Taste of Apple Seeds, she says that she liked a lot more than she had expected after reading the reviews.
There were two suggestions for Hans Fallada books, but you might have read them already. I see Fallada gets recommended quite a bit on similar MN threads.
There was a suggestion for a crime story . I'm not keen on crime stories either (and haven't actually erad any) but they might give quite a good insight into local customs and differences. Germany has so many culturally distinct regions.
The last suggestion was for The Swarm. This is some apocalyptic scifi book which was a huge hit in Germany a while ago. I need to read it at some point because lots of people are asking my opinion if the scenario in the book could happen (I'm a biologist) and I always have to say that I haven't read it.
There might be more suggestions coming.

Original poster
kazzawazzawoo · 30/05/2014 11:58

I've also just downloaded a sample of a book by Dora Heldt, born in Sylt, North Germany called Tidal Shift, will see how I get on with it.

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Original poster
kazzawazzawoo · 30/05/2014 11:50

Thanks TheGambler, I've downloaded a sample of Dark Matter and will see how I get on.

Igneococcus, I'm struggling too. There must be some "ordinary" fiction by German authors about every day life in Germany that has been translated, but I just can't find it! I'm not really into crime stories or thrillers and I'm not looking for something highbrow, just something about life in Germany in current times.

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KiaOraOAotearoa · 30/05/2014 08:54

Thoroughly recommend Bernhard Schlink.
Irl he is/was a judge. I have never encountered this type of writing before: so rounded, articulate, balanced. Do give him a go!

Igneococcus · 30/05/2014 08:49

I was going to recommend Sten Nadolny's Selim oder die Gabe der Rede but I don't think it is translated, it's a fantastic book and I prefer it to Die Entdeckung der Langsamkeit which has been translated but isn't set in Germany.
I'm actually struggling to think of books written by Germans (I know that wasn't the brief) in the last 10 or 20 years set in Germany which have been translated into English.
There seems to have been a fashion for crime writing with a local focus recently, like detective stories set in Schwaben or Hessen, often with dialogue written in dialect but I doubt any of these are available in English.
I can ask in the Buecher forum on a German parenting site I'm on.

thegambler · 29/05/2014 23:44

I really enjoyed Juli Zeh's "Dark matter", A little different with a subtle twist.

Original poster
kazzawazzawoo · 29/05/2014 17:12

Preferably in english, as my german is very rusty, but would be ok if easy to read in german. Preferably on Kindle too.

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Igneococcus · 29/05/2014 16:22

Can the books be in German or should they be in English?

Creatureofthenight · 28/05/2014 16:28

YA writer Helen Grant's books are usually set in Germany.

EduardoBarcelona · 28/05/2014 16:25

Ooh tell you what else I liked. Was the aftermath

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00AFNKIEK/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1401290676&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40

Here. Post war. Occupation.