Rutu Modan: A Suppressed War In complete contrast to both Tardi and Sacco, the Israeli author Rutu Modan, in her graphic novel Exit Wounds, deals with a current war, the Israel-Palestine conflict. She tackles it only indirectly, but reflects its impact on life in Israel, and in so doing, describes Israelis’ lives and attitudes more…
2014
2014, Debates and recommendations
Pen Atlas: Best Books
by Rosie Goldsmith •
The PEN ATLAS I am a very proud member of English PEN; I am also a huge supporter of PEN Atlas. So I’d like to devote my final Blog before Christmas and New Year – a time when we reflect on what’s good and bad about the world – to draw attention to PEN’s outstanding…
2014, Debates and recommendations
Recommended Books from 2014/ Meine Bücher 2014
by Rainer Moritz •
If you read a lot – you forget a lot. And so, with Christmas approaching, if you think about the books you can remember from the past year, which plots you haven’t immediately forgotten, those that remain become your personal favourites. Here are my Top Five for 2014: Donna Tartt: The Goldfinch (Little, Brown; transl.…
2014, Debates and recommendations
My Best E-Books
by Rosie Goldsmith •
It’s that ‘Best Books Of The Year’ time again. Everyone who is Anyone in the Literary World is revealing their favorite reads of 2014. These lists are both exciting and depressing: all those books I’ve missed! All those books still to read! So, I’m going to depress and excite you too by revealing my best…
2014, Debates and recommendations
The Angelus Award goes to Slovak writer Pavol Rankov
by Jaroslav Balvin •
Martin Šmaus and Jáchym Topol took part in a discussion with other finalists of the Polish award. The Czech authors were nominated for their books Dziewczynko, roznieć ogieniek (Książkowe Klimaty), translated by Dorota Dobrew, and Warsztat diabła (W.A.B.), translated by Leszek Engelking. At the award ceremony in Wrocław’s Capitol Theatre on Saturday 18.10, actors performed excerpts…
2014, Debates and recommendations
A Great European
by Rosie Goldsmith •
Geert Mak – a Great EuropeanThe time is right. This year, this month we celebrate 25 years since the end of the Berlin Wall. On November 11th, on Remembrance Sunday, we also honour the fallen of the 2 World Wars. The time is right to remember our history. Europe is in crisis. Not just the…
2014, Debates and recommendations
The Inferno: A discussion
by Brittani Sonnenberg •
This morning (October 25th, Europan Literature Days 2014) began with the tricky topic of War in World Literature. Sigrid Löffler delivered a lecture lambasting German-speaking authors for sticking to family instead of taking on the more consequential topic of conflict. She pointed to several non-European texts that dealt with war, from “veteran” narratives to “reflective”…
2014, History
Impressions/ Impressionen European Literature Days 2014
by Walter Grond •
In three most productive days the European Literature Days 2014 came up with a remarkable European cocktail of insights, discussions, thoughts, ideas and new perspectives. Press releases, the literary diary from Britanni Sonnenberg (The guy has left the room, probably he is on reha) and a videofilm will document the European Literaturedays 2014. Thanks you…
2014, History
ELit 2014 – seized by literature
by Brittani Sonnenberg •
The reason we create and consume literature is to feel suddenly seized by story. It’s never a given. But during the evening’s reading and discussion on 24th of October 2014 (with Marica Bodrožić and Andrey Kurkow, moderated by Rosie Goldsmith), I felt wonderfully seized, by both authors. Bodrožić spoke about writing her last book, My…
2014, Debates and recommendations
War On The Danube
by Rosie Goldsmith •
For a few weeks in the year Spitz an der Donau is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The autumnal vines turn the hills into carpets of green and yellow; the October sun warms the Wachauer vines into aromatic white wines; the Danube ferries chug along the swollen river; nestling villages of willowy…