German Literature Month is back, this year rolling into its second decade with a new style badge, featuring the glories of Stuttgart City Library. I think you’ll agree, it is an aspirational building, with bookshelves and reading sofas to die for! It serves as a reminder to start seeking out the literary treasures, originally written in German, on your shelves, prepare your comfortable reading nook and discover some great reads during the month of November.
What are we planning this year? Like last year, there will be two parallel programs.
Caroline will be concentrating on works set during the run-up to World War II, the war itself and its aftermath.
I am touring German-speaking countries and more. All timescales, genres and destinations are valid choices for this itinerary, provided the work was originally written in German.
- November 1-7 From or set in Austria
- November 8-14 From or set in Germany
- November 15-21 From or set in Switzerland featuring Dürrenmatt Day on 18.11.2021 to commemorate his centenary
- November 22-28 Elsewhere
- November 29-30 Here, There, Anywhere
In addition, there are a couple of readalongs.
- 11.11.2021 Inventory of Losses – Judith Schalansky (hosted by Lizzy)
- 26.11.2021 The Passenger – Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz (A Literature and War readalong hosted by Caroline)
As always you may take up some or all of our reading prompts or do you own thing entirely. Whatever you do, have fun. (That’s an order. 😉)
Lizzy's Literary Life (Volume One) 
Great to hear the schedule, and I look forward to joining in along the way 🙂
great hope to join in as usual both read along books i have read
This is so wonderful, Lizzy! Thanks so much for hosting GLM with Caroline! This is one of my favourite reading events of the year and I can’t wait! It is so amazing that GLM is stepping into its second decade now! Time just flies! It is also so cool that this is Dürrenmatt’s centenary! Hoping to read a Dürrenmatt or two 😊 So excited for November to arrive!
Great. I was just thinking about GLM 2021.
Definitely planning to join in! I love Dürrenmatt and want to read The Passenger, so there’s plenty for me there!
Ordered a copy of Inventory of Losses!
Good news Lizzy. I have both books so will look forward to reading along.
Thank you and Caroline, as always, for hosting and for keeping it fresh and exciting every year! Cannot wait to get stuck into this!
The Strudlhof Steps by Heimito von Doderer (NYRB), new translation by V incent Kling, is coming on 12/14/21. I’ve been waiting for this for a couple of years. It will be my belated big read for German Lit month.
Yes! I’m wanting to read it too, particularly as the author comes recommended by Daniel Kehlmann himself.
So excited about German Lit month- thanks to you and Caroline for hosting. Will you be discussing The Passenger in a one off event, or in stages as with The Radetzky March?
I found you through Kaggsy and I’m glad I did. What a great idea! I’d read The Glass Bees a few months ago, but now I have an excuse to read another German novel. But which one? 😉