Review of Severin’s Journey into the Dark by Paul Leppin: This intense tale is set in a bygone era in Prague where the streets are gloomy and decadent gatherings unravel behind closed doors. Published by Twisted Spoon Press.
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Hans Fallada: Alone in Berlin
Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada was first published as Jeder stirbt für sich allein (Every Man Dies Alone) in 1947. The novel has since been translated by Michael Hofmann from the German into English. The story revolves around Otto and Anna Quangel, who are introduced at the beginning as an ordinary couple in Berlin…
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Alexander Lernet-Holenia: I was Jack Mortimer
Last Christmas, I signed up for a one-year subscription of Pushkin Collection books. This was a gift to myself as well as to remind me to maintain a regular reading habit. I didn’t expect work to get crazy right after the new year nor for the manic pace to continue for several months. So while I have been receiving one…
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Egon Schiele + Reading Friedrich Torberg: Young Gerber
For most of my student life, I was relatively relaxed about schoolwork and exams compared to my peers. I didn’t understand why my classmates were stressed with getting good grades. The only time I was stressed at school was when I was 17, at the end of my first year in junior college, when I spectacularly failed my…
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Stefan Zweig: The World of Yesterday
One of the things I like about blogging is the wealth of information that is being exchanged. Now and then, someone leaves a comment on my blog that leads me to discover something new or interesting. This was how I came to learn of Stefan Zweig’s The World of Yesterday. Andrew – writing All Downhill from Here over in…
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Reading Maxim Leo’s Red Love: The Story of an East German Family
I just finished reading Red Love: The Story of an East German Family by Maxim Leo. What a compelling, intense and poignant journey this has been. The moment I started reading Red Love, I was drawn into the inner dynamics, turbulent emotions and revealing stories of Leo’s family. The latter included his grandfathers’ experiences during the…
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Stefan Zweig: Beware of Pity + FEVE train in Asturias
Beware of Pity is the only novel written by Stefan Zweig – who is renowned for his short stories and biographies. I had come across Stefan Zweig only earlier this year, while reading up on translated works by writers such as Antal Szerb and Sándor Márai, as well as books published by the excellent Pushkin Press.…
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Stefan Zweig: Letter from an Unknown Woman
I was home from work earlier than usual today. It was a little odd as I wasn’t quite sure with all that ‘extra’ time. ‘Extra’ because if I were to clock strict, regular hours and get off work at 1730, this would be the ‘usual’ time that I would be home. Anyway, I did the…
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Peter Stamm: Seven Years
Last May, I was waiting to pay for the pile of books that I had picked up at Waterstones at Piccadilly Street, London. On the counter was a book bearing a soft-focused photo of a bedroom with an unclothed woman in the background. Printed over it in large white font: SEVEN YEARS – PETER STAMM.…
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Angelina Hue 