Book Reviews

We love to read! In this section we will introduce you on a monthly basis to different novels, criminal stories, fairy tales, short stories or any other literaturary style, which take place or were written in the Alps. We will try to give you a broad overview of renown authors as well as newcomers and contemporary writers. And we will mention which of these books are suitable as a companion to your next trip to the Alps.

 

Similaun

Haid, Hans: Similaun. Skarabaeus. 2008
This time we have a very recent book reviewed. The novel, by the alpine researcher Hans Haid, published in February 2008, promises on the book cover to be a combination of alpine and biblical myths, time criticism and apocalyptic visions of the future from the perspective of a shepherds from the Ötztal: Virgil.

Continue reading Comments (0) 03.06.2008. 17:35

Seeking Whom He May Devour

Vargas, Fred: Seeking Whom He May Devour. 2004
original title: L'homme à l'envers. 1999
This is the second crime story from the series "Adamsberg" (No. 1 is "L'Homme aux cercles bleus," this novel has not yet been translated into English, but later Adamsberg novels are available in englisch translation). Camille Forrestier, musician, composer and plumber, lives in Saint-Victor-du-Mont in the Mercantour National Park, in the French Maritime Alps (Départements Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence).

Continue reading 14.04.2008. 13:37

Hollywood im Winter

Mischkulnig, Lydia: Hollywood im Winter. Hamyon. 1996

With this novel Mischkulnig delivers a satirical -ironic insight into culture, art, philanthropy, culture sponsorship and everyday drama in family life.
Pivotal point in the story is the family Tauschitz. The father industrialist, but also designer, collector and maker of work and life.

Continue reading Comments (0) 09.03.2008. 18:30

Zauberberg

The Magic Mountain (Zauberberg) is probably one of the most famous novels and most important works of the great German writer Thomas Mann. The novel was first published 1924, and is regarded today as a must-read of German literature.

Continue reading Comments (0) 28.02.2008. 16:03

Stesnitev

Lipuš, Florjan: Verdächtiger Umgang mit dem Chaos. german translation by Johann Strutz. Wieser. 1997
Lipuš, Florjan: Stesnitev. Wieser. 1995
Eisenkappel or Bad Eisenkappel, Železna Kapla, in the year 1670 forms the setting for the novel of Lipuš. Motivation to the novel war a chronicle of this village, in the story we learn from the seesaw of live, the narrowing and hardship of soul, heart and body. The book was written in Slovenian and translated by Johann Strutz. The original title "Stesnitev" means: Narrowings, Restrictions.

Continue reading Comments (0) 01.01.2008. 06:25

Der Himmel über Meran

Zoderer, Joseph: Der Himmel über Meran. 2005. The book "Der Himmel über Meran", what means translated "The sky over Merano", consists of six stories. Merano is the second largest city of South Tyrol, Italy.

Continue reading Comments (0) 01.12.2007. 10:19

Les Rivières pourpres

November - these are they days were sunlight is rare, darkness and coldness cover the land. Though festivities around the death, twilight zones are not common in alpine regions and rather cultural imports from USA or Mexico. But the cold and dark december, starting with All Saints and all All Souls' Day, candles and lanterns have a flair of morbidity and it might be the month of crime, thriller, mystery and horror stories.

Continue reading Comments (0) 01.11.2007. 09:45