Book Reviews
Literature - Ubiquitous in the Alps
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.
Hochgatterer, Paulus: Über Raben. 2002
A ski mountaineer and a teenager, she is in high school, he is a teach. For both "death" is a central theme, furthermore there is a lot imagination and will. And in is in the middle of winter, end of January, shortly before semester break.
Continue reading Comments (0) 18.06.2009. 16:06
Faschinger, Lilian: Vienna Passion. 2000
Faschinger, Lilian: Wiener Passion. 1999
In the novel from Lilian Faschihnger several plot strands unfold, in fact, it is a book in the book. Book 1 tells of the young actress Magnolia Brown, specialist in Shakespeare and now discovered by a musical director as a potential Anna Freud for his latest project. Sofar not too unusual, Magnolia Brown has bohemian roots, a close relationship to Vienna and grew up bilingual.
Continue reading Comments (0) 15.09.2008. 11:17
Dittmar, Jens (Hg.): Europa erlesen: Liechtenstein. Wieser. 2000
What do we already know about Liechtenstein? Usually not much. But if one puts in all in relation, knowing the size of Liechtenstein and that this small, pretty country inhabits 35,000 people (some of which are just in Austria or Switzerland studying) then yes, then you know a lot about Liechtenstein and one realizes she got to know 0.1 per mille of the inhabitants had even personally knows 10% of the roads. Can you say that about another country in the world?
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 (2) 03.06.2008. 17:35
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
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
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 (1) 28.02.2008. 16:03
Lipu, Florjan: Verdächtiger Umgang mit dem Chaos. german translation by Johann Strutz. Wieser. 1997
Lipu, Florjan: Stesnitev. Wieser. 1995
Eisenkappel or Bad Eisenkappel, elezna Kapla, in the year 1670 forms the setting for the novel of Lipu. 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
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
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
Frischmuth, Barbara: Die Mystifikationen der Sophie Silber.
The title means translated: The Mystification of Sophie Silber, it was published in 1976, and is the first part of a trilogy.
Continue reading Comments (0) 01.10.2007. 11:02
Schmid, Susy: Himmelskönigin.
The title of this swiss whodunnit ist to be translated as "Quen of heaven" or "Quen of Sky". As far as we know there are no english translations of this book.
Continue reading Comments (0) 01.09.2007. 10:10