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.

 

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. While the stories are all circling about the life and history of a man, number five "Die Nähe ihrer Füße" (in english: "The proximity of their feet") is an exception. This story shows the end of a relationship and the place is an anonymous spanish coastal. In the other stories the subject of South Tyrol, being South Tyrolian, Nationalsocialism, being "at home" and growing up are prevalent. The stories roll on against the background of political events. In the first story an adult men is asking his brother why the parents went from Merano to Graz, what it means to live in Merano during Mussolini's time, what the impact the Mussolini-Hitler pact had on german-speaking South-Tyrolians. The narratives provide a subjective, perhaps autobiographical, insight into circumstances, others only know from history books. And it seems as well to be a normal life, with laughter, anger, procrastination, with grief, with generational problems and search of oneself's identity. Six narrative without accusation, without pathos, without too much feelings, we as readers can watch, we get insight, led by a good observer and gentle language.

Joseph Zoderer lived his life in the Alps. Born in Meran / Merano (Italy), he spent his childhood in Graz (Austria), attended a boarding school in Wildnau (Switzerland), various boarding schools in South Tyrol (Italy), studied in Vienna (Austria), worked there and in Bolzano (Italy) as a journalist and lives in Terenten / Terento (Italy) as a freelance writer. What sounds so idyllic started 1935, born shortly before the second World War, Zoderer was born into a South Tyrol born between fascist Italians, Italians, german speaking or tyrolian speaking Italians and Nazi attitude. As a child of four years Zoderer was transferred into a Nazi Austria as a stranger, "Katzelmacher", "Spaghettifresser". The subjects of his books revolve around identity and search of identity, post-war period, exclusion, homelessness and South Tyrol. As an author he received several international prices.

If you want to know what Merano looks like, this book won't be of any help, as the author himself writes, he does not know, what the sky over Merano is like. But this book is a wonderful companion to bring some insights into the politics of South Tyrol, being a german speakking south tyrolean and propaply growing up in the 20th century.



Luck is something everyone needs, have a look at our clover pendant of garnets, this pendant is a wonderful match to the garnet bracelet Barbara with flowers and leaves.

 

 

01.12.2007. 10:19