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.

 

Himmelskönigin

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.

The heroin of the murder mustery Evi Gygax returns from a six month's India journey into her hometown Hölibach. We get to know that pink house walls reminded her of so called Leberkäse and she does not like geraniums at village boards. But for the start there ist not much more time left for. Because on page four already the first murder occurs: the catholic priest Theodor Ursprung (Urspring his second name meaning origin). From then on we experience much about Switzerland: where cars "parkieren" in place of to park and the Rösti also are a perfect “welcome-at home” meal after a dead. Susy Schmid wrote with "Himmelskönign" a quick crime story, with local esprit and suspect subjects and inbetween a lot of Switzerland.

Hölibach is a fictitious municipality, which lies in the canton Aargau. Hölibach existed in the Swiss municipality Obfelden in the district Affoltern, canton Zurich and is at the border of the canton Aargau and probably lies thereby in the proximity of the novel village in north Switzerland.
Susy Schmid is a Swiss authoress, who grew up in the canton Aargau in Gebenstorf, like the crime heroine Evi Gygax has a "bibliophile vein". Susy wrote as well criminal short stories, which appeared 1999 as "Die Bergwanderung und andere Grausamkeiten" (which means "the mountain hike and other cruelties".)

As a travelling book for Switzerland I would only recommend it with exceptions. The book is with Swiss-German (schwyzerdütschen) words and gramatically not so correct phrases. Knowing a little of Switzlerand, swiss chocolates, swiss culinary specialities, one will really enjoy this book.
Schmid, Susy: Himmelskönigin. Ulstein. 2005 ISBN 3-548-25993-6


For the autmun time, we recommend from our MiaDeRoca store: - Shoulder-Bag Wally autumnred and orange – reminding of leaves turning their colours to shades of yellow, orange and red
- Kloserarbeit Maria – Saint Mary, also referred to as Our Lady – bears an important role in alpine traditions which are rooted in catholic tradtions
- Autumn is hunting season for most deer: So you might want to have a look at our special jewellery with deer tusks, like Pendant Hildegard
- If you find more pleasure in watching deer, get yourself the impressing shoulder bag "Men's Friendship"

 

 

01.09.2007. 10:10