The best thing of the Frankfurt Book Fair? For me, it’s that you see and meet all those inspiring authors. I am always impressed by everything they have to say – about their books, life, society or politics. Here are some authors and their books I saw, plus some remarkable quotes.
I wish you an inspiring start into the new week!
Sasha Marianna Salzmann (left) talking about her first novel Außer Sich // Beside Yourself, which made it into the short-list of the German Book Prize. All pics by Franzi.
Since the beginning there’s the two of them, twins Alissa and Anton: In the small two-bedroom apartment in Moscow during the post-Soviet years and later, in Western Germany, where they roam the hallways of the asylum home. When Alissa has already dropped out of university, Anton disappears without a trace. Eventually, a postcard arrives from Istanbul – no text, no return address. Alissa sets out on a search in the torn city by the Bosporus and within her own family history – looking for her missing brother, but most of all, searching for the feeling of belonging that isn’t connected to one’s native country, mother tongue, or gender.
Sasha Marianna Salzmann regarding the dealing with the „underground“ topic of gender fluidity in her book:
„Ovid und Shakespeare sind keine Underground-Schriftsteller gewesen. Queer war auch damals schon Thema und kam in deren Werken vor.“ // „Ovid and Shakespeare were no underground authors. Queer was a topic already back then and present in their works.“
Sven Regener talking about his latest book Wiener Straße (made it to the long-list of the German Book Prize).
This fourth „Frank Lehmann“-novel narrates what happened before the first three books: Kreuzberg, Berlin, early 1980s – a surreal world of artists, squatters, freaks, punks and newly arrived Berliners. Anyone could be a hero. Anything could become the next big thing. Frank Lehmann, slacker by nature, together with two artist friends has to move house because their landlord and flatmate, Erwin, wants them out of the way now that he is to become a father. Chaotic times… and things finally escalate completely when a rival artist collective decides to copying Erwin’s new business idea of a “bar plus gallery”, sparking an art war that may lead to ruin for everyone.
Sven Regener on why he wrote again about Frank Lehman:
„Man muss Romane schreiben, wie sie einem einfallen. {…} Bei mir ging das mit dem Schreiben los, als mir eine Figur zugelaufen ist, nämlich dieser Frank.“ // „Novels appear as an idea to you. {…} I started writing when a character appeared in my mind – and this character was Frank Lehmann.“
Richard David Precht in an interview about his book Erkenne Dich Selbst // Know Yourself (the second book of a trilogy about the history of philosophy).
In the second volume of his three-part history of philosophy, Richard David Precht explores the development of Western thinking from the Renaissance to the end of the Age of Enlightenment.
Richard David Precht about Jean-Jacques Rousseau:
„Ein Arschloch deluxe. {…} Diese Schizophrenie, dass er Frauen ausnutzte und seine Kinder ins Findelheim steckte, aber die romantischsten Romane und einfühlsamsten Erziehungsromane seiner Zeit geschrieben hat.“ // „An asshole deluxe. {…} This schizophrenia that he used women and sent his children into a foundling hospital, but wrote the most romantic novels and the most insightful Erziehungsromane (educational novels) of his time.“
Paula Hawkings (left) talking about her latest thriller Into the Water.
In the last days before her death, Nel called her sister. Jules didn’t pick up the phone, ignoring her plea for help. Now Nel is dead. They say she jumped. And Jules has been dragged back to the one place she hoped she had escaped for good, to care for the teenage girl her sister left behind. But Jules is afraid. Of her long-buried memories, of the old Mill House, of knowing that Nel would never have jumped. And most of all she’s afraid of the water, and the place they call the Drowning Pool…
Paula Hawkings about reading while working on a new book project:
„I do love to read non-fiction. As a novel author, reading non-fiction is a relaxed way of reading – without the risk of adopting foreign ideas.“
Ulla Hahn (right) talking about her book Wir werden erwartet // They Are Expecting Us .
This is the fourth (and last) novel of an autobiographic-inspired series by Ulla Hahn. It narrates the story of a young, gullible woman in the tumultuous years after 1968: Hilla Palm has the world at her feet. After a long search, the girl of humble origins has at last found where she belongs: to the world of literature and with Hugo, the man who accepts Hilla as she is, with all her bitter experiences. They discover love together and witness the 1968 upheavals, when everything seemed possible. But then fate puts a spoke in the wheel of her plans, and in desperation Hilla looks for support with people fighting for a more peaceful and fairer world. The philosophy of Marxism becomes her new spiritual home. She resolutely follows her convictions and in the end has to painfully realize that freedom without freedom of words is not possible.
Ulla Hahn about finally finishing her four-part series:
„Ich glaube mit dieser Erleichterung und Freude bin ich noch nie über eine Buchmesse gelaufen.“ // „I believe I never walked along a book fair with this relief and happiness.“
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