Reading German Books in 2020 discussion

A list of questions that get asked and others might benefit from the answers

1. Is only fiction allowed?

No, you can absolutely read non-fiction and poetry as well. The only thing you should look out for is that the book was originally published in the German language.

Just so you know, you answered my first question about non fiction. You have been useful already!

How do you add a large book cover picture to a post? I don’t see any size options, and, as a result, can only add tiny thumbnails.

Lizzy Siddal (Lizzy’s Literary Life) wrote: "How do you add a large book cover picture to a post? I don’t see any size options, and, as a result, can only add tiny thumbnails."

I only learned this form Mel a couple of days ago :-): You have to go to the book page on goodreads, click to enlarge the cover picture then select 'save graphic address'. Then go to the comment's field you want to post the cover in, and paste the address using the following: https://help.goodreads.com/s/article/...

Ta - will try now.

Failing at the create photobucket account stage, so might not bother. What a palaver, particularly when the large book cover images are already hosted on goodreads.

Lizzy Siddal (Lizzy’s Literary Life) wrote: "Failing at the create photobucket account stage, so might not bother. What a palaver, particularly when the large book cover images are already hosted on goodreads."

You dont need a photobucket account if you use goodread's cover image! The URL for the cover image you need is provided when you enlarge the cover then click right to see the menu and select 'copy graphic address'

OK, once I’d realised that “copy graphic address” equates to “copy” on safari, I tried it. All I get is image error even though the image displays correctly when pasted straight into the browser .....

This is what I’m putting in enclosed in triangular brackets and no spacing between segments for Fontane’s Irretrievable. Any suggestions as to what’s wrong?

[image error]

Lizzy Siddal (Lizzy’s Literary Life) wrote: "OK, once I’d realised that “copy graphic address” equates to “copy” on safari, I tried it. All I get is image error even though the image displays correctly when pasted straight into the browser ....."

You need to add the bracket < at the beginning, and another one > at the end.

Yep. Did that. No difference. Might it be a browser issue? I’ll dig out my PC tomorrow ..,.

Thanks for all your help thus far,

Question about the group bookshelf - is the idea to place books on it, once we’ve read them?

You absolutely can add books to the bookshelf and I would encourage everyone to do it. It is always my favourite thing to browse bookshelves in groups like this

Jenni wrote: "I do not see a bookshelf. How do I find it, please?"

There’s a column on the right entitled Reading Books in German 2020. Bookshelf is one of the options beneath that.

Melanie wrote: "You absolutely can add books to the bookshelf and I would encourage everyone to do it. It is always my favourite thing to browse bookshelves in groups like this"

It’s a nice feature. I’d never noticed it before.

Britta, I have always wanted to try your books as I am a big mystery lover. I am hoping your books are ones that will work for this challenge. Were they first published in German? If so, I am going to try Lonely Graves.

Kristin wrote: "Britta, I have always wanted to try your books as I am a big mystery lover. I am hoping your books are ones that will work for this challenge. Were they first published in German? If so, I am going..."

Ah, pity, no, the books were originally written in English...

Oh well. I will still get to these this year.

Kristin wrote: "Oh well. I will still get to these this year."

Thats lovely to hear, thank you!

Any thoughts on Q2 group read?

We could possibly read that expensive short story anthology, German Women Writers of the Twentieth Century. As Scribd are making their digital library free to everyone in April, it won’t cost us a penny!

(I’ve just downloaded a copy.)

Details of the Scribd offer at: https://blog.scribd.com/home/2020/3/1...

Thank you for this. I really wanted that book having read how marvellous the stories are but the price a bit much. I have just downloaded too and it cost nothing. Lots of other titles I could look for.

More free German literature available over at Seagull Books who are enabling free downloads of selected books throughout the Covid-19 crisis. The selections change every Monday. This week’s selection includes Katherina Winkler’s Blue Jewellery.

More info over at: https://www.seagullbooks.org/free-pdf...

Lizzy Siddal (Lizzy’s Literary Life) wrote: "Any thoughts on Q2 group read?

We could possibly read that expensive short story anthology, German Women Writers of the Twentieth Century. As Scribd are making their digital library..."

Penelope, how are you getting on with this. To my surprise, I’m struggling. Nothing to do with the quality of the stories, rather with the reading interface. I’m using an ipad and the configuration options are limited. I’m having to manually zoom out on the screen, zoom back in to turn a page, and I’m finding this extremely annoying.

Lizzy my experience entirely. Very annoying to have to adjust every turn of the page. The stories are great and the biographical notes for each author very good. Interesting. I’m on an iPad too so maybe could try my laptop?
I’m sorry I can’t do the thing where your question/statement is repeated. I’m sure it’s not hard but I can’t crack it!

Penelope wrote: "Lizzy my experience entirely. Very annoying to have to adjust every turn of the page. The stories are great and the biographical notes for each author very good. Interesting. I’m on an iPad too so ..."

Not just me, then. Phew!

P.S. To get the previous post to repeat, just hit the reply button on the post in question.

Lizzy Siddal (Lizzy’s Literary Life) wrote: "Penelope wrote: "Lizzy my experience entirely. Very annoying to have to adjust every turn of the page. The stories are great and the biographical notes for each author very good. Interesting. I’m o..."

Thank you so much for the reply procedure. On my ipad I don't seem to have a reply button. Now on my laptop and there it is.! Splendid. Reading interface the same as on ipad unfortunately.

Lizzy Siddal (Lizzy’s Literary Life) wrote: "More free German literature available over at Seagull Books who are enabling free downloads of selected books throughout the Covid-19 crisis. The selections change every Monday. This week’s selecti..."

Thanks so much for this tip! I only downloaded Blue Jewelry as a test (my library has the ebook in German), but pdf download to my e-reader worked well and now I am curious about next week's selection.

Mel and Britta. I have a question! I am currently reading the excellent Embers by Sandor Maria. The copy I am reading in translation, by Carol Brown Janeway, is from the German but it was originally published in Hungary. Is this eligible to be included in my German reads. Thanks!

I'm the author of several mystery books in English. They are now being translated into German, the first one just released July 1 on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. I am not sure if I am able to post about that here (don't want to cross any lines). What is the proper way to go about this?

Thank you.