November isn’t far away, and you all know what that means – German Literature Month is just around the corner! For the 16th time, we’ll be reading German, Austrian, or Swiss books, enjoying a whole month of German-language literature.
I’m pleased to announce that Tony from Tony’s Reading List will be co-hosting again this year. As many of you know, my co-founder, Lizzy Siddal, of Lizzy’s Literary Life, sadly passed away during last year’s GLM, so the event now also serves as our annual opportunity to remember her and her work in raising the awareness of German-language literature.
If you’d like to participate, there’s only one rule to follow – read books that were originally written in German. Other than that, you can read whatever you like, or you can follow the structure Tony and I are adopting. This is a year of anniversaries, so we will dedicate two weeks to two very special authors, Ingeborg Bachmann and Rainer Maria Rilke. Please find our full schedule below:
November 1st-8th: Fiction Week
In the spirit of “Read as you please”, we kick off with something that everyone would probably choose anyway.
November 9th-15th: Ingeborg Bachmann Week
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Austrian author Ingeborg Bachmann, who was born in Klagenfurt on June 25, 1926. This week will give us the opportunity to celebrate her life and work.
November 16th-22rd: Non-fiction Week
Non-fiction isn’t a genre we included very often in the past, which is a shame as there is a lot to discover.
November 23th- 30th: Rainer Maria Rilke Week
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of beloved Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who passed away on December 29, 1926.
German Literature Month is not a challenge, or a competition to read the most books, and reading one item, originally written in German, is enough to participate.
I hope that many of you will join Tony and me on our reading journeys. For those who are happy to do so, you can write blog or Instagram posts, or simply share what you’re reading on X (Twitter), BlueSky or Facebook– and don’t forget to add#GermanLitMonth so we can find you.
I’m planning on reading one of the new Ingeborg Bachmann biographies, maybe some of her short stories, Rilke’s poems, and any of the many unread novels or short story collections on my piles.
What about you? What will you be reading?
Hello Caroline, I’m so thrilled you and Tony are hosting German Lit Month again- a tribute to Lizzie, with whom I once spent an enjoyable evening, unexpectedly, in London.
I’ll be reading Klassenbeste by Marlen Hobrack for the Non-Fiction week. It’s about her mother’s life. I much enjoyed her book Erbgut, reviewed on Peak Reads, about the process of clearing out her mother’s house after she died.
For fiction I’ve got some gems brought back from a trip to Leipzig in August- die Hollaenderin by Dorothee Elminger, and Goldstrand by Katerina Poladjan, whose novel Zukunftsmusik ( reviewed Peak Reads) I loved.
What would you recommend by Ingeborg Bachmann? I have never read anything by her. Also Rilke- I think I shall dip into an ancient copy of the Duino Elegies with English translation I have just rediscovered on my shelf.
Many thanks again!
How nice you had the chance to meet her. I sadly never did. I wish I had.
Your reading plans sound great. Malina is her most famous book but I don’t know if it’s for everyone. I would start with some short stories but I also love her poems. Rilke’s Letter to a Young Poet is beautiful. I might reread it. Then I’ll finally get to Biedermann’s Lázár. I started it and it’s promising. Bachmann was also famous for her letters. Maybe that would be a great choice? I am glad you’re joining us.
Thanks for the Bachmann recommendations, Caroline, I’ll take a look. A German friend also recommended the Lazar book to me. See you in November!
Yes, see you, then. Enjoy your books.
Hi Caroline, It’s great to hear that you’re organising the event again this year. I’m not sure what I’ll read yet, but I do plan to participate. There will be some sadness this year because Lizzy was such a big part of the event for so many years, but it’s also a great chance to pay tribute to her, and I’m glad Tony is co-hosting with you. Looking forward to it, and thanks as always for putting it all together.
Hi Andrew, how great that you will join again. Lizzy’s death hit me really hard and a first anniversary is always something emotional. I’m glad Tony was up for it again.
Thank you again for hosting, and we’ll all be keeping Lizzy in our hearts.
It’s our pleasure. It’s nice that you will join us. She’s in our hearts, Thats for sure.
I’m looking forward to it. Maybe this year I’ll actually manage The Magic Mountain… but I think I’ll look for some shorter novels in the TBR too…
I am so glad to hear you’ll join us. I was tempted to read another chunky book this year but I don’t think I’ve got the stamina thus year. I can totally understand if you stick to shorter books.
As ever looking forward to
Joining in sure I’ve a few books I can read
That’s great to hear, Stu.
Looking forward to another month of German-Language reading 🙂
Me too. I am glad we’re continuing the tradition. 😊
So glad you’re running this and it will be a wonderful way to celebrate Lizzie. If nothing else I have a couple of early Hesse titles lined up, but we’ll have to see what else I have lurking in the stacks!!!
I think it’s a great way to honor her. I am glad you’ll join us. I am sure you’ll something worth your while. Hesse is always nice.
I almost bought the big fat Ingeborg Bachmann biography but will try to borrow it from the library instead. Could do double duty for her week and non-fiction (especially since I’ll be travelling half of the month).
I think that’s the one I bought. And I thought the same as I’m super busy at the moment. Anyway, nice to know you’ll join us.
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Looking forward to it and will raise a glass to dear Lizzy. I’ve been reading Anniversaries by Uwe Johnson since August (each entry on the day) so will continue with that, and then I have some other German books on my shelf I hope to get to.
That is a nice idea. It actually happened on the 22 which I will mention in the intro post so people can commemorate any way they like.
I have Jahrestage on my piles but still not read it. I like that you read it on the day. I hope you find good choices.
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Last November I said that I wanted to try to participate in this event for the first time this year and I bought a copy of Buddenbrooks, so now I just have to… read it! I don’t think I’ll have it done for the first week (because I am still hosting Margaret Atwood Reading Month too, and have been organising for that) but I will try. (I’m sorry about your friend. The two of you will have company in missing her during the month, while you are hosting.)
I am happy to hear you’ll join us and it doesn’t matter when you review it. The program is just a suggestion. The essential is to pick something you enjoy. It was very sad losing Lizzy. It’s a nice way to commemorate her. Maybe I’ll finally manage to read something for Atwood month.
Thanks, Caroline! I wondered it it was maybe just a guideline for those who have been participating regularly all along and would like some additional prompting. Maybe I’ll aspire to two reads for next year; I mean, after all, as soon as one starts reading in a new “subject”, it does tend to take off, suddenly you have a whole new section in your TBR, eh? It’s the decision to begin…
Yes, true. I have more sections than I can count. I chose The Magic Mountain last year but started early October as it’s chunky and ended up writing five posts about it. It was immersive.
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