German Literature Month November 2024 | Beauty is a Sleeping Cat

Welcome to German Literature Month XIV

Hopefully shelves have been scoured, reading material has been chosen, and everyone has a reading list for #germanlitmonth.

Remember anything that was originally written in German can be read during #germanlitmonth. This year books written in other languages, provided they are about Franz Kafka or inspired by him can be read during Kafka Reading Week (November 15-21).

The full schedule for the month is:

Nov 1-7 Crime Week

Nov 8-14 Read as You Please

Nov 15-21 Franz Kafka week

Nov 22-30 Read as You Please

As always there will be a week’s extension to catch up with any outstanding reviews, while this year’s author index is created. The best way to share those reviews and ensure they show up on the index is to leave a comment below. Alternatively advertise your reviews on Twitter (X), Bluesky, FB or Instagram using the hash tag #germanlitmonth.

With the admin sorted, all that remains is for Lizzy and I to welcome you to German Literature Month XIV and to wish you Viel Vergnügen!

November is coming and you all know what that means: German Literature Month is back. Dust off the German/Austrian/Swiss books on your piles, rush to the book shop to get the latest German language publications or browse your local library to find some gems.

This year’s event will feature a Franz Kafka week, to celebrate the centenary of the man of the moment. The focus of the week is the man and his legacy; it is a space not only for Kafka’s fictions, letters and diaries, but also works about Kafka and books/films inspired by him whatever their original language. There are treasures waiting to be unearthed. Let’s find them!

For the rest of the month, the one rule of GLM applies: reading material must have been originally written in German.

No readalongs are planned so you can read what you wish, when you wish or you can adopt the structure that Lizzy and I will follow:

Nov 1-7 Crime Week

Nov 8-14 Read as You Please

Nov 15-21 Franz Kafka week

Nov 22-30 Read as You Please

German Literature Month is not a challenge or a competition to read the most books. Reading one item, originally written in German, is enough to participate.

As I mentioned recently, I’m not doing too well with reading plans. My own event isn’t an exception, so I have only a vague idea of what I’m going to read. I only know I will read Kafka’s letters to Milena for our Kafka week.

What are your plans?