Book Reviews John K. Cox Jurij Koch / Courtesy of Domowina-Verlag In the 1950s, a girl whom Jurij Koch knew in high school moved away from their hometown of Cottbus in East Germany. It was a case, he says in his recent memoir, of “Weg von Ulbricht, hin zu Adenauer” (Away from Ulbricht, over to Adenauer). Her mother took the girl to the West, before the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961. This is a familiar enough arc of events, but, as it turns out, the motivation behind the move is probably not something that most people outside of Germany would have considered. The reason was ethnic. Little Greta was growing up surrounded by Sorbs in the southeastern part of the country. The Sorbian language reminded her mother of Polish, and she had had quite enough of the Poles in her pre-1945 home farther east. In addition, Greta’s family was Protestant and they felt awash in a “Catholic sea.” So off they went, leaving the author of this autobiography—who, well, yes, had a crush on Greta—scratching his head. Like so many other scenes in this engaging book, this story blends the customary with the unexpected to stretch our understanding of what is “German.” Like so many other scenes in this engaging book, Koch’s memoir blends the customary with the unexpected to stretch our understanding of what is “German.” Windrad auf dem Dach (Domowina-Verlag, 2016) is the second volume of Koch’s memoirs to be published in German. Currently in his... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'
[ World Literature Today | 2020-01-27 20:47:13 UTC ]
In Kathryn Davis’ new memoir Aurelia, Aurélia life becomes more precious, language more urgent, and grief strikes deep chords. Davis’ husband Eric, an “ecological economist,” died of cancer in 2019, and throughout Aurelia, Aurélia where there is not outright elegy there is elegiac anticipation.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-04-18 08:50:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Marie Yovanovitch’s memoir makes a persuasive case for the officials who really did obstruct his agenda. Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2022-04-13 09:45:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Jefferson’s “Constructing a Nervous System,” a companion to her earlier “Negroland,” explores the materials used to make identity and art. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-04-12 09:00:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this
In “Left on Tenth,” the veteran author looks back on a series of life-altering events, including a whirlwind romance at the age of 72. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-04-12 09:00:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this
"The Unwritten Book" is a memoir and essay collection that finds beauty in impermanence. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2022-04-11 10:00:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this
“Hello, Molly!,” the former “Saturday Night Live” star’s new book, recounts early family tragedy and a career of transgressive humor. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-04-10 09:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall sells a memoir to Ballantine, Random House buys a Lincoln bio from Jon Meacham, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
“Tasha” is Brian Morton’s memoir of his complicated relationship with the woman who raised him. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-04-05 09:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this
She helped establish the study of postcolonial literature and made her own entry to the genre with the memoir "Meatless Days." Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2022-04-01 22:48:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this
At Slate, Maia Kobabe discusses writing Gender Queer, a memoir about self-acceptance and understanding, which has been challenged in schools and libraries across the country in recent months. “What I’m learning is that a book challenge is like a community attacking itself,” Kobabe says. “The... Continue reading at The Millions
[ The Millions | 2022-03-30 20:30:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Her 1989 book, “Meatless Days,” is viewed as an important work of postcolonial literature. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-03-28 22:06:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this
In Sensorium by Tanaïs is, at once, a sensuous and gut-wrenching experience in expansive memoir that bleeds across genre and time. Using perfume as a framework, Tanaïs builds the work slowly, moving from the base to the heart to the head notes, recounting alienation and life on the margins as a... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2022-03-25 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
In “Every Good Boy Does Fine,” the concert pianist recalls his artistic and erotic awakening. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-03-24 15:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The voice of Ariel in Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ is bringing a memoir to Tyndale Momentum, the co-authors behind ‘The Come Back Effect’ sign with Baker once again, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Her essay collection was removed from contention in the category of best lesbian memoir after she went on Twitter to defend a forthcoming Sandra Newman novel from charges that it was transphobic. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-03-22 01:34:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this
It’s been ten years since the release of Wild, Cheryl Strayed’s bracingly honest memoir about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail as a young adult after her mother’s death with no experience or training—and to ccelebrate the anniversary, Strayed has released a cut scene from Wild, free to read... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-03-21 19:22:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this
In “The Emergency,” Thomas Fisher writes about his work at a Chicago hospital and the inequities of American health care. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-03-21 18:46:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Garrett Hongo tells a coming-of-age story wrapped in his love of writing and music, and recounts his lifelong quest for the perfect audio equipment. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2022-03-18 12:00:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Sasha LaPointe escaped a difficult childhood on a reservation by diving into Seattle punk. Her memoir, "Red Paint," finds solace in her Native roots. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-03-17 13:00:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Why did Penguin decide to reissue a memoir and a novel by Harry Crews, a dead white Southern writer? His influence — and his truths — run deep. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-03-15 13:00:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this