Jurij Koch’s Sorbian Memoir of Life Before, During, and After the GDR, by John K. Cox

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 ]

Other news stories related to: "Jurij Koch’s Sorbian Memoir of Life Before, During, and After the GDR, by John K. Cox"


Born Black and poor in Stockton, he was mayor by 26. Michael Tubbs' memoir tells the tale

Out this week, 'The Deeper the Roots' is an intimate, personal story of defying odds, helping others do the same and making history along the way. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-11-16 14:36:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this


A Charming, Poignant Middle-Grade Memoir of Soviet Russia

In “The Genius Under the Table,” the artist and writer Eugene Yelchin recalls his boyhood in 1970s Leningrad. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-11-12 20:41:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Christina Patterson | 'In our family we didn’t have weddings; only funerals'

Writer Christina Patterson returns with a memoir about family, mental illness, cake and fortitude. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-12 05:08:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this


John Blake lands 'shocking' memoir from ex-head of UFO programme

Bonnier Books UK imprint John Blake has landed a “shocking” memoir by Luis Elizondo, the former head of the US government’s highly sensitive UFO programme. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-12 02:01:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Will Smith celebrates memoir with Sevenoaks Bookshop art installation

Will Smith has partnered with Black-owned bookshops and artists of colour across the UK and America to celebrate his upcoming memoir Will (Century), with Sevenoaks Bookshop featuring an artist’s display.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-11 02:48:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this


And Other Stories signs Taneja's 'masterpiece' examining terror attack

And Other Stories has acquired Aftermath, a new essay memoir by Preti Taneja in which the Desmond Elliott Prize-winning British writer examines the ramifications of the terrorist attack at Fishmongers' Hall. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-10 21:27:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Hachette Ireland acquires Döring's 'visceral' memoir

Hachette Ireland has acquired Mia Döring's "deeply personal and astutely political" literary memoir and debut Any Girl. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-10 15:02:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this


In Will Smith’s memoir, the superstar is self-deprecating but ultimately invincible

It’s hard to imagine a more political flex than publishing a memoir the same month you release your biggest Oscar contender in years. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-11-08 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Book Deals: Week of November 8, 2021

Knopf buys Paul Newman’s lost memoir, Hanover Square takes on a memoir by actor Tommy Dorfman, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Unpublished Paul Newman Memoir To Come Out Next Year

The untitled book will include the Oscar-winning actor’s thoughts on acting, directing, his 50-year marriage to Joanne Woodward, drinking, politics and racing. Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2021-11-03 17:41:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Paul Newman’s memoir—which he started writing in the 80s—will finally be released next fall.

If you’re like me and have a deep appreciation and love of classic Hollywood, then you’ll be delighted to hear that Knopf plans to publish Paul Newman’s memoir in the fall of 2022. The actor, who died in 2008 at the age of 83, began working on his memoir in the 1980s; according to the […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-11-03 14:46:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Artwork for Ai Weiwei’s memoir broadcast across Piccadilly Circus billboard

Artwork has been displayed on the largest billboard in Europe, at Piccadilly Circus, as part of the campaign for Ai Weiwei’s 1,000 Years of Joys and Sorrows (Bodley Head). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-02 09:01:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this


For His Father and His Son, Ai Weiwei Is Determined to Leave a Trace

The Chinese dissident artist writes a memoir of family, exile and the inseparability of art and politics. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-10-30 09:00:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Cassandra Peterson finally drags Elvira, L.A.'s spookiest icon, out of the dark

Halloween queen opens up in memoir about alter ego Elvira, troubling encounters with Wilt Chamberlain and Tom Jones, and the relationship she hid for years. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-10-29 16:45:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Brian Cox torches Johnny Depp, Ed Norton, Michael Caine and more in new book

'Succession' star Brian Cox rips several beloved Hollywood stars in his memoir 'Putting the Rabbit in the Hat,' but also praises a few along the way. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-10-28 22:07:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Barnes & Noble Name Third-Annual “Book Of The Year” Finalists

8 books, ranging from memoir to pizza czar, history for young readers and lyrics by legends, are the finalists for B&N's Book of the Year. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-10-28 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


White Rabbit signs Lanegan's 'terrifying' account of Covid-19 fight

White Rabbit has signed a new memoir by Mark Lanegan, described as a “terrifying account” of Covid-19, which left the songwriter slipping in and out of a coma. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-27 22:09:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Review: Katie Couric is done pleasing people, as her new memoir proves

The TV news star's memoir, 'Going There,' is fearlessly, wildly entertaining, often emotional and sure to upend the idea that she wants your love. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-10-26 13:00:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Selma Blair's Mean Baby memoir coming from Virago in 2022

Virago will publish Mean Baby, the memoir of actress Selma Blair, exploring her career, struggles with addiction, life with multiple sclerosis (MS) and advocacy alongside her role as a mother.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-26 09:44:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Seven Dials signs memoir from Princess Diana's bodyguard Sansum

Seven Dials has scooped the "explosive" memoir from Lee Sansum, the bodyguard who protected Hollywood royalty and Princess Diana, to be written with Howard Linskey.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-26 06:48:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this