Posts

LR Essay: Still Today | Heute noch - by Zsuzsanna Gahse

Family trees are an endlessly interesting subject for many, but a look at the different language families is equally as informative... Family trees are an endlessly interesting subject for many, but a look at the different language families is equally as informative...

December 19, 2024 December 19, 2024

LR Fiction: We were all sleeping - "Prophet Song" by Paul Lynch

In his Booker Prize-winning "Prophet Song", Paul Lynch succeeds in transforming our fragile political present into a bleak vision more relevant than a political treatise. In his Booker Prize-winning "Prophet Song", Paul Lynch succeeds in transforming our fragile political present into a bleak vision more relevant than a political treatise.

December 18, 2024 December 18, 2024

LR Essay: Finales olvidados | Forgotten endings | Rodolfo Lara Mendoza

What do we remember if not islands? In literature, film and real life too. And it's not only the narrative that matters... What do we remember if not islands? In literature, film and real life too. And it's not only the narrative that matters...

December 16, 2024 December 16, 2024

LR Essay: Horror, comfort and hope

More and more people fear that humanity is facing the collapse of civilization due to climate change and other crises. Some books can help us to better understand this... More and more people fear that humanity is facing the collapse of civilization due to climate change and other crises. Some books can help us to better understand this...

December 14, 2024 December 14, 2024

LR Literature: A story about wounds of identity in Lebanon

Souhaib Ayoub writes about the his wounds of identity in Lebanon Souhaib Ayoub writes about the his wounds of identity in Lebanon

December 12, 2024 December 12, 2024

LR Essay: On Not Reading Rizal by Caroline Hau

Today we have a brilliant essay by Caroline Hau showing how misunderstanding is essential to the longevity of two Filipino literary masterpieces... Today we have a brilliant essay by Caroline Hau showing how misunderstanding is essential to the longevity of two Filipino literary masterpieces...

December 10, 2024 December 10, 2024

LR Fiction: Journey into the heart of a toxic relationship

In "Der Teufelsgriff" (The Devil's Grip) Lina Wolff masterfully tells the story of an "amour fou" between a Swedish woman and an Italian man in Florence... In "Der Teufelsgriff" (The Devil's Grip) Lina Wolff masterfully tells the story of an "amour fou" between a Swedish woman and an Italian man in Florence...

December 7, 2024 December 7, 2024

LR Report: "Harare's New Literary Mecca" by Philani A. Nyoni

The Harare International Literary Festival not only shakes hands with writers, poets, academics and a former spy. It also fills a gaping void... The Harare International Literary Festival not only shakes hands with writers, poets, academics and a former spy. It also fills a gaping void...

December 5, 2024 December 5, 2024

LR Fiction: Tash Aw's memoir "Strangers on a Pier"

Tash Aw's memoir "Strangers on a Pier" is an illuminating and touching document about the search for family and national identity in times of migration... Tash Aw's memoir "Strangers on a Pier" is an illuminating and touching document about the search for family and national identity in times of migration...

December 3, 2024 December 3, 2024

LR Fiction: Sally Rooney's "Intermezzo"

„Intermezzo“ - a musical interlude, an unexpected chess move, and now Sally Rooney’s latest novel, in which she tackles the universal themes of grief, loss and love... „Intermezzo“ - a musical interlude, an unexpected chess move, and now Sally Rooney’s latest novel, in which she tackles the universal themes of grief, loss and love...

November 29, 2024 November 29, 2024

LR Report: Blind blood in the corridor - a war diary from Gaza

LR Report: The war in Lebanon is over, but the war in Gaza continues. From there we have a literary report by poet Fatena Al-Ghorra... LR Report: The war in Lebanon is over, but the war in Gaza continues. From there we have a literary report by poet Fatena Al-Ghorra...

November 27, 2024 November 27, 2024

LR Fiction: Clemens Böckmanns Was du kriegen kannst (What you can get)

LR Fiction: In "Was du kriegen kannst" (What you can get), Clemens Böckmann gives a harrowing insight into the life of a sex worker who spied for the Stasi... LR Fiction: In "Was du kriegen kannst" (What you can get), Clemens Böckmann gives a harrowing insight into the life of a sex worker who spied for the Stasi...

November 25, 2024 November 25, 2024

LR Literature: Middle East Special - A story by Marie Tawk, Lebanon

On the occasion of the current catastrophe in the Middle East, we have invited authors from the region to write stories, poems and essays... Today a story by Marie Tawk On the occasion of the current catastrophe in the Middle East, we have invited authors from the region to write stories, poems and essays... Today a story by Marie Tawk

November 23, 2024 November 23, 2024

LR Literature: Short Story of the Month by Waseem Hussain

Our short story of the month is a story from Pakistan and Switzerland by Waseem Hussain... Our short story of the month is a story from Pakistan and Switzerland by Waseem Hussain...

November 21, 2024 November 21, 2024

LR Essay: Saleem Albeik on "Land, people and place in genocide"

What does it mean to be a Palestinian in the diaspora, an outsider who can only contemplate his homeland from his hereditary exile through the characters in his novels? What does it mean to be a Palestinian in the diaspora, an outsider who can only contemplate his homeland from his hereditary exile through the characters in his novels?

November 19, 2024 November 19, 2024

LR Poetry: Die Erde hebt uns auf (The earth lifts us up) by Tom Schulz

With his three cycles in "Die Erde hebt uns auf", Tom Schulz has produced an outstanding volume of poetry that is as beautifully sad and formally rigorous... With his three cycles in "Die Erde hebt uns auf", Tom Schulz has produced an outstanding volume of poetry that is as beautifully sad and formally rigorous...

November 15, 2024 November 15, 2024

LR Literature: A poem by Bana Baydoun, Lebanon

On the occasion of the current catastrophe in Lebanon, Israel and Palestine, we invited authors from the region to write for us - today it is a poem by Bana Baydoun. On the occasion of the current catastrophe in Lebanon, Israel and Palestine, we invited authors from the region to write for us - today it is a poem by Bana Baydoun.

November 12, 2024 November 12, 2024

LR Nonfiction: "Critique of the grand gesture" by Armin Nassehi

In "Kritik der großen Geste", sociology professor Armin Nassehi calls for politicians to refrain from making huge demands in times of crises... In "Kritik der großen Geste", sociology professor Armin Nassehi calls for politicians to refrain from making huge demands in times of crises...

November 9, 2024 November 9, 2024

LR Fiction: Joseph O'Neill's football and "Africa" novel "Godwin"

Joseph O'Neill's carefully researched football novel "Godwin" plays with the question of whether a biography with any degree of integrity can still unfold in this world Joseph O'Neill's carefully researched football novel "Godwin" plays with the question of whether a biography with any degree of integrity can still unfold in this world

November 7, 2024 November 7, 2024

LR Essay: US election special - Haiti and its diaspora in Mayday mode

In a longread, Erica Joseph explains how the now-ending US election campaign has not only deeply disturbed the Haitian diaspora in the US, but also provoked paradoxes. In a longread, Erica Joseph explains how the now-ending US election campaign has not only deeply disturbed the Haitian diaspora in the US, but also provoked paradoxes.

November 4, 2024 November 4, 2024

LR Report: Of encounters and misunderstandings - The FrankfurtBookFair

It took a little time to sort out the thoughts, encounters and encounters and summarise them into a few reflections on the Frankfurt Book Fair... It took a little time to sort out the thoughts, encounters and encounters and summarise them into a few reflections on the Frankfurt Book Fair...

October 31, 2024 October 31, 2024

LR Nonfiction: Robert Menasse & Does the European Union have a future?

In "The World of Tomorrow: A Sovereign Democratic Europe - and its Enemies", Robert Menasse asks whether nationalism is becoming the gravedigger of the EU... In "The World of Tomorrow: A Sovereign Democratic Europe - and its Enemies", Robert Menasse asks whether nationalism is becoming the gravedigger of the EU...

October 27, 2024 October 27, 2024

LR Report: What we keep quiet in the "truck" by Jhak Valcourt

On the occasion of the brutal deportations of Haitians from the Dominican Republic we are publishing a literary report by Haitian writer Jhak Valcourt... On the occasion of the brutal deportations of Haitians from the Dominican Republic we are publishing a literary report by Haitian writer Jhak Valcourt...

October 25, 2024 October 25, 2024

LR Prose: Mirror - A story from Morocco by Mohamed Khalfouf

As part of our new ‘Short Story of the Month’ format, today we are publishing a short story by the young Moroccan author Mohamed Khalfouf about a ‘mirror’... As part of our new ‘Short Story of the Month’ format, today we are publishing a short story by the young Moroccan author Mohamed Khalfouf about a ‘mirror’...

October 23, 2024 October 23, 2024

LR Interview with Nenden Lilis Aisyah: „Islam is not anti-feminist!“

Writer, poet and lecturer Nenden Lilis Aisyah on the development of Indonesian literature, politics, mass killings, feminism and the modern approach to Islam in Indonosia Writer, poet and lecturer Nenden Lilis Aisyah on the development of Indonesian literature, politics, mass killings, feminism and the modern approach to Islam in Indonosia

October 20, 2024 October 20, 2024

LR Essay: On sentences and lizards by Zsuzsanna Gahse

The moods of different languages and the corresponding moods of the speakers... The moods of different languages and the corresponding moods of the speakers...

October 18, 2024 October 18, 2024

LR Fiction Review: Gianfranco Calligarich's "Like a Wild God"

In "Like a Wild God", Gianfranco Calligarich transforms a forgotten, cruel piece of the puzzle that is Italian colonial history into a postmodern, sparkling mosaic... In "Like a Wild God", Gianfranco Calligarich transforms a forgotten, cruel piece of the puzzle that is Italian colonial history into a postmodern, sparkling mosaic...

October 16, 2024 October 16, 2024

LR Essay: Mayra Santos-Febres/Negra Letrada. Confesiones Afropoéticas

To mark the anniversary of the occupation of Latin America by Columbus on 12 October 1492, we are publishing an essay by Mayra Santos-Febres... To mark the anniversary of the occupation of Latin America by Columbus on 12 October 1492, we are publishing an essay by Mayra Santos-Febres...

October 12, 2024 October 12, 2024

LR Report: Literature behind bars - Ronya Othmann in Spandau

Have a future: As part of the ILB, Ronya Othmann reads in the open prison in Spandau, Berlin... Have a future: As part of the ILB, Ronya Othmann reads in the open prison in Spandau, Berlin...

October 10, 2024 October 10, 2024

LR Fiction: "Wandering Stars", the new novel by Tommy Orange

"Wandering Stars", the new novel by Tommy Orange, is a gripping Native American family epic of volcanic force... "Wandering Stars", the new novel by Tommy Orange, is a gripping Native American family epic of volcanic force...

October 9, 2024 October 9, 2024