Suggested reading (novels, first person nonfiction, etc.) set in Netherlands or Germany
 

I like to read some novels and nonfiction set in the countries we visit. Next destinations are the Netherlands and Germany. Examples: Diary of Anne Frank, The Girl with the Pearl Earring. What else would suggest?

The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier takes place in Delft in the 17th Century. It's about Vermeer and his famous painting byt t he same name, told from the point of view of the young woman who posed for it. Fabulous.

Oops! You've already read that one! Sorry. <BR> <BR>We were in Amsterdam last month and went to the Rijksmuseum to see the Vermeers. I was so captivated, byt the art and by the novel. that I've just purchased "Vermeer, A View of Delft" by Anthony Bailey. I'll let you know if it's any good.

here is another one, it is "Tulip Fever" <BR>by Debroah Moggach <BR>I would like to read some books on the natural history of the Netherlands does anyone, have any suggestions? <BR>

The Van der Valk mysteries by Nicholas Freeling, and police/detective stories by Janwillem Van de Wetering are based in the Netherlands. <BR> <BR>For Germany, all I can think of is Elizabeth and her German garden, by Elizabeth von Arnim, or Philip Kerr's novels.

Another vote for "Tulip Fever," and a recommendation for "The Golden Tulip" by Rosalind Laker. Both are set in the 17th century. For "The Golden Tulip" you may need to check it out of the library as it is out of print.

Hello Kay, <BR> <BR>I would suggest "Buddenbrocks" by Thomas Mann. It`s about a very wealthy family in Hamburg, portrayed over several generations. One of my favourite books is (Sorry, I don`t know the English title, maybe someone else can help here) "Es muss nicht immer Kaviar sein" by Johannes-Mario Simmel. It`s about a German born Londoner who gets in trouble with different secret services during WW2. Written with humour without missing on the sad facts of war. <BR>Another classic "Die Blechtrommel" by Günther Grass, again I don`t know the English translation. <BR>If you specify how you expect the novel to be (love, crime, history etc.) <BR>I`m sure I can help you further. <BR> <BR>Kind regards <BR> <BR>Miriam

Wow! Thanks for the quick and on-target responses. I always start with my local and university libraries. I will read any type of book if well written--mystery, romance, first-hand nonfiction. They all make the info from the guidebooks and history books come alive. <BR> <BR>Before my trip to England last year I read some Dick Francis mysteries and some stories about various members of the royal family, for example and the Tower of London and the villages in the Cotswolds came much more alive for me.

A terrific book I just finished is Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland. It's a series of stories about the owners of a fictional Vermeer painting, starting with the present and going back to its beginning.

Kay, <BR>I have recently fallen in love with the works of Alexandre Dumas and he wrote a book called "The Black Tulip". It is about a tulip grower who is trying to create the perfect tulip for a contest. The story tells of the crazy events that lead up to the contest. I loved it!

The Tin Drum by Grass is difficult but certainly worthwhile. Ditto Thomas Mann <BR>Try anything by Heinrich Boll (spelt with o Umlaut), which is a lot more accessible. Try the short stories or the early novels (as well as Katharina Blum about German terrorism in the 70's). <BR>I personally love Heinrich Heine (he wrote the poem about the Loreley). <BR> <BR>What kind of books are you interested in?

The English title of the Simmel book that Miriam recommended is "It Can't Always Be Caviar." It's not very easy to find in the US, but a university library might have it. The Grass book she recommends is "The Tin Drum," which Ingrid also recommends and is a classic and should be easy to find. <BR> <BR>Of course, German literature is pretty vast -- it depends upon what kind of book you like. If you want to bathe in German romanticism, try Goethe's "The Sorrows of Young Werther." <BR> <BR>For the Netherlands, "The Assault" by Harry Mulisch is a fascinating morality tale about collaboration and integrity during the German occupation and in more recent times. <BR> <BR>

Again, thanks for the help. Thus far I found Tulip Fever and Golden Tulip at my local libary--just finished them both. Really gave me the descriptions of history, atmosphere, and life that will bring those towns in the Netherlands more to life when I visit in December. <BR> <BR>I will continue to look for the others you have all so kindly suggested. As we are going to former East Germany, I think I will look for a biography of Martin Luther or related works to better appreciate the history of some of the towns we will visit there. <BR>

Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans. It is cheap, good, really funny and true. If there is one for the Dutch I do not know.

For a somewhat tongue in cheek look at Dutch quirks, character and customs check out The Undutchables. see www.undutchables.com

I second the suggestion (Ingrid's) of Heinrich Boll's short stories. They are totally engrossing and extremely well written (even translated into English).

Kay, <BR>For the Netherlands, look for two books by Simon Schama, both brilliantly evocative of the times they cover: "The Embarassment of Riches" and "Rembrandt's Eyes". Two others to look for are "Of Dutch Ways" by Helen Colijn and "Of Dikes and Windmills" written and illustrated by Peter Spier. Both are, I'm sure, out of print and Spier's book will probably be found in the children's section of a library, although its contents and his writing style are equally appealing to adults. <BR> <BR>Colijn's book captures the everyday life of the Dutch (it even includes a few recipes, Stoofpeertjes for one. Spier's traces the long and valiant battle of the Dutch against the sea.

I guess it would come under the heading of Biography. The story of a Dutch family who hid Jews during WWII: "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom.

Van de Wetering, Van de Wetering, Van de Wetering (Dutch)--fantastic.

I second The Girl in Hyacinth Blue. <BR>However, I don't think Maura has finished it yet; it is not until the very end that you find out the true origin of the painting! <BR>

The "Caviar" book is at least 40 years old and outdated.

Jan de Hartog's The Little Ark - a wonderful novel about 2 children literally adrift during the huge flood in the Netherlands in the early 50s. It is not a children's book even though the main characters are kids.

I usually avoid Oprah's picks like the Plague, but "Stones from the River" by Ursula Hegi was a phenomenal read. Set in Nazi Germany, it narrates the changes and drama in the lifes of some people living in a small German city while WWII was unfolding, all as seen by the protagonist, a dwarf.

I just finished "Stones from the River" as well and really enjoyed it. As Maira said, the perspective given is like no other book, very different. <BR><BR> I've been to Dusseldorf and she mentions it frequently. Little things like that mean a lot to me when I'm reading. (Like coming back from Venice and seeing a travel show on it shortly after) It gives me a place in the world.

Hallo Kay,<BR><BR>I can recommend a number of German books but I have no idea if they have been translated into English, and if so whether that translation captured the original.<BR><BR>One book that I can unreservedly recommend for a picture of Berlin life from around 1930 until shortly before the war is Wolfdietrich Schnurre's "When Father's Beard was Red". This is a novel in the form of a number of loosely connected stories, told through the eyes of a young boy who is about ten at the beginning of the book.<BR><BR>Some other German writers to look out for are:<BR>Erich Kastner; Ingeborg Bachmann; Franz F&uuml;hmann (East German); Siegfried Lenz; Konrad Lorenz (Austrian Nobel Prize winner in the field of animal behaviour - his biogrpahy of his father, an eminent surgeon, is most entertaining); Ludwig Spoerl; Hans Fallada.<BR><BR>I guess the very fact that a work has ben translated is guarantee enough of its wider appeal.<BR><BR>Harzer

I realize this is an old post, but just for the record:<BR><BR>I second the suggestion for the Netherlands of Corrie ten Boom's "The Hiding Place". It is a true account of how she hid Jews during WWII. You can also visit her home in Haarlem and see the actual hiding place.<BR><BR>For Germany, try reading Christopher Isherwood's "Berlin Stories". These stories were part of what made up the musical "Cabaret".

"The Discovery of Heaven" by Harry Mulisch (movie by the same name). Thick enough to keep you busy for a while!

I would definitely recommend "Stones from the River" by Ursula Hegi. Excellent book.

Try the tulip chapter form The Botany of Desire (by Michael(?) Pollen for Holland and tulip-mania; in fact, while you are at it, read the whole book. Its a marvel.<BR>Also, I second the motion for Nicolas Freeling's Van der Valk esp. Because of the Cats, and if you are planning to visit France check out the Castang stories by the same author.

I just finished "The Good German" by Joseph Kanon which takes place in Berlin immediately following the war. I found it extremely interesting as it was part historical, part mystery and part human nature/love story. It was written by the same person who wrote Los Alamos- about the German scientists.

<BR>For a glimpse into East German Literature and History, I'd recommend:<BR><BR>"The Tango Player" by Christoph Hein (enchanting and accessible book that prognosticates the collapse of the GDR government, through the story of a fallen lecturer, just out of East German prison)<BR><BR><BR>

I enjoyed "The Girl with the Pearl Earring." It's a good book and helps you understand about life in Delft. But I would recommend reading it AFTER your trip. The fictional account of the subject of Vermeer's portrait kinda ruined the painting for me. The same way that a music video sometimes ruins a song - it was more enjoyable when you relied on your own imagination rather than someone else's interpretation.

I plan on reading 'Tulipomania' before I go to the Netherlands in April and I'm reading The Undutchables right now, and that is pretty entertaining as well as interesting!

It's been a while since I've read them, but Herman Hesse and Gunther Grass are quite interesting German authors (the first obviously being much earlier).

The Flounder by Grass is one of my all time favorite novels. Maybe something to do with the concept of three breasts.

If you visit Berlin Herr Lehmann or Neue Vahr S&uuml;d (english title?) are more recent books. Funny and easy to read.

Confessions of An Ugly Stepsister by Gregory McGuire is set in the Netherlands in the 17th century, and is the story of Cinderella told from the point of view of one of her sisters. I found it riveting---lots of detail (similar to the Girl with the Pearl Earring, but I believe Confessions was written first) and a whopping good story. If you've read Wicked, one of his other novels, and liked it, you will enjoy Confessions. (Although Wicked is much more philosophical than Confessions.)

&quot;Through the Gates of the Netherlands&quot; by Mary E. Waller, 1906. It is a great book. This is the account of a New England couple who packed up and moved to the Netherlands 100 years ago.

I've lived in Haarlem and I can assure you that many of the things you read in this book are right up to date, even a century after publication.

How about &quot;The Burgermeister's daughter : scandal in a 16th century German town&quot; by Steven Ozment? It takes place in Schwabish Hall, and deals with customs and morals of the time.
I read it after eating a meal in the restaurant which had been the setting for the book. Too bad I did not read it first.

one of my secret pleasures is the string of light romances by betty neel, nearly all set in the netherlands. i learned a great deal about dutch life and geography from them. you might be able to find used copies at amazon and alibris.