“This book is intended to start a conversation about the divisions in society,” said Barbara Kingsolver a few months ago in a conversation with the New York Times. She spoke about her novel “Demon Copperhead”, which won the Pulitzer Prize and the Women’s Prize for Fiction in the USA. The bestseller tells of the massive opioid crisis, which left more than one generation impoverished, particularly in rural areas, such as the Appalachian region. And of course it’s no coincidence that the title is reminiscent of Dickens’ “David Copperfield”.
With more than 800 pages, Kingsolver’s novel comes close to the original not only in terms of subject matter but also in terms of scope. And what she lets her first-person narrator Demon report about his childhood in a trailer with an addicted mother who ultimately died miserably, about his youth as a brutally exploited foster child, is similarly compelling and touching. When the writer now presents her novel in Germany, with Munich as the first stop (Literaturhaus, March 11), it will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the local literary spring.
Not only social but also political upheavals characterize the reading program for the first two weeks of March – as can be seen from high-spirited events such as the German finale Short story competitions in the Old Congress Hall (March 2nd). Munich Book Show Junior in the Fat Cat (March 2nd – 10th) or the, as always, wide-ranging Festival puns for young literature in Ampere (March 13-15). Otherwise, the discussion of the fermenting issues of our time dominates.
In the Israeli religious community For example, in a “Week of Brotherhood” several readings deal with Jewish life in Germany today. C. Bernd Sucher will talk about his book “Insecure Homeland” (5.3.), Mirna Funk about her book “Learning from Jews” (March 7). The Kammerspiele, in turn, use the “International Weeks against Racism” as an opportunity to Michel Friedman with his book “Judenhass” as well as the author and educator who has often been committed to combating anti-Semitism Burak Yilmaz to invite (16.3., in cooperation with the South German newspaper). Unfortunately it also fits the topic Henrik Cremers Book launch a few days earlier at the same location: “How dangerous the AfD really is” (March 10).
The Munich writer Joana Osman will read at Einstein – together with Lena Gorelik and Dana von Suffrin.
(Photo: Mica Zeitz)
A book like this also shows the consequences when unscrupulous parties come to power Uwe Wittstocks “Marseille 1940”. It traces the escape of many Jewish intellectuals from the National Socialists (reading on March 5th sold out in the Literaturhaus, now also available for streaming). One of them, who suffered in exile in a French internment camp, was the Munich writer Lion Feuchtwanger. You will be able to deal with him several times in Munich this year. Long before the 140th anniversary of his birthday on July 7th, the anniversary events begin: The Wilhelmsgymnasium starts on March 7th, the actor Udo Wachtveitl and the historian Andreas Heusler read from Feuchtwanger’s “Success” (registration: wilhelmsgymnasium@muenchen .de), and on March 19th the exhibition “Also… would have worn a Star of David” opens there.
Another campaign is also trying to counter exclusion and hatred with a currently rare gesture of togetherness: the Munich group “Meet your neighbors“In view of the war in the Middle East, invites you to a benefit reading by Munich writers on March 11th at Einstein: Lena Gorelik and Dana from Suffrin read along as Jewish voices Joanna Osman, daughter of a Palestinian father. This evening, like Barbara Kingsolver, also wants to initiate a conversation about the division in society. And build bridges over the abyss.