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Gilgi
Gilgi | Irmgard Keun
10 posts | 6 read | 1 reading | 5 to read
The stirring, never-before-translated story of a single, pregnant, and wickedly nervy young secretary making her way through a Germany succumbing to the Nazis. Written when the author was only 19 years old, Gilgi was an overnight sensation upon its initial publication in Germany, selling hundreds of thousands of copies, inspiring numerous imitators, and making Irmgard Keun a household name--a reputation that was only heightened when, a few years later, the nervy Keun sued the Gestapo for blocking her royalties. The story of a young woman trying to establish her independence in a society being overtaken by fascism, Gilgi was not only a brave story, but revolutionary in its depiction of women's issues, at the same time that it was, simply, an absorbing and stirring tale of a dauntless spirit. Gilgi is a secretary in a hosiery firm, but she's not going to stay there for long: she's disciplined and ambitious, taking classes in French, Spanish, and...
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JazzFeathers
Gilgi, One of Us | Irmgard Keun
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Really, really enjoyed this story of a modern woman of nearly one hundred years ago.

Gilgi may seem superficial and naive, but she's actually tough, disillusioned and her feet are firmly planted on the ground. She's a pragmatic human beings with a romantic heart, and l loved her.

Written in 1931, this book was burned by the Nazis in their books fires. It isn't hard to see why.

https://theoldshelter.com/thurdsday-quotables-gilgi-one-of-us/

Cedricsmom I‘m currently reading it and I don‘t know if it‘s me or the book but I‘m not terribly engaged. 4y
JazzFeathers @Cedricsmom As all Expressionist stories, it has a very unique voice that takes some rime to grow on you. But l love Expressionist literature, so my opinion probably doesn't count 😉 4y
Cedricsmom @jazzfeathers oh! This is a specific style with its own characteristics? Good to know. I couldn‘t tell if something was lost in translation or what. 🤔 4y
34 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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JazzFeathers
Gilgi, One of Us | Irmgard Keun
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#24B4Monday

So this is my final telly. It's a bit under my all-time best time, but l'm happy with it.
I've read 1 chapter from The Treason of Isengard (finished the book), 2/3 or Blood Brothers (finished the book), 3 chapters of A Duty to the Dead and 1/3 of Gilgi One of Us.

@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

BeansPage Awesome job sweetheart!!! That's a great total! Next month we'll shoot for 10 or 12 hours 😉 5y
jb72 Wonderful job! 5y
Andrew65 Great time, well done, and thanks for taking part. 👏👏👏 5y
JazzFeathers @jb72 @TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65 Thanks. I'm very happy with the result. 5y
Andrew65 @JazzFeathers And so you should be. 😊 5y
32 likes5 comments
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JazzFeathers
Gilgi, One of Us | Irmgard Keun
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I'm starting this next on the #24B4Monday
I won't finish it before tomorrow, but l hope to read a good chunck.

Like Blood Brothers, this is also a story from early 1930s Germany, referring to life in the 1920s, but l suppose here the similarities end. Blood Brothers is a story of lost boys entangled in the street gangs. This one is the story od a new woman.

Must be interesting.

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JazzFeathers
Gilgi, One of Us | Irmgard Keun
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I've been running after #NetGalley expiring files all through the first part of the year. I think l can now take a break and read some of my other books.

These two are German authors from the 1920s and l've been meaning to read it for my current writing project.
Can't wait to dive in.

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ThePurpleSponge
Gilgi | Irmgard Keun
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This bit made me smile - Gilgi's excitement bubbles off the page!

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JazzFeathers
Gilgi | Irmgard Keun
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First time l make chai tea and l love it! 😋☕❤

42 likes1 comment
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JazzFeathers
Gilgi | Irmgard Keun
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I need to start reading 1920s German novels, as research for my own story, you know 😏

Aren't these adorable?

Weaponxgirl Those are lovely! 6y
rubyslippersreads Those covers! 😍 6y
Sophoclessweetheart So so cute!! 6y
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JazzFeathers @Weaponxgirl @rubyslippersreads @Sorceryandswords l know, l know 😊 l understand these are kind of flapper stories, Weimar Republic edition 😆 6y
Sophoclessweetheart Ooh! Like a German Fitzgerald? I love Fitzgerald 👏👏🖤🖤 6y
JazzFeathers @Sorceryandswords Only this in a female author. I can't wait to read her 6y
Sophoclessweetheart Oh!! 👌🏻🖤 6y
35 likes7 comments
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prowlix
Gilgi | Irmgard Keun
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Next up - the story of this author suing the Gestapo for blocking her royalties immediately peaked my interest. And while it‘s still early, the writing has this rhythm and pace that I‘m really loving. Gilgi seems to be an early feminist and I‘m always for forgotten classics!

#1931 #192019 #feminism

41 likes2 stack adds
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Oftencantdecide
Gilgi, One of Us | Irmgard Keun
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Pickpick

#UncannyOctober- #Publishedinthe1930s
I really enjoy this German novel first published in 1931 about a modern young woman. It's kind of refreshing when the character is aware that they're making really bad decisions.

35 likes1 stack add
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julianabrina
Gilgi, One of Us | Irmgard Keun
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