Welcome to Litsy!

This book annoyed my and that might just be a me thing. I never really understood when this book was taking place, if it was a dream or if it happened in an alternative universe. The son and the mum keep spending francs to pay for stuff. The mom went to finishing school in the early 60s and was 80 now, and as far as I know France hasn‘t spend francs in 25 yrs. This annoyed me so much so that the other stuff fell into the background. There‘s a lot

I didn‘t love this one from the Booker Intl. longlist, but I liked it enough to finish it. I think it was mostly the MC‘s mother that kept me invested; the MC himself is somewhat of a letdown, although I think that‘s intentional. I haven‘t read Kracht‘s other work, but his family story in the book is atrocious. By the end, I almost loved his mother for her moments of hilarity and poignancy as she tries in her own way to come to terms with that.

My second from the 2025 #IB2025 longlist.

It's that funny-not-funny-but-still-funny serious-not-serious-very-serious sort of satire - here on the dark history of Europe from the heirs.

But it becomes a bonding road trip, and a series of conversations and a character study of senile mom. This not only works but was thoroughly entertaining, especially because of mom‘s occasional sharpness. Comically heartwarming? Maybe. I enjoyed it. #booker

A middle aged son drives his old and ill mother across Switzerland. They argue and confront the past. They‘re rich. Her father never stopped being an Nazi. The story is a mix of stream of consciousness, name dropping and little plot.
Not my favorite of the #InternationalBooker25 longlist but it has some good parts.

#ReadTheWorld2025 book 8 #Switzerland

Sorry, this just isn‘t my thing. There are a few funny moments, and some sad moments that are too quickly glosses over. But mostly, I just didn‘t get it. As it‘s been nominated for awards, I‘m sure it‘s me, not the book. I just didn‘t get it.

Book 18/60 #Read2025 @DieAReader
#LetterE #LitsyAtoZ @Texreader

#WeeklyForecast 11/25

I am almost finished with Slow Dance, which is a cute romance and palette cleanser. I also started Help Wanted (#ToB25 longlist). Next will be the tagged (#InternationalBooker) and maybe Reward System (#Roll100). Lots of plans but less time!

Starting this. Anyone else reading the International Booker longlist?

@rmaclean4 @squirrelbrain @Leniverse @JamieArc @BarbaraBB @jlhammar @AnnaCecilie @JenP @TheKidUpstairs @charl08 @BookishTrish @Suet624 ??

#booker #IB2025

I loved this. My first of Kracht‘s books so I can‘t compare & had no expectations. It helped that I read it in Gstaad where it‘s partly set. It reads as autofiction as the author names himself & his books - I assume some events are invented. His mother is wonderfully sharp & eccentric. The writing is crisp & erudite, making for a satisfying read. Idiosyncratic, it won‘t be to everyone‘s taste - he‘s privileged & cynical - but deceptively profound.

When you prepare your lessons with one edition and your students receive another edition… 🙈😤🙈
This definitely an interesting play about the hovering danger of an atomic bomb in the 70ies. I don‘t think it‘s funny, as it is declared a comedy, but definitely worth reading/watching. And unfortunately, it is quite up-to-dare again.

Dürrenmatt did write the 11th hour on the atomic clock directly into our memory - with satanic, ridiculous laughter.