Clemens Meyer about the German Book Prize: Emotions and Livelihood

Clemens Meyer about the German Book Prize: Emotions and Livelihood

In an open and emotional conversation with Wolfgang Höbel for the Spiegel , the writer Clemens Meyer expressed his anger about the loss of the German Book Prize. "It is a shit, insolence," he said, leaving no doubt that the non -distinguishing is an existential crisis for him. Already at the award ceremony, he had angrily left the hall, which caused a conversation. Meyer emphasized that the literature was quite allowed to scold and referred to the passionate conflicts of group 47, which used to open emotions and disagreements.

he expressed his concern that many in literary business can hardly understand what it is like to live with debts and financial needs. At the moment he only has 4,000 euros in the account, and that makes the situation all the more difficult for him. "I have to finance a divorce and have accumulated 35,000 euros in tax debts," said the author, who, as the result of the book award, set great hope for a financial improvement.

Frankfurt book fair in the spotlight

In the meantime, the book fair continues to take place in Frankfurt, which is perceived with mixed feelings this year. Andreas Platthaus from the FAZ reports about empty corridors on the trade visitors, while the “New Adult” areas were overrun by young readers at the weekend. The frustrated commentator describes the combination of high air and a bad mood: fewer and fewer exhibitors, rising stand fees and a flattening of the content that mixes with illiteraric stands.

Kathleen Hildebrand from the Süddeutsche Zeitung meanwhile discovered that the future of the book industry will probably be largely in female hands. Judith von Sternburg had dealt more intensively with the Italian pavilion in the run -up to the fair and observed that the tense discussions about Italian culture outside the official program were more respected than within. These observations show that the cultural currents are dynamic and complex, apart from the traditional book fair aesthetics.

The envelopes of gender roles in the literature also seem to have an impact on the topics that are currently dominating. Two writers, Sebastian Schmidt and Clemens Böckmann, raise the question in the FAZ where the fathers have remained in the current literature. While the thematic examination of paternity in current literature almost does not seem to exist, it is able to act in the advisory literature and on social media, where it is staged as a light and playful topic.

The tension in the argument about patrolators reflects how society questions and develops current gender roles. This can also be seen in the literary disputes that consider the role of fatherhood in a larger context. Before there can be an in -depth analysis of the relationship between fathers and children, it takes a story that represents the difficulties and complexities of this relationship.

In another context, Paul Jandl examined Peter Handke's notebooks that were created from 1976. He describes it as a "project of slowness", which is unique in literature. Handke's allocations are not a place of self -clarification, but tried to look at the world from an objective perspective. This form of written reflection enables Handke to develop a more conscious attitude to life and to understand the connection between himself and its environment.

The book fair not only brings new reading experiences and authors under one roof, but also discourses about the culture and its current challenges. The reactions to the challenges in front of which the industry is facing are characterized by new reviews and reviews. The fair has the potential to develop further, but at the same time must protect its roots and originally protected literary values.

Some authors also addressed the repression of ancient Arabic poetry in today's literary landscape. The translator Stefan Weidner regrets that this important form of literature, which once played a major role in Goethe, is hardly present today and warns that it remains of great importance for our cultural memory.

Overall, the Frankfurt Book Fair shows a multi -layered picture that is characterized by emotions, expectations and cultural discourses. The events and observations of authors and critics blind the complexity of the literary world, which is not only perceived in Frankfurt, but also far beyond