Day four and I hope everyone is having a lot of fun with Armchair BEA; today’s topics are Beyond the Borders and Giveaways. I’m excited to talk about going beyond the borders. I think we all need to step out of our comfort zone and experience books from different genres, countries and cultures. Literature opens new worlds from the comfort of our bed (or wherever you like to read). I’m a big believer of trying out translated fiction and books from different countries, but I will admit that sometimes I’m not doing this as often as I like. We can experience different lives and situations thanks to literature, we learn about other cultures and hopefully what mistakes not to make. The power of literature is amazing and I’m so glad I discovered reading.
However for the giveaway I thought I would do something slightly different. I’m going to give away a book that is not just powerful and moving but also one that will take people out of their comfort zones. This is not only a translated piece from another country (Germany), but it is also one that was written in the 18th century. This book influenced the Romantic Movement; it is a highly emotional love triangle that is also semi-autobiographical. If you hadn’t guessed it by now, I’m talking about Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s classic novella The Sorrows of Young Werther. If you are interested, check out my review here.
ArmchairBEA is a virtual convention for book blogger who can’t attend Book Expo America and the Book Blogger Convention. Button by Sarah of Puss Reboots
I haven’t read it but it sounds interesting.
I highly recommend it
I shouldn’t be entering any book giveaways with my towering TBR pile, but I entered anyway! Thanks!
You can’t pass up such a great classic 😛
I love the sound of that book! I agree with you – we all need to read more international. I’ve been trying that some this year, so this is exciting!
I’m trying to push myself more in this direction too
I love classic literature! I’m working my way through all of Dickens…that should keep me going a long time. I’m also currently reading some Thomas Hardy. I’ve not read his books before. Not sure how I made it this far without him. Thank you! I’m so excited about trying this one out.
You are doing well, don’t give up.
I’ve never read the book but I hope to! It sounds really interesting! And I’ve been loving epistolary novels lately!
This one will be perfect for you then
I got real weirded out because I thought I was talking with you yesterday @knowledgelost on Twitter… then I saw it’s your second handle, then I remembered you had another blog. 🙂 :whew!:
Hahaha, I wish I could say I have a second blog, it is getting neglected a little. knowledgelost is more of a personal twitter feed, all my bookish adventures.
I haven’t read any Goethe since Faust in high school. This sounds like a good one to take up.
Visit my giveaway at Emerald City Book Review
A little different to Faust but both are amazing
I was quite excited for this topic for today’s Armchair BEA (Beyond the Borders) because I love reading books set in different countries and were originally written in another language. Like you said, it brings you out of your comfort zone, not to mention it just transports you to a different world 🙂
I should’ve known you’d choose Goethe for your giveaway 😉 Great choice! A classic + set in Germany 😀
I think my go to book is Frankenstein but I’m glad to push a different book for a change 😛
I love that you’re doing a giveaway with Goethe! I have a copy of his ‘Faust’ but haven’t read ‘Werther’ yet! I think a giveaway is a great way of encouraging people to read something new they wouldn’t have spent money on! Great post 🙂
Juli @ Universe in Words
I tend to have giveaways with books that people maybe unsure about. If you win a copy of a book it is less scary.
Interesting! Love that you’re giving away a classic!
It was my most recent favourite, I’m just luck it fit the Beyond the borders theme
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that was translated before. There are a few that I’ve wanted to though!
Maybe try someone like Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Shadow of the Wind is great and he has a few YA novels too.
I second your recommendation. I just finished Shadow of the Wind and it is amazing! Beautiful translation.
Books like this one make it is hard to believe that they are translated books
indeed, it was so good, i forgot it was a translation until I saw your comment!
I love translated fiction too! It’s often so surprising and completely different from anything I’ve ever read, especially if it’s the first book I’ve read from an author from another country. I also think it’s a lot of fun to read several books from the same country but by different authors and see what their writing styles have in common.
There is so many great reasons to read Translated fiction and I don’t see why people avoid them.
I think translated fiction just isn’t publicised as much as English speaking authors are in English speaking countries.
I believe it is something like 1-2% of all other books are translated into English, while countries like Germany and France sit at about 15%
I don’t think I’ve read much translated fiction. I’ll need to remedy this. Is it too late to have a resolution to read more international books??
It is never too late
That’s cool that you make a concerted effort to try out translated fiction! It’s true that a book can “feel” different in translation.
Nothing wrong with different, I like to experience different in books.
I haven’t read this book and am excited to have the opportunity to win such an emotional work. Thank you for offering such a strong piece of literature.
I do think giving away some strong literature is a good way to introduce people to a great book
I can’t read German and I love reading in English (I’m Spanish). This book looks interesting, I only know a bit about Goethe from high school, so, it’d be great to know his works by reading this novel. Thank you!
Sometimes I wish I could read German just to experience a book like this in its original language
I have not read this one, but will whether I win a copy or no. Thanks!
I hope you enjoy it
No, I haven’t
I’m not sure what you mean
I haven’t read it, but reading now your review I must admit it sounds really interesting. Thank you for the chance to win this!
Good luck