The literature tips for October

He didn't actually want to write any more books. After his last novel "Hardland", bestselling author and public favourite Benedict Wells announced that he wanted to take a break. To do other things, such as study.

And then writing came knocking at the door again. The result is perhaps his most personal book, in which he traces the development processes of his novels such as "Vom Ende der Einsamkeit" and "Spinner". A stroke of luck for all those who not only love his books, but books and stories in general. The ones in us and the ones in others. Wells reveals why writing can sometimes drive you almost to despair and yet how he is able to hone his characters with the greatest happiness.

All this and more, accompanied by the sounds of musician Jacob Brass.

Autumn begins when "Zürich liest" is on. Once again this year, the week from 22 - 27 October is a colourful grab bag full to the brim with new discoveries, tried-and-tested authors and touching reading moments in halls filled to the brim with the festival theme: "Mother Tongue"

All the threads come together in the "Karl der Grosse" debate house in the Old Town. It's not only a great place to study the daily festival programme over a cappuccino and cake, but also to sign books after the readings. Or have a bite to eat, where you are sure to spot one or two writers on the way to one of the numerous readings. For example Martina Clavadetscher, Yanara Friedlands or Evelina Jecker. Of course, there are also events throughout the city and just a few doors down at the Kulturhaus Helferei at the "Küchengesprächen"

programme is worth studying!

The short life of Swiss author Annemarie Schwarzenbach is characterised by adventurous travels all over the world. Through a passionate thirst for knowledge and unreserved love for other women. She grasped the circumstances of her time intensively, sensitively and intelligently. And so she wrote against fascism in Europe, but also about her own sadnesses and longings.

For this portrait, author Vera Bauer researched hundreds of unpublished letters from her estate. In collaboration with the composer Jelena Goldzycher, she has created a new, in-depth approach to the life and work of this extraordinary author that goes beyond her time.

For organisational reasons: Please register by 21 October 2024.

A listen through the Swiss book year, or in other words: the works selected by the jury for this year's Swiss Book Prize. These include Michelle Steinbeck's breathtaking "Favorita", Zora de Buenos' "Seinetwegen", which has also been nominated for the German Book Prize, Mariann Bühler's "Veschiebung im Gestein", Martin R. Dean's "Tabak und Schokolade" and "Polifon Pervers" by Béla Rothenbühler.

"Despite their differences, the nominated books are united by the search for a new language for existential crises," explained the jury. The thematic breadth ranges from the deeply personal to patriarchal violence and colonial heritage. The search for origins, the exploration of one's own family history and the question of what influence the lives of our ancestors have on ourselves.