For many years, the feuilleton has been saying that the Internet and eBooks are the death of book culture. You no longer read, you just “touch” and you can no longer process more than 140 characters. The blogs that deal with the beautiful word and have formed a network of literature friends on the Internet prove that there is another way. There are also a few students among them who are enthusiastically reporting on what they are currently reading and engaging in verbal battles about the latest German literature. Apparently it's a double life that feeds off each other, because the bloggers are always studying literature too. So you can expect not only nice words but also in-depth knowledge from the four student blogs presented here. You can read here how Lisa and Svea maintain their reading friendship through their “inkstand”, Ann-Christin practices writing, Deborah recovers from everyday academic life and Katja and Laura continue their passion even after studying the humanities.
Writeaboutsomething
Katja (Magister in German Literature/Philosophy and Modern History, University of Jena), 30, Laura (PhD in Art History, HU Berlin), 28, both Berlin
“I review what moves me strongly, whether negatively or positively,” states Laura. A year ago the friends founded their culture blog as a natural consequence of their enthusiasm for literature. “By blogging about literary texts, I continue a little bit of what my humanities studies were all about, the intensive immersion in literature, the assessment and comparison,” says Katja. Laura takes at least five hours a week to report on her reading experiences, follow other blogs or comment on posts. There is no question for Laura that she will continue blogging after completing her doctoral studies. Anything else would be “like an amputation.”
Favorite writer:
Laura particularly enjoys reading Haruki Murakami because he combines real and magical elements in his books, thereby creating a fascinating world of his own. She is also often seen with David Foster Wallace and Christa Wolf. Katja raves about Franz Kafka, Georg Trakl, Jonathan Franzen and Sibylle Berg.
Summer thieves
Deborah, 24, Jena, Master “Literature, Art, Culture”
“Once a blogger, always a blogger,” says Deborah. She opened her first blog at the age of 16, followed by one about her student life in Marburg, and since September 2011 she has been posting regularly on her culture blog “Sommerdiebe”. There she recovers thematically from her literature studies, which she began in 2008: “My blog also represents a creative balance to the rather theoretical and sober everyday academic life,” she sums up. She stumbles upon the books she presents more or less by chance - in her favorite bookstore or as recommendations from friends and acquaintances. When her enthusiasm for a book spills over, Deborah has achieved her goal: “For me, there is nothing nicer than when a book tip resonates with my readers and they then pick up the recommended book themselves shortly afterwards.” Because the student enjoys working in the field of cultural journalism blogging is also a type of career preparation that combines passion and know-how.
Favorite writer:
She counts Truman Capote, Sylvia Plath, Raymond Carver, Oscar Wilde, Max Frisch and Anton Chekhov among her favorite writers. Her works impress her both linguistically and thematically, so she enjoys picking them up again and again.
Inkwells
Lisa (studies German literature and history, Konstanz), 23, Svea (studies German language and literature, Marburg), 22
A matter of the heart: The two students Lisa and Svea both come from East Frisia, where they used to exchange ideas about recently read books. Then their studies separated them. They founded their blog in February 2012 so that they could continue their beloved habit over the distance. Now they share their passion for reading with other literature lovers, give an insight into their virtual bookshelf, and a picture or the weekly Monday question is posted at least every other day. What ends up on the blog and in your hand can be random and crosses genres. Whether it's an exciting blurb, a cover that arouses curiosity or a recommendation from another blogger - Lisa and Svea are open to everything.
Favorite writer:
Particularly fond of John Green, Jane Austen, Suzanne Collins and David Nicholls.
Word Gallery
Ann-Christin, 25, literary studies, English and educational science, Giessen
“I want to enjoy my favorite books and be free from having to find words or judgments for my reading experience,” answers the literary blogger when asked about her selection strategy. So not everything is reviewed, but negative reading experiences are also reviewed - because that trains reflective writing. The blog is her reading journal that she shares with others - and an opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people. Ann-Christin studies literature and lives literature because she also writes herself, including short stories. Her blog, which she launched in April 2012, is a way to “present these different perspectives on literature.” Her studies also take place on her blog from time to time when she contributes course content or things from student life or seminars inspire her to make new contributions.
Favorite writer:
Haruki Murakami because he writes unforgettable stories. Judith Hermann, because there is so much sadness and melancholy between the lines in her short stories.
Related articles:
- Keep on riding
- Let pictures speak
- Blogger of the Month – April 2014
- BLOGGER series: as far as the eye can see
- Blogger of the month for February
- Summer thieves
- Inkwells
- Writeaboutsomething
- Word Gallery
- Blogger of the month April 2015
For many years, the feuilleton has been saying that the Internet and eBooks are the death of book culture. You no longer read, you just “touch” and you can no longer process more than 140 characters. The blogs that deal with the beautiful word and a network of literature friends on the Internet prove that there is another way
