Hello and Happy Friday.
So the Leipzig Book Fair started yesterday, 17th of March and lasts until Sunday, 20th of March and I am not there yet. Why? Because I have a 2 1/2 years old son and no babysitter for the entire four days. But I will be there on Sunday all day long and I cannot wait. I did tons of research about what I want to see and hear. I am especially interested to join the blogger conference! According to their website, what else can I expect at the Leipzig Book Fair? E-books, books for art lovers, audiobooks, blogger, the latest book related media and gadgets, book apps, travel books, authors, readings, great conversations, manga, comics, literature from A-Z, publishers, culture, nationalities and so much more. There are also a lot of book-events aside from the book fair all throughout Leipzig if you are interested in any, do get the information at the entrance.
What do I take to the Book Fair? Not much!
And this bag for books and freebies that can be found all over the book fair. Yay for book fair freebies. This week was full of book, lecture and reading highlights here in Coburg and I was able to attend two of them. I wrote about the first one here. Yesterday I enjoyed Thomas Pregl’s reading and introduction of his novel ‘Frankenhölle’ at Riemann Bookstore which was interesting and entertaining. I usually don’t like beer but when an author brings some to a reading how can I say no? When everybody is drunk in the end they buy more books. Smart and a great idea I reckon. What have I been up to otherwise? Read on if you would like.
Reading: Currently I enjoy Tschick by Wolfgang Herrndorf which I read while sitting outside with a cup of coffee and lots of sunshine. An afternoon well spent. I also read Friedrich Rückert’s Die Weisheit des Brahmanen. Inspiring and beautifully written. And This article.
Watching: Myself! And this very closely. Do you know who you really are? Do you know yourself? This question is tough but could keep me busy all day long.
How to survive the Book Fair: Dive into the World of Books! In 2014 I was fortunate to spent one day at the Frankfurt Book Fair. It was my first Book Fair ever and the biggest one to begin with was a little overwhelming. Luckily, I got my ticket through Riemann Bookstore who also arrange the bus trip to the Book fair Frankfurt. We left Coburg at 5.30am, arrived at around 9am and literally walked until 5 pm nonstop and I haven’t even seen half of it. I want to share some tips on how to survive a book fair that I would have loved to know before I went there the first time. Do get your ticket before you go to the book fair. There were hundreds of people and long lines when I got there and it is so sweet to just bypass all of those and walk right in with your ticket in hand. Do not travel there by car unless necessary. Do you use public transportation. It is so much better after a day of walking and exploring to sit in a train or bus and pass out. Plus, finding a parking spot is always a hassle. Do dress light meaning no big jackets and such; it is pretty warm inside. Do take a little snack with you. (Cereal bars for example) and maybe a bottle of water can never hurt. They are some food stands and coffee as well. Make sure to look through the program to find your way around and search for readings, authors or conferences you would like to attend beforehand. Keep in mind that you won’t see everything anyway, so make the best use of your time you spend at the fair. Do not wear high heels or new shoes you just purchases. Your feet will thank you. Blisters! Do take your time and don’t rush around – suck everything in slowly. If you do miss a reading or there are not seats available anymore don’t get frustrated. Search for alternatives. If you can avoid it, try not to go to the book fair on a Saturday because everybody in the world will be there. Sunday is the best day I would say. Always keep your eyes open because of famous authors, freebies, wine, cheese and crackers, stickers and of course bags and tons of books. Duh! What I loved to do was to just stop and stare. It is seriously overwhelming – I am not exaggerating. And most importantly – simply enjoy this amazing experience!
Looking forward to: Seeing my husband again. I do miss him a lot.
Loving/Admiring: I spoke briefly to the author Thomas Pregl after the reading and I enjoyed his take on why he writes and how he gets his ideas. He mentioned that he has a little concept before he starts writing and then things change and evolve while he writes. “I might add a little love story between two protagonists even though this was not planned at the beginning. Being a writer gives you lots of playroom but it is difficult at the same time. Sometimes I don’t know where the story takes me.”
I love cooking and with I do get inspired to try new recipes a lot because of this website (the Thai Curry Vegetable Soups looks amazing and is on my cooking list in the near future. Yum!
Have a great weekend!
