Find groups in berlin about book club and meet people in your local community who share your interests. Brilliant the times leaving berlin is hauntingly and beautifully written. I have recently become very interested in the period immediately after the second world war and the effect it had on germany, so this was a book which enhanced my knowledge. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Sound film is conquering the big screen, leaving many by the wayside. He is the master of the shadows of the era the times from the author of the good german made into a film starring george clooney, leaving berlin is a sweeping postwar story and an international bestseller. Kanon has been compared to le carre, graham greene, and george orwell and judging by this latest novel one can see why.
In joseph kanon s leaving berlin, another novice takes center stage. Covid19 advisory for the health and safety of meetup communities, were advising that all events be hosted online in the coming weeks. Maggie from our plainfield branch talks about leaving berlin by joseph kanon. The novel is set mostly in the russian sector of berlin in 1949, before the berlin wall, during the berlin airlift. While much of the book is clumsy, contrived, and silly, it is while reading passages of the diary that one may actually find oneself laughing out loud. Leaving berlin is a big book that will put kanon even with furst, or maybe ahead. Leaving berlin is not my usual type of book, but that is the great thing about a book club you read books you would never usually choose and sometimes make a great discovery. Leaving berlin is hauntingly and beautifully written. An unforgettable picture of a city wrecked by defeat and betrayal. A oncemighty city in ruins, its people divided, halfstarved and terrified of the future. Leaving berlin is set in 1949, at the height of the airlift. In fact, while reading, i clearly saw this as a movie. With such a great setup, its hard to believe that the book could possibly have an.
By the new york times bestselling author of istanbul passage. One of the most exciting books i have read for years. Leaving berlin by joseph kanon joseph kanon has established himself as an accomplished writer of thrillers set mostly in the years after the 193945 war. Through an actionpacked plot, readers gain a glimpse of what.
Do you have any thoughts, questions or discussions about leaving berlin by joseph kanon. Not normally a fan of spy thriller, judy explains how joseph kanons novel won her over. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read leaving berlin. Leaving berlin by joseph kanon new york times notable book npr best books 2015 wall street journal best books of 2015 the. Book club groups in berlin heres a look at some book club groups near berlin. Book club questions for leaving berlin by joseph kanon part of the richard and judy autumn 2015 bookclub. Targeted by mccarthyism for his prewar politics, a young jewish writer who fled the nazis to america makes a desperate bargain with a fledgling cia to work as a spy in a decimated berlin. If you are looking for a combination of le carre and graham greene, leaving berlin will do the trick perfectly. Investigating the violent onset death of actress betty winter, inspector gereon rath encounters the dark side of glamour and an industry. Leaving berlin book by joseph kanon official publisher page. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. Berlin is still in ruins almost four years after the war, caught between political idealism. When the allies agreed to a joint occupation of germany and its capital, the arrangement was expected to be temporary, an interim step toward a demilitarized neutral germany.
A chance to listen to the exclusive book club podcast discussion between richard and judy and joseph kanon, the author of autumn 2015 book. Leaving berlin is not a judgmental novel and we are left wondering whether we would have acted any differently to those who have committed murder or betrayal. Book ideas are supposed to come out of thin air pretty much formed and appear above your head like a light bulb. Leaving berlin is a gripping historical thriller, set in berlin four years after the end of world war ii.
In joseph kanons leaving berlin, another novice takes center stage. Leaving berlin joseph kanon, 2015 atria books 384 pp. This is a spy novel involving a jewish refugee from nazi germany who is sent back to berlin after the war to spy for the cia, in order to avoid being charged with communist activity in the mccarthy era. The henna artist opens a door into a world that is at. The acclaimed author of the good german deftly captures the. Joseph kanon, author of this weeks book club book, leaving berlin, explains how his novel came about through pulling at the loose thread of another story. Alone in berlin was the overwhelming popular choice when we were deciding on this months reading group title, but it has had a mixed reception since. Maggies picks leaving berlin by joseph kanon youtube. Judy book club hugely exciting daily telegraph one of the most exciting books. It has a terrific plot hook alex meier, a germanjewish writer who fled the nazis, gets into political trouble in the united states, and, in 1949, at the height of. Leaving berlin by joseph kanon goodreads share book.
Leaving berlin book by joseph kanon official publisher. A sweeping spy thriller about a city caught between political ideal. The screenwriters wouldnt have to do much, just use the book. If you are looking for a combination of le carre and graham greene, leaving berlin will do the trick perfectlyone of the most exciting books i have read for years.
Leaving berlin posted on 30th august 2015 by joseph kanon joseph kanon, author of this weeks book club book, leaving berlin, explains how his novel came about through pulling at the loose thread of another story. As the soviets, americans and british vie for control of the former nazi capital, a young jewish writer who fled the holocaust is coerced by washington into returning as a secret agent. Alexander mccall smith, mail on sunday london, named book of the year. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. Leaving berlin is a masterful thriller and a love story that brings a shadowy period of history vividly to life. Book club questions for leaving berlin by joseph kanon.
A pulsequickening, beautifully written spy thriller worthy of le carre at his best. Kanon, the author of the edgar awardwinning istanbul passage, sets this engaging thriller in 1949. Leaving berlin book fraser valley regional library. Leaving berlin by joseph kanon dont miss the accomplice, the next heartpounding and intelligent espionage novel from master of the genre the washington. This reading group guide for leaving berlin includes an introduction, discussion questions and ideas for enhancing your book club. Buy leaving berlin book online at low prices in india leaving. New york times notable book npr best books 2015 wall street journal best books of 2015. From the bestselling author of istanbul passagecalled a fastmoving thinking mans thriller by the wall street journalcomes a sweeping, atmospheric novel. Our hero is a youngish german jew, alex meier, a successful novelist newly returned to the city after years in america, where he fled. But four years later, the time of leaving berlin, we see those lines of occupation hardening into permanent borders that would last for forty years. The story takes place in post war berlin, in 1949, when there is an east berlin and a west berlin. Leaving berlin is one of the best spy thrillers ive read.
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