I don’t know that I’ve read a more moving piece of postwar German fiction…

Posted in Neem Tree Blog on November 5, 2019

We are almost done slotting into Casemate’s distribution infrastructure bar a few last-minute tasks, books are moving to new warehouses and we are relishing engaging with the UK and US teams.

We noted that the right wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party more than doubled its share in the state of Thuringia with 23.5% share of the vote, coming in second to the Left Party and ahead of Angela Merkel’s CDU. Distant Signs is set in Thuringia and the paperback will be published this week on November 7th. Here are some recent fantastic reviews on the book that we hope will compel you to order your copy!

A very recent Netgalley reviewer writes, ‘I don’t know that I’ve read a more moving piece of postwar German fiction – and this includes Gunter Grass’s best efforts…I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone wishing to see how an author has captures the spirit of the divided, then reunited, Berlin through common, yet uncommon, people.’

And from Liz Robinson at LoveReading, ‘A fascinating and truly memorable read…I always know that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed a novel when I want to research the history and time it is set in. ‘Distant Signs’ set my thoughts thrumming, it is so intriguing, compelling and beautifully readable too.’

And from the latest MidWest Book review by senior reviewer, D. Donovan, ‘astute and lyrical’ ‘Richter’s ability to capture the sights and sounds, and effects of social and political changes as they reverberate throughout Germany and the world…is thought provoking and revealing’ ‘Anyone who would understand the East German experience and psyche will relish Distant Signs for its ability to pick up the pieces of a shattered nation and era and recreate them in all their complexity, as a legacy for future generations’ .

And some recent ones from Goodreads, one from Amy, ‘A compelling read that I could not put down. I give Distant Signs five plus stars…a must read for readers who love history.’ And here is one from Lori, ‘A very beautiful story… a very deep read and thought-provoking detail about GDR, the post war and the fall of the wall in Berlin.’

We are looking forward to the #historicalfiction blog tour @HFVBT for Distant Signs later this week.

And we will reveal next week which of our authors has been invited to speak at the Emirates Literature Festival in February 2020 in Dubai!