the German words "Gegen" and "über" are separated by blue waves
the German words "Gegen" and "über" are separated by blue waves


Rosinenpicker

The literature blog “Rosinenpicker” presents selected novels and non-fiction, graphic novels and stories, audio books and literature for children and teenagers. And it gathers concise voices from the world of literature. Every week a new recommendation, every week the chance to discover remarkable texts, images and opinions.

Of all the worlds that man has created, that of books is the most powerful.

Heinrich Heine

Cherrypicker | Literature
 Californian Stew

Melancholic, comic, humorous: In “Ready America”, Anna Haifisch portrays a land of contrasts. Billboards meet lonely dogs, palm trees encounter comic figures. A picture book full of references and original juxtapositions.

Benedikt Maria Arnold

Cherrypicker | Literature
 Is the truth worth five million?

In Ursula Poznanski's new thriller, 100 people fight against a lie detector and for five million euros in prize money. The condition: Always tell the truth.

Roswitha Budeus-Budde

Sasa Stanisic reads from ‘If the widow wants to be addressed, she places the watering can on the grave with the spout facing forwards’ at lit.Cologne 2024, 11 June 2024 © picture alliance / Geisler-Fotopress | Kai Schulz/Geisler-Fotopress

Cherrypicker | Literature
Log in to life

A hot summer day. Four young people are sitting in the vineyards, somewhat bored. Suddenly, one of them has a life-changing idea. Saša Stanišić turned it into an entire collection of stories.

Holger Moos

Fields in the Hallertau (May 2022) mauritius images / Brigitte Deus-Neumann

Cherrypicker | Literature
Invitation to take a deep breath

Taking a break from life and exploring it anew - Stephan Schäfer's novel does just that. He tells the story of two strangers who become friends. In doing so, he speaks not only to himself, but to us all.

Sina Bahr

A stork's nest on a Trabi, Neuruppin, Brandenburg, 2004 © picture alliance / Caro | Bastian

Cherrypicker | Literature
The ossification of the East

After German reunification, many people believed that East German society would soon become more like West German society. For Steffen Mau, one thing is clear: that was an illusion - East Germany will remain different.

Holger Moos

Book covers of the nominated titles © S. Fischer, Suhrkamp, Rowohlt, Klett-Cotta, C.H. Beck

Cherrypicker | Literature
 The glorious six

The shortlist for this year's German Book Prize is out! It has now been decided which six authors can hope to win the prestigious and lucrative prize with their latest novels.

Holger Moos

Mirrianne Mahn at the 49th Federal Delegates' Conference of the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen party on 24 November 2023 © picture alliance / dts-Agentur

Cherrypicker | Literature
 On searching and finding family roots

With her debut novel, Mirrianne Mahn realises her desire to write a story about strong women in Cameroon and Germany. The result is a work of art of immense power that reaches back to the German colonial era in Cameroon.

Laura Riedner

Luisa Neubauer auf Klimademo von Fridays for Future am 15.09.2023 in Berlin © mauritius images / Dominik Butzmann/photothek.de / imageBROKER

Cherrypicker | Literature
If numbers could speak

A book that explains the climate crisis in pictures, without a lot of text and a jumble of figures? Together with journalist Christian Endt and graphic designer Ole Häntzschel, activist Luisa Neubauer has achieved just that. They present facts about the climate crisis in 80 information graphics - presented in an easy-to-understand manner.

Lena Maurer

„Hasenprosa“ von Maren Kames © Shutterstock, Cover: Suhrkamp

Cherrypicker | Literature
 Like a scare bullet

In her third book, nominated for the German Book Prize 2024, Maren Kames eloquently guides her audience into the proverbial “rabbit hole” of her mind and tells her family story along the way.

Michael Krell

Nolte: Die Frau mit den vier Armen © Suhrkamp Nova / Canva

Cherrypicker | Literature
 Three dead bodies in Hanover

Rita Aitzinger's very first appearance: detective inspector – in Hanover of all places. She swears, loves motorsport and has to solve a series of murders of young men. Jakob Nolte, theatre and novelist, presents his first crime thriller: funny, sad, full of allusions.

Marit Borcherding

Nachttischschublade mit Buch (Enzensberger: Schlafen) © Hanser Berlin / Canva

Cherrypicker | Literature
 Sleepless through the night

Theresia Enzensberger lies awake all night involuntarily. So she reflects on the unique physical phenomenon called sleep, which leaves us vulnerable and weak – and without which we are incapable of any performance.

Marit Borcherding

Trinkhalle "Heiße Ecke", Buchcover: Schulze: Zu Gast im Westen © Holger Moos / Wallstein

Cherrypicker | Literature
 On the road in the Ruhr area

Ingo Schulze spent six months exploring the Ruhr area. Not only did he discover many new things there, but also some things that connect this part of the West with the East.

Holger Moos