FluentU asks:
Any chocolate lovers here?
Learning German can give you a natural high—just like eating chocolate!
And that's just one of seven surprising benefits of learning a foreign language.
Then, pair that chocolate with one of these entrancing German novels for a delightful afternoon -- or, how about making that a lifetime -- of language learning.
Why Reading Novels in German Is a Great Way to Learn the Language
You can’t beat an evening sitting outside on a porch, or cuddled up
in a blanket, reading a romance or mystery novel your friend told you
about last week.
Both settings sound fun and relaxing, and that’s how learning German should be. Why not combine reading novels with learning the Germanic language? You can check out some of our past recommendations for novels,
examining modern authors and their German works,
along with classics you should never pass up.
However, the goal of this article is to find that sweet spot.
Too often I stumble upon
books that are too easy for my German abilities,
while other times, I can’t understand more than half a novel. I need
intermediate German novels that aren’t too easy or too hard, and since
you’re here, I suspect you do too.
Keep reading to find the best intermediate German novels for your needs.
Novels work well in
transitioning yourself from that beginner stage filled with flashcards and listening apps, to the world of true immersion. You may have read a few German books already, but beginners generally stick with
children’s books or novels that have simple themes and repetitive sentences.
Here are some more reasons why these German novels are perfect for learning the language:
- Easier to understand: Since you may have read some
of the classics back in school, you are familiar with the story lines,
making it easier to understand what is going on.
-
- Challenge your commitment to learning German: This is a great way to test your understanding of the structures and vocabulary that you've invested time and energy to learning.
- Evolution of language: You start to get a feel for how the language has transformed over the years, since many of these novels are from a while back.
- Well-known: You can expand your grasp of the language by discussing the novels with others in German.
- New vocab: Intermediate novels assist with picking up new vocab and seeing how this vocab is placed into dialogue and conversational language.
- Variety of language: I would also argue that the
intermediate German books have a wider range of story lines and language
differences, giving you the chance to hear accents and phrases from the
medieval times all the way to the modern world.
- Cultural understanding: You often get a taste of
history (whether fictional or not), further expanding your knowledge of
how German culture has come to be what it is today.
How To Use Intermediate Novels to Improve Your German
Here are a few ideas of specific ways you can use these intermediate novels to boost your German:
- Go to the German version of Wikipedia
to learn about the novel’s author. Where did their inspiration come
from? I’ve always found that I connect better with a novel when knowing
about the author. This also helps to figure out any particular themes
that the author wants you to recognize.
- Use the English version of the novel to swap back and forth when you hit areas that are difficult to comprehend.
- Choose a verb tense or conjugation to focus on while reading the
novel. Use a pencil to circle or underline every instance of that
particular tense or conjugation while reading through the story.
Consider setting a timer for five minutes during this exercise so you
can stop and see how you did.
- Bring up the novel’s English Wikipedia page, or search Google for a
breakdown of chapter summaries. Once you complete a chapter in the
German novel, write down what you think happened, or explain it to
another person. Then go back to the English chapter summary and see how
close you were.
Now, without further ado—here are your intermediate German novels.
10 Entrancing Intermediate German Novels That Aren’t Too Easy or Too Hard
This first book is a translated text, but it works great for
intermediates since it’s fast paced and many people know the James Bond
story lines. The Casino Royale book follows Bond as he is sent to
bankrupt a ruthless villain in a French Casino.
The thriller starts with the games looking up for Bond, with Le
Chiffre, the villain, hitting a rough losing streak. This eventually
changes, putting Bond at the mercy of one of the most dangerous people
in the world, and pushing him to reach out for help from unexpected
allies.
Goethe worked on “Faust” for most of his career, giving us a look
into the mind of one of the greatest German writers. The story is broken
up into scenes, which works well for people learning German. It’s meant
as a play, but the story follows Dr. Faust and his meanderings as he
gets in the middle of a battle between God and the devil.
Translated as “Faust 1. The First Part of the Tragedy,” the book is
best read by intermediates and advanced learners who crave deep
meanderings of a man who gets tempted by demons and devils, along with
fights between him and his own human existence.
Translated as “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage,”
this is the thirteenth novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. The
book is about a 36-year-old man
who ponders why his group of friends
cast him out of their social circle back in school.
The book sold over one million copies in one month, and has various
translations around the world. The main character, Tsukuru Tazaki,
evaluates both his past and present, but his girlfriend urges him to
take on the past as a grown-up instead of treating it like a child
would.
This novel, which means “Three Bags Full” in English, is written from
the point of view of a
flock of sheep. They find their shepherd killed
and go on a detective’s hunt to figure out who murdered him.
The book is written by Leonie Swann, and it not only observes how
fictional sheep may respond to a murder mystery, but the townspeople who
show up and speculate about what happened. This includes reporters,
people who knew the shepherd and those who simply want to gossip.
“
Die Arbeit der Nacht: Roman,” also known as “Night Work,”
is a must-read for post-apocalyptic literature fans. It’s about a
protagonist named Jonas who finds himself completely alone on earth. The
book dives deep into human existence, and why we are here on earth.
Austrian Thomas Glavinic penned the novel, and he adds an unusual
twist when Jonas realizes that he is partaking in weird activities while
he sleeps. A struggle ensues between Jonas and his subconscious,
leading to a whole new subplot.
“
Der Vorleser” is what “The Reader” book and movie (with
Kate Winslet) was based on. It’s about a 15-year-old German boy who
has an encounter with a beautiful older woman. They eventually start
having an affair, opening up the boy’s world to sex and bringing about
several unexpected consequences.
Bernhard Schlink is the mastermind behind the intermediate level
novel, with a somewhat somber clarity that helps with understanding what
the story is actually about, instead of forcing you to filter through
strange prose.
“
Der Richter und sein Henker,” or “The Judge and His
Hangman,” follows a terminally ill police detective who is struggling
with his disease after his partner is murdered. You are introduced to
the man’s enemy, and the book dives into themes about how good isn’t
always around to serve justice. In fact, evil is often the best way to
serve justice.
I like this one for intermediates because it keeps you turning the
pages and interested in learning all the German words just to keep up
with the story.
Written by Hermann Hesse, this classic gem is about a young man who
abandons his family for something he deems more meaningful. He becomes
restless and starts to follow his lust and greed. The man finds that
this is truly the start of his new life, but it is not without pain.
Any book by Hermann Hesse is worthy of intermediate German reader
status, but this is one of the popular ones, making it more common that
you can discuss the book with other folks.
By Erich Kastner, this novel follows a butcher who has owned his
business for quite some time. He decides to ditch his family and friends
to start a life filled with travel. However, he gets tied up in an
illegal art theft and his life tumbles down from there.
The title roughly translates to “The Missing Miniature,” and it has an alternative title, “
Die Abenteuer eines empfindsamen Fleischermeisters,” or “The Adventures of a Sensitive Butcher.”
“
Die Verwandlung,” or “The Metamorphosis,” is one of Kafka’s
finest, and the novel is studied in colleges throughout the world. It
follows a traveling salesman, who eventually finds himself transformed
into a large insect. There is much controversy and speculation behind
this book, since Kafka leaves a cliff hanger.
The novella is a manageable read, and a solid place to start if you
truly think you’re on your way into the intermediate level and moving up
towards advanced learner status.
Overall, dipping your nose in an intermediate novel presents a fun
and educational way to learn German. The intermediate level is a tough
time, because you don’t want to read basic novels, but you also try to
stay away from the advanced books that are way over your head.
Hopefully the above suggestions hit the sweet spot. Happy reading!
Joe Warnimont is
a blogger and adventure-seeker. When not riding his bike around
Chicago, you can find him sprucing up his German skills. He has watched
“Run Lola Run” about ten too many times.
