The Storyteller discussion

I read this book judging it basically because I thought it was going to be a quick romance novel to fill my time. Boy was I wrong this book is so much more. I am not a changed person after reading this I look at the world way more clearly. I see that some situations don't always get the happy ending they deserve.

I agree, I mean I thought it would be a cute romance bewteen a girl and a guy, was I ever wrong. But I loved it and it was heartfelt and profound. I mean your actions and words mean so much and people all to often don't think before they do or say things. I'm guilty of it too. I just finished it today so I'm still moody about the ending.

Kathy wrote: "I agree, I mean I thought it would be a cute romance bewteen a girl and a guy, was I ever wrong. But I loved it and it was heartfelt and profound. I mean your actions and words mean so much and peo..."

I know what you mean completely. It took awhile for me to get this story out of my head. It will be one that I remember for a long time. I think it holds a valuable lesson that many really need to learn. Do not take life for granted. Some people in the world go through things that some would never imagine. I think people should enjoy what good they have in their life without focusing on the
insignificant parts. Thanks for responding!

You're welcome :)

I seriously love this book. I grabbed it because I had nothing else to read but oh gosh, I'm so glad I did! I finished it a week ago and I'm still thinking about it. It seriously made me think about life. Abel, Anna, and Micha were so flawed but amazing at the same time. I cannot express my love for this book. It was so well-written and ahh! I loved it :)

I'm so glad I read this book it was just so...... There aren't any words to describe this book but amazing. it really does show what one will do for someone u love!! Its a hard love and a true love!! But definetly a flawed one!

I was so moved by this book. I never felt this way about a book before. I loved it. I literally cried like a baby when I got to the end. This book made me look at situations and the world differently. There are always reasons why people do the things they do. Abel sold his body so he could be able to provide for his little sister. He killed two men so that Micha was provided the care and love she needed. This book has also taught me that there is no rationality in love. Anna still loved Abel despite everything else. This book was just wonderful, and I am planning on buying the book so it can stay with me forever :).

I am planning on buying it on paper back or hard back as well it was so good!! honestly one of my all time favorite books!!

Aleah wrote: "I was so moved by this book. I never felt this way about a book before. I loved it. I literally cried like a baby when I got to the end. This book made me look at situations and the world different..."

I felt every emotion u described, different look on situations!!

Thanks for opening this discussion! I'm from Italy and I read this book in the original German version, because in Italy - what a pity! - it has not been published. It's one of my 10 out of 10 stars books, one of my favorite, and every time I think of it I feel like reading it again.
I thought it was a quick romance novel too, even though the German cover is more sinister and suggests also the idea of a thriller, as the book trailer does.
But I think that this book escapes every stereotype and it's unique in itself.

The story was so captivating and moving and I could feel every emotion in its depth. And while I was waiting and hoping for a happy ending, the plot turned out to be different because life is not always generous with people and people cannot always be rescued, not even by a great, true love.
Everything was so real, the characters so dramatically beautiful, fairytale and reality so perfectly mingled together and Abel a magician with words, a storyteller who, being aware of the brutality of life, tries to protect his little princess, Anna and himself, from dangers and bitterness and the violence of reality. But imagination is not enough, poetry just succeeds in camouflaging reality and in rendering it a bit more bearable. But it’s not enough. The storyteller just manages to depict a hope for the little Micha and by depicting it he renders it real, but he’s forced to sacrifice himself.
That’s probably one of the greatest expression of LOVE, he sacrifices his life for the sake of the ones he loves. It moved me to tears, and left me without words, simply beautiful beautiful beautiful…

<3

Lasuggeritrice wrote: "Thanks for opening this discussion! I'm from Italy and I read this book in the original German version, because in Italy - what a pity! - it has not been published. It's one of my 10 out of 10 star..."

Beautiful!! Completely agree!

Amazing story, it is a pity though not many people know about it. It is a beautiful story yet so tragic, hopeful yet so hopeless. I have not read such a powerful contemporary story before and I think not a lot of books can truly compare. Michaelis has enchanted me and I highly anticipate her other "more adult books" (she mainly writes for children). Recently I've come across a book with similar topic and amazing writing as well: Nobody But Us. A definite read if you loved The Storyteller! :)
And there exists a book by a danish author, (unfortunely not translated to English yet.Et eventyr - A Fairytale. The first thing that made me stop in the bookstore and take the book from the shelf was the title. Before the storyteller I never would have given such a title a second glance. Now I saw it and immediatly thought, The Storyteller, let's have a look. And when I read the synopsis, I was completely mesmerized and I want to share with you The Storyteller fans. The text I am using is my translation from the czech version of the synopsis for this book.

I am six years old. And a moment ago they killed Olof Palme. With this sentence begins the story of a father and a son. They live without an identity, in atmosphere of constant tension, in the reality of meager living and average food. The rule number one is being alert. The next rule is not to talk much, not about family, school, and certainly not about names. They travel all the time, from a place to another place, one job, another job, one room, another room. The boy seeks answers, who was his father, what did he do and why are they constantly on run? The Fairytale is not about the classical victory of good over evil. The fairytale of a king and a prince. A bedtime story.

Micha and Abel my brain screamed after I finished reading the summary. Micha and Abel on the run, hiding from the past. And what adds to the perfection is title - the same game of words A. Michaelis used.

So what do you think? Are you half as rendered speechless as I was? :D Are you going to read this when it's available?

Wow i am excited to read that one! As soon as it's available in English i want it. I was blown away by the storyteller it was a beautifully heartbreaking story! And the fairytale sounds amazing as well! Thank u for the heads up!

The Danish book seems very interesting, thanks Amethyst! I'll wait for a "readable" translation ;-)english, german or italian!

Of Antonia Michaelis I have in my bookshelf her new one, "Solange die Nachtigall singt", I have great expectations (it seems an "adult book" and not a book for children) and I will post something as soon as I've read it!

And I totally agree with your words on The Storyteller:

"Amazing story, it is a pity though not many people know about it. It is a beautiful story yet so tragic, hopeful yet so hopeless. I have not read such a powerful contemporary story before and I think not a lot of books can truly compare."

Lasuggeritrice wrote: "The Danish book seems very interesting, thanks Amethyst! I'll wait for a "readable" translation ;-)english, german or italian!

Of Antonia Michaelis I have in my bookshelf her new one, "Solange die..."

It is available in german "Wie keiner sonst" :)

Yes I am very much looking forward to solange die nachtigall singt too! Though I am trying to have little expectations. I already have read die worte der weissen konigen and I didn't like it that much - not comparing to storyteller. I also read Tigermond and again it wasn't as fabulous as I though it would be. So now I am keeping my expectations low:). There is another book by Michaelis published this March - Paradies fur alle. It is supposed to be for older readers too. And two video teasers are available on youtube:) I am looking forward to this one too...

Thanks, "Wie keiner sonst" is in my wishlist by now!:)
I read "Die Worte der weissen Konigin" too, it was a good story but not that good in comparison to "The Storyteller", the target was a bit lower in my opinion and the book less involving and captivating.
I'll definitely have a look at "Paradies fur alle"!

A heavyweight book that reminded me a lot of "Forbidden" by Tabitha Suzuma. Love is not as simple as it is depicted in many other stories and books; where its about hook ups, then break ups for the simplest of reasons. I absolutely LOVED the poetic writing, where a fairy tail mix with reality; making me believe that life is beautiful even for the unfortunate...especially for the unfortunate. I was extremely SHOCKED by an ending I hoped..no, believed would be a happy ending. The book was both inspiring and devastating, both hopeful and despairing. Its hard to find someone 'real' and genuine in your life...someone like Anna; especially to someone like Abel. The author managed to make him out to be a hero, even though he ended up being a murderer. She managed to blur the lines between wrong and right, making me question life. Although, she tried to make it less devastating, by giving us a parallel world where everything ends up being ok.. it did not soften the blow of it being tragic...I mean, did any of you guys believed anything other than it being a tragic ending? anyone thought that: "yeah, Abel went to a therapist, got his life together, and married Anna, a happily ever after life!"?....then again, I think her intention of creating a parallel world was to make us believe that we have a 50-50 chance in life.
Anyway, the book is a five star amazing and very powerful. it left me with mix of sadness and satisfaction.

vulpecula wrote: "The book was both inspiring and devastating, both hopeful and despairing. Its hard to find someone 'real' and genuine in your life...someone like Anna; especially to someone like Abel. The author managed to make him out to be a hero, even though he ended up being a murderer. She managed to blur the lines between wrong and right, making me question life. Although, she tried to make it less devastating, by giving us a parallel world where everything ends up being ok.. it did not soften the blow of it being tragic..."

You expressed the soul of the book ;-)and I feel like RE-reading it once again!

I was blown away by this book especially the ending. Life is not always happily ever after and this book is proof of that. It was an emotional roller coaster and the ending was just heart breaking. Great story. I'm glad I check out Good Reads because I never would have come across this book. Loved it

This book is beautiful.