I recently came across a new German writer (well, two of them actually, but I only want to mention one of them here). The writer I'm thinking of is Horst Evers, the pen name of Gerd Winter.
I picked up audiobooks of two of his novels recently; one was good, the other completely boring. Then, however, I picked up a 5-CD set of his short anecdotes and stories and really enjoyed them. Very humorous.
If you want to hear him read some of his work, here you go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oU3vib6P60&t=41s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qq8pBl08fs&t=5s
And there are many many more.
He puts me a bit in mind of Ephraim Kishon (formerly known as Ferenc Hoffmann before he emigrated from Hungary to Israel). I always credit him and Hera Lind (yes, I know) for 'firming up my everyday German' when I was on my year abroad as a student. He wrote short anecdotal stories about family life in Israel, always laced with humour.
If you like humorous stories of family life, I can recommend two American writers. Firstly, Erma Bombeck. I came across her when a Canadian girl, Deana, was visiting German relatives in Berlin while I was visiting my German relatives in Berlin. She could have me in stitches. One memorable title is "If Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries, What am I Doing in the Pits?"
The second is the wonderful David Sedaris, who is still alive and writing, unlike poor Erma and Ephraim. The best way to enjoy David Sedaris is to listen to him. Here are just a couple of the many links on YouTube. I like his style as his stories are always tinged with melancholy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt77UXCke8M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHUJr3fq0oI
Finally, if you want stories with a twist, I recommend Roald Dahl (born in Wales to Norwegian parents) and science fiction writers Ray Bradbury and Philip K. Dick.
Roald Dahl's stories often have a slightly macabre twist. I also enjoy his novels for adults and especially for children.
Strangely though, I simply can't 'get into' the novels of Ray Bradbury or Philip K. Dick. I've tried a few times. I've managed to get through Fahrenheit 451 a couple of times, but it's not a great piece of writing.
However...when it comes to short stories, these writers are brilliant and make you think. If I had to choose between the two, I'd go for Philip K. Dick, he who wrote Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the novel that the film Bladerunner is based on. (I tried to read it twice and failed twice).
So, if you haven't got the time and enough attention to get through an entire book, try these short story writers.
Kishon is one of my favourites, too (translated in Finnish, however. I have not read his books in German nor in English.) And who would not like Roald Dahl books! Very odd sense of humour and I loved those bizarre twists. - Good to note that I am not the one who was not hooked by Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 just did not "open to me". - But what it comes to humorous writing, Bill Bryson is the best, and - many may think otherwise about this - he is even above Mark Twain.... /M.'
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