log(book)

Books by Otfried Preußler

Cover of Krabat.

Krabat

by Otfried Preußler · published 1971 · read 2005-07-01
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Krabat (English: The Satanic Mill. Yes, really) is unique and I'm having a hard time finding anything similar. The story of a poor orphan during the 30 years war, who signs up for an apprenticeship in a mill and finds himself learning the Dark Arts – it should be cheesy, or cheap, or odd. Instead it's like a deep old fairy tale, complete with violence, love, friendship, death and magic.
Cover of Der Räuber Hotzenplotz.

Der Räuber Hotzenplotz

by Otfried Preußler · published 1962 · read 1999-09-01
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
As Alarm im Kasperletheater, this book is a riff off the usual characters of a Punch-and-Judy show. There's the Robber, Hotzenplotz, who opens the book by stealing(!) grandmother's coffee grinder, which is particularly beautiful and plays a melody while you grind the coffee.
Cover of The Little Ghost.

The Little Ghost

by Otfried Preußler · published 1966 · read 2001-06-01
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Cheeky, fun, but nothing special: I think I only remember this book because I had the audio book and listened to it several times. I enjoy Preußler's other books more.
Cover of Hotzenplotz 3.

Hotzenplotz 3

by Otfried Preußler · published 1973 · read 2001-01-01
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Third part of the series – I remember one good scene and not much else.
Cover of Neues vom Räuber Hotzenplotz.

Neues vom Räuber Hotzenplotz

by Otfried Preußler · published 1969 · read 2000-12-01
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The second part of the Hotzenplotz series is nice and fun, and not worse than the first part. But somehow the fact that there is a second part makes it more common, less exciting. I remember listening to this audio book a lot, and I like that it again emphasises being clever and tricking the opponent.
Cover of Der kleine Wassermann.

Der kleine Wassermann

by Otfried Preußler · published 1956 · read 2000-09-01
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
A nice little book for children. Nothing special per se, but I think the way life under water is portrayed is very well done. The smallest common issues are considered – where is the young waterman allowed to swim? Where's home? How does he have to dress and what are his chores? This attention to reality and detail is what I still love when reding sci-fi.