Garçon au coq noir (Boy with Black Rooster), by Stefanie vor Schulte
I haven't got as far as reading novels in German (I'm not giving up hope), but I can at least read German books. This one, I'd have a hard time explaining why, but I found it really German. So of course, I loved it.
Summary
In a dark and miserable medieval Germany, everything is ugly and everyone is stupid and mean. Except for the main character, a bright and intelligent young teenager. The others are a bit wary of him: it's not normal to be happy in general, but especially not when you've been found as a smiling baby in a bloodbath, after your father has murdered the rest of your family. Another reason to be wary: the black rooster that follows him absolutely everywhere. Fortunately, they don't know that this rooster talks.
Impressions
It's as if Tim Burton had written a book with the Brothers Grimm. The story has all the makings of a fairy tale, with its simple sentences, medieval village, pure young hero, little touch of magic, and even a princess; except that the darkness is boosted on steroids. Oh, how glad I am to have been born in our time.
I found this book fascinating. It's so horrible that you end up laughing. Its darkness is so profound that the main character's light acted like a balm on the heart. And it managed to end well, which in itself is more surprising than any fishtail ending imaginable.
If you want a refreshing change from the everyday, I'd recommend it.
To buy the book at your local bookstore (in Quebec) (French only for now), it's here..
