Zurich Book Reading at Orell Füssli The Bookshop

What should you know about Swiss life?
Oh, how about that sometimes something in Switzerland is actually free!
Shocking, yes, but come to the free reading event and you'll be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy some cheese and chocolate (or more likely some pretzels and wine) for less than you'd spend for a packet of ketchup at the Swiss McDonald's.

The Frau will read from her new book, Swiss Life: 30 Things I Wish I'd Known
May 23, 2014 at 7 p.m.
Orell Füssli The Bookshop
Bahnhofstrasse 70
8001 Zurich
Hope to see you yodelers there!

The best description of Zurich ever

David Sedaris was in Zurich last weekend, so The Frau went to hear him give a reading from his new book, Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls.

Unfortunately, half of the readings were given by Sedaris' German translator in German. 

Let's Explore Zurich with Rich Old
People Who Imagine Things
Children Would Like

The Frau doesn’t know about most people there, but she and the Austrian woman in front of her in the book signing line were quite disappointed to go to a reading given by one of their favorite American authors only to watch him sit silently on stage for half the time.

The Frau was also surprised because Switzerland is a country of linguistically talented people who usually prefer their movies (and books) in original languages, unlike Germany, where they dub everything.  

Never mind. The Frau is digressing.

The point, yodelers, is that during the Q & A, Sedaris described Zurich in a way The Frau has never heard before. His summary of the city: 

Zurich is a place where rich old people sit around imagining toys children would like.

This is possibly the best description of Zurich The Frau has ever heard.

The reality of course (hate to break it to the rich, imaginative Zurich old people) is that babies (even Swiss ones) couldn’t care less if their toy is perfectly sculpted and hand-painted in Switzerland or made in China with cheap plastic. Either way, it is drooled on and let out in the rain.

Baby M, who has both expensive Swiss Made blocks as well as the Wal-Mart version, leaves both sets out in the rain equally happily. The Frau is the problem because she gets angrier when the expensive Swiss Made blocks get wet. China products are much less stressful.

Study Fiction or Travel Writing in Zurich

The Frau always gets a bit excited about writing workshops, especially when they’re in Zurich and she’s in charge of organizing them.

Anyone want to second my enthusiasm? Because for the third time in two years, there will actually be something in Zurich other than bankers, lawyers, and ladies who lunch. (All kidding aside, Zurich is a beautiful city and worth seeing--here's a Zurich travel article written by yours truly that proves it.)

Anyhow, this spring, the Zurich Writers Workshop will feature two British authors: award-winning novelist Sam North (The Old Country) and Switzerland’s bestselling English-language author, Diccon Bewes (Swiss Watching). The workshop will take place May 18-20, 2012.

The workshop will be divided into two sections, fiction and travel writing/non-fiction. Participants will receive nine hours of instruction in their chosen area, an author reading and apéro at Zurich’s English-language bookstore, Orell Füssli The Bookshop, as well as the option to participate in a literary dinner at Europe’s oldest vegetarian restaurant, Hiltl.

Registration opened today. Space is limited to 15 participants in each section and is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You can register at www.zurichwritersworkshop.com. Click here to sign up for the mailing list.

Hope to see you in Zurich this spring. And please spread the word!

8 Places to find English Books in Zurich, Part 2

Part Two of Eight Places to find English Books in Zurich is up over on affordablecallingcards.net. Check it out to learn about a few more places to buy and borrow those elusive English books in Zurich, including my favorite travel book shop. To read Part One, click here.

Photo by Brian Opyd.

8 Places to find English Books in Zurich

It allures you with its title. It makes you pick it up to admire it. As you hold it in your hands, you feel a slight rush like you can’t believe your luck.

It’s the English-titled book.

But then you open it. And all your hopes are dashed when you see the German text. Time and time again you fall for this.

It seems like a cruel joke to title something in English when it is in German. Granted, many of these books were originally written in English but this is no excuse for getting the hopes of a book-thirsty English-speaking expat soaring. Unfortunately, in Switzerland, you literally can’t judge a book by its cover. Because you’ll only end up disappointed.

That's where this post comes in. Written on behalf of AffordableCallingCards.net, this is a two-part series on where to borrow and buy English books in Zurich. Real English books.

1. Orell Füssli. Bahnhofstrasse 70, 8001 Zurich. The largest selection of English books I have found in Zurich. Three tempting floors selling everything from fiction to travel to DVDs at not so tempting prices. (A paperback for CHF 30?) Oh yeah, despite being blissfully surrounded by stories you can understand, you check the price and realize you haven't really escaped Switzerland after all. But be sure to check their website from time to time for author appearances. I saw David Sedaris do a reading last year and it was wonderful.

2. Zuercher Brockenhaus Neugasse 11, 8031 Zurich. Decent selection of second-hand books on the second floor. Paperbacks are usually CHF 3 and hardcovers CHF 8. It can be hit or miss, but there's fun to be had in the hunt.

3. The American Women's Club of Zurich library. Schoentalstrasse 8, 8004 Zurich. Members can use this 5,000 book library for free, but non-members can use the library for a yearly fee of CHF 75 (that's like three paperbacks at Orell Fuessli...). The club also organizes book sales from time to time. Check their online calendar for more information. There's a sale coming up on the 17th.

4. bookdepository.co.uk The best part about this website is it offers free shipping anywhere in the world. The prices are competitive with amazon, but the free shipping (no matter the size of your order) usually makes the prices cheaper if you're ordering small quantities.

Stay tuned next week for Part Two on where to find English books in Zurich. And please leave a tip if I haven't covered a great place you know of, or can comment on other parts of Switzerland or know of other great websites. Thanks in advance and happy reading!