Frank Heer reads from his work "Alice"

5 September 2022. The reading series "The Other Book" hosted by the University celebrates its anniversary. The first reading took place 20 years ago under the title a "literary evening under the glass pyramid" in the library of the University of St.Gallen. Guest on stage at that time were Ruth Schweikert and Tim Krohn. Since then, 43 authors have presented their works. 

Varied publications with reference to Switzerland

This series, "Das andere Buch an der Uni" (The Other Book at the University) has sometimes brought writers from neighboring countries to St.Gallen. For example, Thomas Glavinic, winner of the Vienna Literature Prize, read from "The Greater Miracle", in which he describes a daring expedition to the summit of Mount Everest as a trip down memory lane. The range of topics of the stories presented was varied: the audience heard excerpts from romance and adventure novels, thrillers, myths, dramas and autobiographies.

"Our organizing committee always has often invited authors who were honored with prizes shortly after their readings," recalls Edeltraud Haas, director of the University library. For example, Simone Lappert work "Der Sprung" (reading on November 28, 2019) was nominated as the favourite book of the German-speaking Swiss book sellers Award in 2020. Monique Schwitter read from "Wenn's schneit beim Krokodil" in April 2006 and won the Robert Walser Prize that same year. "Writers who have won multiple awards and were well-known throughout the German-speaking world also enriched the event series with their readings," says Haas. Prominent guests included Alex Capus, Rolf Dobelli and former Federal Councilor Moritz Leuenberger. In cooperation with Kinok, the art house cinema in the Lokremise St.Gallen, a very prominent film director, the German screenwriter and Oscar winner Volker Schlöndorff, presented his film "Ein Priester im KZ - vom Leben zum Buch, zum Film".

To mark the 10th anniversary of the series, bestselling Swiss author Milena Moser read from her novel "Montagsmenschen" in March 2012. Moser also acted as guest lecturer at HSG in a seminar taught by Prof. Dr. Andreas Härter. Härter is a lecturer in German language and literature at HSG and a presenter of numerous readings at the University Library. 

Reading with music for the 20th anniversary

Now, for the 20th anniversary of "The Other Book at the University", another special reading is on the program: on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at 7:30 p.m., the St.Gallen author Frank Heer will read from his book "Alice". With a tape recorder and drums, Frank Heer’s reading will be accompanied with noise in the background. The book describes the encounter between a young local reporter and a musician Alice, and people and memories that disappear and unexpectedly reappear.

Further information and an overview of all readings of the past 20 years you can find here.