Easy German
Book Club

Join our Book Club this October and November! This year, we’re reading two books at different levels: One suitable for beginners and one for advanced learners. You’ll improve your German by reading with us, completing exercises and writing tasks, and live discussions on Zoom.

 

How to Participate

Step 1: Become a Member

To join our Book Club, start by becoming an Easy German member. The club, including weekly discussions, writing tasks, and Zoom calls, is available to all members starting at the Learner Membership level.

Signing up is quick, and you can cancel your membership anytime.

Step 2: Register for the Book Club

After becoming a member, let us know if you'd like to join the Beginner group, Advanced group, or both using the link below. This ensures we send you the book(s) and provide links to weekly discussions, exercises, and Zoom calls.

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What We’re Reading

We’ll start with a book for beginners, followed by one for advanced learners. Choose the book that best matches your level — or join us for both!

September 30th – October 25th

Der silberne Kugelschreiber

Levels: A1-A2

Written by Angelika Bohn as part of her “Einfach Deutsch lesen” project, this book is designed specifically for German learners at the A1 and A2 levels.

The Story

Der silberne Kugelschreiber follows Petra, who lends her pen to a mysterious old man on the train. Intrigued, she follows him to a bookstore, where she is drawn into her past. Meanwhile, the pen travels from one person to another—will it return to her in the end?

October 28th – December 6th

Siddhartha

Levels: B1 and higher

Hermann Hesse, one of the most influential German writers of the 20th century, wrote this novel in a simple, lyrical style, making it accessible to learners from a B1 level.

The Story

Siddhartha follows a young man on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. From his wealthy upbringing to his spiritual explorations, Siddhartha seeks the true meaning of life. Along the way, he meets teachers, friends, and lovers, but ultimately realizes that wisdom comes from within.

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How It Works

Receive the Books

Once you’ve registered for the Book Club, we’ll send you a digital copy of each book in EPUB format, free of charge. If you prefer, you can also purchase physical copies from your local bookstore or online.

Read

We’ll aim to read two chapters (about 20 pages) each week, with vocabulary lists to help. However, you can always read ahead or catch up at your own pace.

Discuss

Once you’ve finished each chapter, join the conversation on our Discord server. It’s a space to share your thoughts, ask questions, and reflect on your reading experience. Feel free to participate as much or as little as you like.

Practice

Beginners will receive PDF exercises for each chapter to complete at their own pace. The Advanced group will tackle creative writing prompts, and share their work with the Easy German team and fellow learners every week.

Speak

Join our weekly Zoom call every Friday at 17:00 Berlin time (check your local time here). It’s a chance to discuss each chapter and practice speaking German in small groups.

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FAQ

  • The Easy German Book Club is an online program where we explore two books tailored to your language level. Our goal is to improve your German through reading, discussions, and writing tasks. It’s also a chance to connect with fellow learners and enjoy literature together.

  • To join, simply become an Easy German member at any level for the duration of the Book Club. Once you’re a member, you’ll gain access to our Discord server, where discussions and writing tasks take place.

    After becoming a member (or if you're already a member), be sure to register for the Book Club to receive all information from us via email.

  • For beginners, we’re reading Der silberne Kugelschreiber by Angelika Bohn. Thanks to the author, we’re able to offer a free digital copy (EPUB format) to all participants. You’ll receive your download link via email after registering.

    For advanced learners, we’re reading Siddhartha: eine indische Dichtung by Hermann Hesse, which is in the public domain. You can download it for free from Project Gutenberg.

    Both books are also available in print from local and online bookstores.

  • E-books can be read on a variety of devices including e-readers, tablets, smartphones, and computers. You'll need an e-reader app for this. Popular ones include Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play Books, and Calibre.

    Once you've received the e-book, you'll download an EPUB file and open it using your chosen e-reader app.

  • Membership is necessary as it helps us run and support the Book Club. This includes managing the Discord community, providing weekly tasks, and coordinating Zoom calls. It also helps us continue creating quality content for everyone in the Easy German community.

  • The cost of the Easy German membership depends on the membership level you select.

    If you’re already an Easy German member, there is no additional cost for you.

  • Absolutely! We offer a monthly subscription that you can cancel anytime. This lets you join the Book Club and enjoy other Easy German member benefits for as long as you like.

  • Discord is a free chat app available for both computer and phone. We use it to communicate with our members. To join, simply link your Patreon account to Discord—it takes less than 5 minutes, and we have a tutorial to guide you here.

    Once you're in, you'll find various text channels for chatting about everything from everyday life to philosophical discussions—all in German. You’ll also see a "Book Club" section, where we’ll host our chapter discussions and writing tasks.

  • Each week involves reading two chapters, joining a forum discussion, completing exercises, and optionally attending a Zoom call.

    Reading will take about 1-2 hours, depending on your level. You can engage with discussions and exercises as much as you like, but we recommend spending 30-60 minutes weekly to get the most benefit.

    Each Zoom call lasts one hour.

  • Discussions take place in a forum on Discord. After each chapter, members can share their thoughts, ask questions, and respond to others' insights. The atmosphere is open and friendly, with everyone encouraged to participate as much or as little as they like.

  • Our Zoom call takes place every Friday at 5 p.m. Berlin time (check your local timezone here). You’ll receive the Zoom link via email and on Discord each week.

    We’ve chosen this time to suit the majority of time zones, but we understand it won’t work for everyone. Don’t worry—Zoom calls are optional. If you can’t join, we also offer additional Zoom calls through our Conversation Membership, outside of the Book Club.

  • During the calls, we dive deeper into the story and provide a chance to practice your spoken German in a supportive environment. We will split into smaller breakout rooms so everyone can share their thoughts.

    No pressure! You won’t be put on the spot, and you can switch to English if you’re missing a word.

  • That’s totally fine! While we aim to read and complete tasks together week by week, the Book Club is flexible, so you can catch up at your own pace if needed. The focus is on enjoying the process and learning in a way that works for you, even if you fall behind occasionally.

  • Yes, absolutely! You can join at any time. All previous discussions and tasks will be available, so you can catch up at your own pace.

  • If you have a question that we didn't cover in these FAQs, feel free to reach out to us through our contact form or ask in the Discord community. We're here to help!

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Ready?