Looking for German Book, Two Boys, Construction Shack... s..

Kris Baker wrote:
> On Nov 18, 6:52 am, ChicagoDave wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm looking for a book that I read a long time ago. It was illustrated
>> and from Germany (though I read an English translation).
>>
>> It was long enough ago that the details are vague. I'm pretty sure it
>> was post-WWII. There were two boys and they decided to fix up a
>> house, or a construction shack on a vacant lot. They painted it with
>> spare paint and brought in stuff they found. One of the boys
>> eventually sought out the construction magnate who owned the site and
>> asked if could have the house. The man was so impressed with the
>> boys' hard work, he let them keep it.
>>
>> That's about all I have, and probably not all accurate. I just
>> remember it was a simple, honest book with lovely, spare illustrations
>> that really resonated with the time the book was written.
>>
>> If anyone can help me with the title I'd be so grateful.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Dave
>
> Hi, Dave
>
> I can't find a thing (I've looked). The part about a "vacant lot"
> having a
> building on it, might be a sticking point
>
> Tell us what year you read it, if the book was old or new, how you
> found the book, etc, etc.

the story reminds me of "Das Geheime Brot" by Johannes Mario Simmel, except there
were more people... one of my favorite books, btw...
 >> Stay informed about: Looking for German Book, Two Boys, Construction Shack... s.. 

"vixx'" wrote in message

> Kris Baker wrote:
>> On Nov 18, 6:52 am, ChicagoDave wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I'm looking for a book that I read a long time ago. It was illustrated
>>> and from Germany (though I read an English translation).
>>>
>>> It was long enough ago that the details are vague. I'm pretty sure it
>>> was post-WWII. There were two boys and they decided to fix up a
>>> house, or a construction shack on a vacant lot. They painted it with
>>> spare paint and brought in stuff they found. One of the boys
>>> eventually sought out the construction magnate who owned the site and
>>> asked if could have the house. The man was so impressed with the
>>> boys' hard work, he let them keep it.
>>>
>>> That's about all I have, and probably not all accurate. I just
>>> remember it was a simple, honest book with lovely, spare illustrations
>>> that really resonated with the time the book was written.
>>>
>>> If anyone can help me with the title I'd be so grateful.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance.
>>>
>>> Dave
>>
>> Hi, Dave
>>
>> I can't find a thing (I've looked). The part about a "vacant lot"
>> having a
>> building on it, might be a sticking point
>>
>> Tell us what year you read it, if the book was old or new, how you
>> found the book, etc, etc.
>
> the story reminds me of "Das Geheime Brot" by Johannes Mario Simmel,
> except there were more people... one of my favorite books, btw...

Don't let "two boys" lock you in; usually, there are errors in the
descriptions of the books.

I'm trying to find an English version of a website that describes
the plot. Or one in German that'll translate
 >> Stay informed about: Looking for German Book, Two Boys, Construction Shack... s.. 

Kris Baker wrote:
>
> "vixx'" wrote in message
>
>> Kris Baker wrote:
>>> On Nov 18, 6:52 am, ChicagoDave wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> I'm looking for a book that I read a long time ago. It was illustrated
>>>> and from Germany (though I read an English translation).
>>>>
>>>> It was long enough ago that the details are vague. I'm pretty sure it
>>>> was post-WWII. There were two boys and they decided to fix up a
>>>> house, or a construction shack on a vacant lot. They painted it with
>>>> spare paint and brought in stuff they found. One of the boys
>>>> eventually sought out the construction magnate who owned the site and
>>>> asked if could have the house. The man was so impressed with the
>>>> boys' hard work, he let them keep it.
>>>>
>>>> That's about all I have, and probably not all accurate. I just
>>>> remember it was a simple, honest book with lovely, spare illustrations
>>>> that really resonated with the time the book was written.
>>>>
>>>> If anyone can help me with the title I'd be so grateful.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance.
>>>>
>>>> Dave
>>>
>>> Hi, Dave
>>>
>>> I can't find a thing (I've looked). The part about a "vacant lot"
>>> having a
>>> building on it, might be a sticking point
>>>
>>> Tell us what year you read it, if the book was old or new, how you
>>> found the book, etc, etc.
>>
>> the story reminds me of "Das Geheime Brot" by Johannes Mario Simmel,
>> except there were more people... one of my favorite books, btw...
>
> Don't let "two boys" lock you in; usually, there are errors in the
> descriptions of the books.
>
> I'm trying to find an English version of a website that describes
> the plot. Or one in German that'll translate


http://www.buch24.de/1020-0/3-240831-1.html
http://www.ciao.de/Das_geheime_Brot_Simmel_Johannes_Mario__Test_2889918
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/johannes-mario-simmel-mil...nsellin


i can't find an English translation
 >> Stay informed about: Looking for German Book, Two Boys, Construction Shack... s.. 

Kris Baker wrote:
>
> "vixx'" wrote in message
>
>> Kris Baker wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm trying to find an English version of a website that describes
>>> the plot. Or one in German that'll translate
>>
>>
>> http://www.buch24.de/1020-0/3-240831-1.html
>> http://www.ciao.de/Das_geheime_Brot_Simmel_Johannes_Mario__Test_2889918
>> http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/johannes-mario-simmel-mil...nsellin
>>
>>
>>
>> i can't find an English translation
>
> I translated the first link, on Google - and it comes up with:
> http://snurl.com/tl7fy [translate_google_com]
>
> (When I paste it in here, it mixes the languages:
>
> Steiner decides to return from the war, are preparing to end his life.
> Doch zuerst muss er eine Wäscheleine auftreiben, damit er sich überhaupt
> aufhängen kann. But first he has to muster a clothesline so that he can
> hang himself at all. Dies gelingt ihm zwar, aber der Selbstmordversuch
> misslingt und Jakob lässt sich von dem etwas eigentümlichen Armenier
> Mamoulian, der ein paar Eier stehlen möchte, um einem kleinen Mädchen
> eine Osterüberraschung bereiten zu können, überreden, mit diesem in sein
> Haus, das nur noch aus einem Keller besteht, zu kommen und dort zu
> wohnen. He achieves this, but the suicide attempt fails, and Jacob can
> be traced from the somewhat peculiar Armenians Mamoulian, who wants to
> steal a few eggs, a little girl to put an Easter surprise to persuade,
> with the latter in his house, which only a Keller is to come and live
> there.

the German original:

Am Karfreitag des Jahres 1948 beschließt der Kriegsheimkehrer Jakob Steiner,
seinem Leben ein Ende zu bereiten. Doch zuerst muss er eine Wäscheleine
auftreiben, damit er sich überhaupt aufhängen kann. Dies gelingt ihm zwar, aber
der Selbstmordversuch misslingt und Jakob lässt sich von dem etwas eigentümlichen
Armenier Mamoulian, der ein paar Eier stehlen möchte, um einem kleinen Mädchen
eine Osterüberraschung bereiten zu können, überreden, mit diesem in sein Haus, das
nur noch aus einem Keller besteht, zu kommen und dort zu wohnen.
Schon am nächsten Tag bekommt das seltsame Gespann Zuwachs durch Frau Magdalena
Huber, einer Maurerin, die weiß, wie man/frau anpacken muss.
Durch diese beiden Menschen und einer wunderschönen jungen Frau gelingt es Jakob
Steiner wieder in das Leben zu finden, in die Zukunft zu schauen, an diese zu glauben…

and my translation:

On Good Friday of the year 1948 Jakob Steiner, who just has returned from the war,
decides to make an end to his life. But first he has to find a clothes line, so
that he can hang himself. He manages to do so, but the suicide fails and Jakob has
himself persuaded, by a slightly weird Armenian, Mamoulian (who wants to steal a
few eggs, to make a little girl an Easter surprise) to live with him in his house
of which no more is left but the cellar.
The next day already this remarkable pair gets company by mrs. Magdalena Huber, a
brick layer, who knows how to make herself useful.
By these two people and a beautiful young woman Jakob Steiner manages to find back
to life, look into the future and believe in that future...

hope that helps
 >> Stay informed about: Looking for German Book, Two Boys, Construction Shack... s.. 

Hi Kris and all,

Thanks so much to everyone for the responses.

Looking at the descriptions, it isn't "Das Geheime Brot"

I read it in a library a few years ago. What struck me about it was
how amazing the illustrations were in capturing the time it was
written.

The book HAD to be written in post-WWII Germany during the
reconstruction, so 1945-55, '55 at the latest. The illustrations
somehow captured that time of vacant lots and rubble as Germany was
recovering. I think one of the reasons it spoke so much to me is my
father lived in Germany from 1952-54, and he told me of how strange it
was to be in these 'old' cities (compared to America) and see the
amazing things remaining, but also the sadness at so much history
lost.

I'll keep searching my foggy memory for details.

Thanks to everyone!

> I can't find a thing (I've looked).   The part about a "vacant lot"
> having a
> building on it, might be a sticking point
>
> Tell us what year you read it, if the book was old or new, how you
> found the book, etc, etc.
 >> Stay informed about: Looking for German Book, Two Boys, Construction Shack... s.. 

On Dec 7, 6:57 pm, ChicagoDave wrote:

>
> > I can't find a thing (I've looked).   The part about a "vacant lot"
> > having a
> > building on it, might be a sticking point
>
> > Tell us what year you read it, if the book was old or new, how you
> > found the book, etc, etc.-
> Hi Kris and all,
>
> Thanks so much to everyone for the responses.
>
> Looking at the descriptions, it isn't "Das Geheime Brot"
>
> I read it in a library a few years ago. What struck me about it was
> how amazing the illustrations were in capturing the time it was
> written.
>
> The book HAD to be written in post-WWII Germany during the
> reconstruction, so 1945-55, '55 at the latest. The illustrations
> somehow captured that time of vacant lots and rubble as Germany was
> recovering. I think one of the reasons it spoke so much to me is my
> father lived in Germany from 1952-54, and he told me of how strange it
> was to be in these 'old' cities (compared to America) and see the
> amazing things remaining, but also the sadness at so much history
> lost.
>
> I'll keep searching my foggy memory for details.
>
> Thanks to everyone!
>


Heavily illustrated, children's picture book? Age group, maybe?
4-8, 8-12, teenagers? Chapter book? Hardcover?
 >> Stay informed about: Looking for German Book, Two Boys, Construction Shack... s.. 

On Dec 11, 10:22 pm, Kris Baker wrote:
> On Dec 7, 6:57 pm, ChicagoDave wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > > I can't find a thing (I've looked).   The part about a "vacant lot"
> > > having a
> > > building on it, might be a sticking point
>
> > > Tell us what year you read it, if the book was old or new, how you
> > > found the book, etc, etc.-
> > Hi Kris and all,
>
> > Thanks so much to everyone for the responses.
>
> > Looking at the descriptions, it isn't "Das Geheime Brot"
>
> > I read it in a library a few years ago.  What struck me about it was
> > how amazing the illustrations were in capturing the time it was
> > written.
>
> > The book HAD to be written in post-WWII Germany during the
> > reconstruction, so 1945-55, '55 at the latest.  The illustrations
> > somehow captured that time of vacant lots and rubble as Germany was
> > recovering.  I think one of the reasons it spoke so much to me is my
> > father lived in Germany from 1952-54, and he told me of how strange it
> > was to be in these 'old' cities (compared to America) and see the
> > amazing things remaining, but also the sadness at so much history
> > lost.
>
> > I'll keep searching my foggy memory for details.
>
> > Thanks to everyone!
>
> Heavily illustrated, children's picture book?   Age group, maybe?
> 4-8, 8-12, teenagers?    Chapter book?   Hardcover?

Yes, heavily illustrated. I'd guess 4-8 age range. About 2-6
sentences per page. Hardcover. Not a chapter book.
 >> Stay informed about: Looking for German Book, Two Boys, Construction Shack... s..