Copione! Nachahmer!

[ganimede]

The moment when you realise that the person who previously owned the copy of Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen got it for the same reason you did!

Comments

[meathiel]

I actually started brushing up my English in Gymnasium by reading books I'd read in German before as well.

But I've never read the Harry Potter books in German actually ... did they change the company Mr Dursley works for? That sounds so typically German. We DO have German copies of HP in the house, though, they belong to my mum. :-)

[ganimede]

I read German books as part of my course at college but they were horrible things! I can't remember what either of them were called but I know one of them featured a young boy who had a breakdown and threw himself under a train with quite a detailed description of what happened to him...

Grunnings is the company name in the English books so they kept it the same for the German ones.

[rusty_armour]

I always find it fascinating to discover who owned a book before I did, especially if it's an old book I've picked up at a used bookstore. I bought a book once that had a stamp from a Cape Canaveral bookshop, which impressed me. It's also great to find personal inscriptions and student notes. Actually, I've found some of the student notes quite helpful! *g*

I should send you a copy of a German Stephen King book I bought by accident (long story). I'm sure it would expand your vocabulary in interesting ways! ;-)

[ganimede]

That was a pretty cool find! I found a pocket bible in an antiques shop that had an inscription in the front from a soldier to his sweetheart before he went off to fight in the Second World War.

Okay, you can't just tease that story and not share more!

[rusty_armour]

Oh, wow! Your pocket bible find is wonderful! :-)

Actually, the story behind the German Stephen King novel isn't that interesting. My mom really liked the TV series Haven and wanted to read the novel it was based on. I found a copy for her online, but didn't realize it was in German until after it had arrived. I was able to find a copy in English later on. *g*

[ganimede]

It was quite a surprising one. I felt rather bad about it being for sale because there was obviously a story and some emotional value attached to it.

Aww, that's quite an expensive mistake!

[chaquir]

heh that's really funny and cool that the previous owner had it for the very same reason as you

[ganimede]

I know! Pretty cool indeed.

[ghost_light]

I bought The Little Prince in Afrikaans with the hope of learning some...

[ganimede]

Did it help?

[hobbitblue]

Hee, that's very cool.. now you have to get past at least page 9, stolz or indeed fiero demands it! :)

[ganimede]

Obviously Harry Potter is the great equaliser when it comes to learning languages :) I will certainly try to get to page 10, mein Stolz is definitely at stake!