Saša Stanišić

Saša Stanišić is a Bosnian-German writer known for his novels and short stories. He gained recognition with his debut novel 'How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone' and has won several literary awards, including the German Book Prize.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Where You Come From

    The novel is a poignant exploration of identity, memory, and the immigrant experience, weaving together the narrator's reflections on his family's past in the former Yugoslavia and their journey to Germany as refugees. Through a blend of personal anecdotes, folklore, and historical context, the narrative delves into themes of belonging and the fluid nature of home, capturing the complexities of cultural heritage and the search for self amidst displacement. The story is both a tribute to the narrator's roots and a meditation on the transformative power of storytelling.

    The 14260th Greatest Book of All Time
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  2. 2. How The Soldier Repairs The Gramophone

    The novel is a poignant and imaginative exploration of childhood and memory set against the backdrop of the Bosnian War. It follows Aleksandar, a young boy whose life is disrupted by the conflict, as he navigates the complexities of identity, loss, and the power of storytelling. Through a blend of humor and tragedy, Aleksandar recounts his experiences, capturing the innocence of youth amidst the chaos of war and the enduring hope for reconciliation and understanding. The narrative weaves together vivid imagery and a rich tapestry of characters, reflecting on the impact of history and the resilience of the human spirit.

    The 17010th Greatest Book of All Time
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  3. 3. El Llop

    Una història de retorns i records

    The book is a poignant exploration of identity, memory, and the impact of war, told through the eyes of a young boy who flees his war-torn homeland with his family. As they settle in a new country, he grapples with the challenges of adapting to a foreign culture while holding onto the remnants of his past. Through a blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling, the narrative delves into themes of displacement, belonging, and the resilience of the human spirit, capturing the complexities of growing up amidst the backdrop of conflict and migration.

  4. 4. Vor Dem Fest

    Eine Dorfgeschichte

    Set in the fictional village of Fürstenfelde in the former East Germany, this novel weaves together the lives of its quirky inhabitants on the eve of the annual village festival. As night falls, the narrative meanders through the thoughts and memories of a diverse cast of characters, including an elderly night watchman, a rebellious teenager, and a fox with a penchant for mischief. Through a tapestry of folklore, history, and personal anecdotes, the story captures the essence of a community grappling with its past while navigating the uncertainties of the present, all under the shadow of the approaching festivities.

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  5. 6. Herkomst

    A lyrical hybrid of memoir and fiction that traces a family's journey from the Yugoslav homeland to life in Germany, weaving vivid anecdotes, historical reflection and playful linguistic experiments. It probes how memory, language and storytelling shape identity and belonging, moving between intimate portraits of relatives and meditations on exile, home and the act of writing itself. Tender, witty and elegiac, the narrative juxtaposes personal memories with broader histories to show how origins are narrated, remade and remembered.