Between the lines: Julia Harwardt

• What’s the longest or most unusual word you’ve used (in your texts) this week?

My original answer was going to be “Turbinenaustrittsgehäuse” (“turbine exhaust case”), but in the course of this interview that got superseded by “Literaturnobelpreisträgerin” (“female Nobel laureate in literature”) (see question 3). That’s the nice thing about our profession: we get to switch between completely unrelated topics all the time.

• Of all the languages you don’t speak, which one would you most like to learn and why?

Turkish, because I love the melody of the language and because it has a word for “the reflection of the moon in the water”: “yakamoz”. It’s a word that as a German I can’t help admiring for its wonderful efficiency, but what really draws me to it – and to the entire language – is its sheer beauty.

• What are you reading right now?

“The love of a good woman” by Nobel laureate in literature Alice Munro. I generally try to read English-language authors in the original, but Alice Munro has been on my must-read list for a long time. And I have to admit I really liked the look of the cover, and it’s just the right size for when I’m travelling. The book is absolutely wonderful, even translated into German, and I can highly recommend it!

• Beer or wine?

Since summer is slowly approaching, I’ll say: beer.

• Beach holiday or city break?

Ideally a trip to a city with a beach, but if there isn’t one then I’ll make do. ????

• Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla.