As of: March 25, 2024, 9:00 a.m
By: Sabine Closer
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Many students had their Weilheim booklet signed by Marlene Röder.
© Closer
The “Weilheim Booklets on Literature” have been published since 1980, edited by the German teachers at Weilheim High School.
This institution, which is unique in the country, was founded by Friedrich Denk, who also appeared in person on Thursday evening when the 79th issue about Marlene Röder was honored, as usual, with a poetry reading.
Weilheim
- The new issue is dedicated to the teacher and author Marlene Röder, who was able to effortlessly captivate the large audience of young and old alike.
Born in Mainz in 1983, Röder grew up in Limburg an der Lahn.
She started writing at the age of 14.
After training as a glass painter, she studied German and art to become a teacher in Giessen.
Today she lives with her family in Düsseldorf and works as a writer and special school teacher.
Her debut novel has already won awards
Her debut novel “In the River” was immediately awarded the “Hans-im-Glück Prize”, which the city of Limburg awards to authors of books for young people.
Her subsequent novels and stories have also won several awards.
Even those who had not read anything by Marlene Röder before were immediately fascinated by her reading - both by her completely professional delivery and by her storytelling ability, which transports the listener into the situation described in just a few sentences and allows the listener to experience the events clearly.
Hits the nerve of young people with her texts: Marlene Röder during her reading.
© Ralf Ruder
Their themes are not suitable for children in the traditional sense: it's about a test of courage born out of youthful jealousy or rather a demonstration of power that almost causes two young people to drown ("In the River"), about a hit-and-run after an almost fatal car accident that ends the lives of the children four young car passengers fundamentally changed ("Zebraland") or about the exclusion that an overweight girl has to endure ("Germany's Next Manatee").
Teacher and mother of two small children
It is immediately clear that Röder, as a teacher, is very close to the current concerns and needs of young people.
This closeness results in the popularity of her texts among young readers.
This was also noticeable during the traditional question and answer session with the author.
“Did you have a passion for writing as a child?” was the first question.
Röder nods.
“I once read a book that was so bad that I thought I could do better!
And once I started, I couldn't stop…” The German teachers present may have concluded that they should present their students with bad texts instead of good ones as a motivational aid.
Where the ideas for her short stories come from (“These are everyday experiences that serve as puzzle pieces for new stories”), whether she has a new book in the works (“New short stories! But the publishers prefer novels, which is what I do as a teacher and mother of two The young audience wanted to know whether she enjoyed writing in German class (“I looked forward to every essay!”).
The last question, “Have you read Harry Potter?” made Röder’s eyes light up.
"NATURALLY!
“I’m a Harry Potter fan,” she confessed.
Hunting for autographs: Friedrich Denk, with his wife Gerda.
© Closer
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Finally, a final reading, which was about a boy in a wheelchair who tries to gain recognition through absolutely daring actions, not least from a girl he calls “Rainbow” because of her colorful hair.
Love always plays a role in Röder's stories.
And she seems to hit exactly the right tone that makes young people feel addressed and not embarrassed.
The huge queue, especially of students who wanted to have their booklet with the title “Don’t ask” signed by the author, spoke a clear language.
The mentor of the “Weilheimer Hefte”, Friedrich Denk, also joined the line of autograph hunters.
And Röder received a plush manatee as a farewell present.
“I didn’t even know something like this existed,” she said happily.