In a Nutshell: Thirteen Months of Sunrise depicts the lives of ordinary people living in contemporary Sudan. It is a slim collection of 10 short stories. My personal favourite was the first and the story that gives the collection its title. Themes: Isolation, urban living, human experience, love. A Quote: “Perhaps the abaya I was wearing … Continue reading Sudan 🇸🇩: Thirteen Months of Sunrise by Rania Mamoun, tr. Elizabeth Jaquette
Articles
Czech Republic 🇨🇿 : Europe Must be for the 99 Per Cent by Apolena Rychliková, tr. by Julia Sherwood, in Europa 28: Writing by Women on the Future of Europe, edited by Sophie Hughes and Sarah Cleave
An Overview: Europa 28 is a brilliant anthology of essays, short stories and play excerpts from women writers, artists, scientists, entrepeneurs and dreamers. In this anthology, one woman from each of the EU states, including the UK, shares their vision for the future of Europe, hence the title Europa 28. Who would have thought a book on … Continue reading Czech Republic 🇨🇿 : Europe Must be for the 99 Per Cent by Apolena Rychliková, tr. by Julia Sherwood, in Europa 28: Writing by Women on the Future of Europe, edited by Sophie Hughes and Sarah Cleave
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 🇰🇵: Three Days in That Autumn by Pak Wanseo, tr. Ryu Sukhee
In a Nutshell: This is a slightly upsetting yet beautiful and insightful read with a positive ending. Three Days in That Autumn is a 87 page novella that I raced through. This novella tells the story of a gynaecologist, we meet her as she approaches the final three days of her working life before retiring. She … Continue reading Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 🇰🇵: Three Days in That Autumn by Pak Wanseo, tr. Ryu Sukhee
Germany 🇩🇪: Go Went Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck, tr. Susan Bernofsky
In a Nutshell: This book tells the story of Richard, a widow and a recently retired university professor. He lives in Berlin and one day, on his way home, he finds a new community on Oranienplatz- among the African asylum seekers who have set up a tent city there. Richard is hesitant at first but … Continue reading Germany 🇩🇪: Go Went Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck, tr. Susan Bernofsky
#WorldKidLitWednesday: Amma’s Sari
With its pages encased in generous swirls of gentle blue and pink, this is a book that tells Shreya—a second-generation migrant's story. At home, she delights in her mother's touch, and sees her sari fan out like a "magic carpet" around her mother. Shreya comes across as confident, safe, and snug in contentment, within the … Continue reading #WorldKidLitWednesday: Amma’s Sari
Armenia 🇦🇲: Three Apples Fell from the Sky by Narine Abgaryan, tr. Lisa.C. Hayden
I read this book during last year's #WomenInTranslation Month (August 2021), a tradition started 10 years ago by Meytal Radzinki. It is thanks to Meytal and the #WIT twitter community that I have read as many books as I have. If you are on Twitter, look for the hashtag #WiTmonth and follow people like TranslateWomen, MillieMargretta and Read_WIT and @GlobalLitIn. It is especially … Continue reading Armenia 🇦🇲: Three Apples Fell from the Sky by Narine Abgaryan, tr. Lisa.C. Hayden
Montenegro 🇲🇪: Catherine the Great and the Small by Olja Knežević, tr. by Paula Gordon and Ellen Elias-Bursać
In a Nutshell: This is a book about the life of Catherine. Split into two sections: Catherine the Small is about her childhood and youth growing up in Montenegro and then studying/living in Belgrade, Serbia. The second half, entitled Catherine the Great is about her time as a mother and wife. The novel takes us … Continue reading Montenegro 🇲🇪: Catherine the Great and the Small by Olja Knežević, tr. by Paula Gordon and Ellen Elias-Bursać
Malta 🇲🇹: Night by Loranne Vella, tr. Kat Storace, in Scintillas: New Maltese Writing, ed., Jen Calleja and Kat Storace
In a Nutshell: Praspar Press’ first anthology of Maltese writing showcases new prose, poetry and literary nonfiction by a selection of emerging and established Maltese writers from across the world. Split into two sections, Fables/Ħrejjef and Reflections/Riflessi. Some Observations: Founded in 2020 by Jen Calleja and Kat Storace, Praspar Press was created in order to … Continue reading Malta 🇲🇹: Night by Loranne Vella, tr. Kat Storace, in Scintillas: New Maltese Writing, ed., Jen Calleja and Kat Storace
Serbia 🇷🇸: Feminine Genealogy by Ljiljana Habjanović Djurović
In a Nutshell: I found this wonderful read thanks to a recommendation from my friend, Anja. I read this on my kindle. This multigenerational novel tells the story of five female generations, within the same family, told from the perspective of Iva, who’s the youngest of the five generations. The feminine genealogy goes from Krstinja, … Continue reading Serbia 🇷🇸: Feminine Genealogy by Ljiljana Habjanović Djurović
Suriname 🇸🇷 : Love’s Perfumes by Rita Rahman, tr. Paul Vincent
In a Nutshell: Arno, a high-ranking Dutch civil servant meets Myrna, a Caribbean envvironmentalist. Arno suffers from insomnia and Myra can potentially help him to recover from his insomnia through a unique way of storytelling, that she has inherited. Themes: Love, power, colonialism and culture clash. A Quote: “We, the non-Westerners, non-white, non-Eurochristians have a … Continue reading Suriname 🇸🇷 : Love’s Perfumes by Rita Rahman, tr. Paul Vincent
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 