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
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
Tajikistan 🇹🇯: Tales of Grandma Gulsifat by Gulsifat Shakhidi, tr. Tatyana Kinzhalova
In a Nutshell: This book is a bilingual selection of fairy tales in Russian and English. Themes: Love, family, identity and traditions. A Quote: “There is a voice they call bel canto, but you are ‘bel catto’.” An Observation: I loved the children reviews at the end of the English version, these were left on the … Continue reading Tajikistan 🇹🇯: Tales of Grandma Gulsifat by Gulsifat Shakhidi, tr. Tatyana Kinzhalova
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Cat Who Saved Books
A quiet hero’s journey for YA readers, The Cat Who Saved Books tells the story of high-schooler Rintaro Natsuki, a shy hikikomori (shut-in). When the story begins, Rintaro’s beloved grandfather and guardian has just died, leaving him the owner of his grandfather’s secondhand bookstore. The description of Rintaro’s feelings about his grandfather’s death are poignant, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Cat Who Saved Books
Uzbekistan 🇺🇿: The Dancer from Khiva by Bibish, tr. Andrew Bromfield
I finished this book whilst spending Christmas last year on Koh Rong Island, Cambodia. In a Nutshell: This memoir recounts Bibish’s childhood in Uzbekistan, getting married and time spent living in Russia with her husband and children. Themes: Love, loss, family, identity and the many hardships women worldwide have to endure. Warning: there is mention … Continue reading Uzbekistan 🇺🇿: The Dancer from Khiva by Bibish, tr. Andrew Bromfield
Poland 🇵🇱: Ellis Island: a people’s history by Malgorzata Szejnert, tr. Sean Gasper Bye
My copy was a Christmas present from my dad and step-mum, staunch supporters of this project! I remember reading this when my now toddler was 7-8 moths old, I used to take him to the rooftop, whilst he napped, I read this book, with a nice breeze and a sip of my coffee. What a … Continue reading Poland 🇵🇱: Ellis Island: a people’s history by Malgorzata Szejnert, tr. Sean Gasper Bye
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 