In a Nutshell: First published in Dutch in 1954, The Tree and The Vine was regarded as groundbreaking and controversial. I read about this book, along with Nine Moons thanks to the wonderful online magazine, Words without Borders. Set in Amsterdam in 1938, the novel explores the tumultuous relationship between two very different women. In the shadow of the Nazi … Continue reading Holland π³π±: The Tree and The Vine by Dola de Jong, tr. by Kristen Gehrman
Sudan πΈπ©: Thirteen Months of Sunrise by Rania Mamoun, tr. Elizabeth Jaquette
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: βPerhaps the abaya I was wearing … Continue reading Sudan πΈπ©: Thirteen Months of Sunrise by Rania Mamoun, tr. Elizabeth Jaquette
Czech Republic π¨πΏ : Europe Must be for the 99 Per Cent by Apolena RychlikovΓ‘, 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 π¨πΏ : Europe Must be for the 99 Per Cent by Apolena RychlikovΓ‘, tr. by Julia Sherwood, in Europa 28: Writing by Women on the Future of Europe, edited by Sophie Hughes and Sarah Cleave
Democratic Peopleβs Republic of Korea π°π΅: 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 Peopleβs Republic of Korea π°π΅: Three Days in That Autumn by Pak Wanseo, tr. Ryu Sukhee
Germany π©πͺ: 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 π©πͺ: Go Went Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck, tr. Susan Bernofsky
Armenia π¦π²: 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 π¦π²: Three Apples Fell from the Sky by Narine Abgaryan, tr. Lisa.C. Hayden
Montenegro π²πͺ: Catherine the Great and the Small by Olja KneΕΎeviΔ, tr. by Paula Gordon and Ellen Elias-BursaΔ
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 π²πͺ: Catherine the Great and the Small by Olja KneΕΎeviΔ, tr. by Paula Gordon and Ellen Elias-BursaΔ
Malta π²πΉ: Night by Loranne Vella, tr. Kat Storace, in Scintillas: New Maltese Writing, ed., Jen Calleja and Kat Storace
In a Nutshell: Praspar Pressβ 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/Δ¦rejjef and Reflections/Riflessi. Some Observations: Founded in 2020 by Jen Calleja and Kat Storace, Praspar Press was created in order to … Continue reading Malta π²πΉ: Night by Loranne Vella, tr. Kat Storace, in Scintillas: New Maltese Writing, ed., Jen Calleja and Kat Storace
Serbia π·πΈ: Feminine Genealogy by Ljiljana HabjanoviΔ DjuroviΔ
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, whoβs the youngest of the five generations. The feminine genealogy goes from Krstinja, … Continue reading Serbia π·πΈ: Feminine Genealogy by Ljiljana HabjanoviΔ DjuroviΔ
Suriname πΈπ· : Loveβs 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: βWe, the non-Westerners, non-white, non-Eurochristians have a … Continue reading Suriname πΈπ· : Loveβs Perfumes by Rita Rahman, tr. Paul Vincent
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 