Azerbaijan 🇦🇿: Days in the Caucasus by Banine, tr. by Anne Thompson-Ahmadova

In a Nutshell: Days in the Caucasus, originally published in Paris in 1945, is Banine’s memoir of her childhood in Baku, from when she was born (1905) until she left for Paris in 1923. It was translated into English in 2019. Parisian Days, the kind of sequel to Days in the Caucasus was published earlier … Continue reading Azerbaijan 🇦🇿: Days in the Caucasus by Banine, tr. by Anne Thompson-Ahmadova

Italy 🇮🇹: The Little Virtues by Natalia Ginzburg, tr. Dick Davis

Back in 2o19, I was living in Tanzania. The week before Christmas, my husband and I were visiting family and friends in the UK. On one of the final days of our trips, I went Christmas shopping, the final stop was in Daunt Books in Marylebone, London, I was just about to pay for my … Continue reading Italy 🇮🇹: The Little Virtues by Natalia Ginzburg, tr. Dick Davis

Georgia 🇬🇪: The Eighth Life (for Brilka) by Nino Haratischvili, tr. by Charlotte Collins and Ruth Martin

Observations: The Eighth Life (for Brilka) is the 2020 winner of the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation. For more about the prize, read here. I read this wonderful book whilst away on holiday with my husband, I was 3-4 months pregnant, we were on a road trip around Cambodia: visiting Chhlong/Kratie, Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri. This … Continue reading Georgia 🇬🇪: The Eighth Life (for Brilka) by Nino Haratischvili, tr. by Charlotte Collins and Ruth Martin

Vietnam 🇻🇳: Ru by Kim Thuy, tr. by Sheila Fischman

In a Nutshell: Translated from French (beautifully translated by Fischman, I may add), Thuy's fictionalised memoir, Ru is her debut novel.  Born into a wealthy Vietnamese family during the Tet Offensive, the main character, as a girl, she flees Vietnam, she endures an arduous boat journey and a Malaysian refugee camp before arriving in Granby, … Continue reading Vietnam 🇻🇳: Ru by Kim Thuy, tr. by Sheila Fischman

Welcome to #WITMonth 2023

Hello! It is great to be back as a guest curator this year for #WomenInTranslation (WIT) month. A bit about me, my name is Jess Andoh-Thayre. I am from Brixton, South London. I currently live in Cambodia. Before living here in Cambodia, I lived in Tanzania with my husband, who is a diplomat. I have … Continue reading Welcome to #WITMonth 2023

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Science for Smartypants series

The Science for Smartypants series of books introduces scientific phenomena, with a generous dose of humor on the side, to readers in the age group of 5 to 8 years.  Each of the four titles in the series revolves around particular concepts, namely Gravity, Photosynthesis, Evolution, and the Solar System.  Dominantly rendered in tones of … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Science for Smartypants series

#WorldKidLitWednesday: Meet Reviewer Karthika Gopalakrishnan

The #WorldKidLit review team here at GLLI is thrilled to welcome our newest contributor, Karthika Gopalakrishnan, to its ranks. Our regular readers may recognize Karthika from last year's celebration of World Kid Lit Month which she co-curated, focusing on #IndiaKidLit. Welcome, Karthika! Karthika is an educator, children's book writer and editor, and the director of … Continue reading #WorldKidLitWednesday: Meet Reviewer Karthika Gopalakrishnan

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: An interview with Translator Shelley Fairweather-Vega

NM: Congratulations on the upcoming release on August 1 of your translation of Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup from Russian into English. It's a wonderful coming-of-age magical adventure and was a bestseller in Kazakhstan. How did the book find its way to you and then to Amazon Publishing? Was it an easy journey or one … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: An interview with Translator Shelley Fairweather-Vega

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Kariba

Originally published in 2018 as part of a Kickstarter campaign and forthcoming to a more global audience this August from Catalyst Press, Kariba is an adventurous fantasy middle grades graphic novel. As the South African-based creators note in an afterword, Kariba "draws heavily upon historical fact," taking its name from the real life Kariba Dam … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Kariba

#IntlYALitMonth (We Made It!)

Thank You! (Gracias/Obrigada) Thank you for joining me and The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative (GLLI) for #IntlYALitMonth, a month dedicated to promoting international and translated literature in libraries worldwide (among other celebrations). Our primary goal has been to increase access to diverse literary works from around the globe and foster cultural exchange through literature. … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth (We Made It!)