January 1 – December 31, 2009
I am very carefully choosing my time-limited challenges for 2009. Frances from Nonsuch Book is hosting Lost in Translation – a challenge designed for participants to read six (6) books in translation. Frances has created a dedicated page for this challenge here.
I found a couple of interesting articles with ideas for books:
- Long List for Best Translated Fiction at Three Percent – this site has a lot of great information and reviews of books in translation.
- The Prizewinners International Edition at The Millions
I will be posting my book list as I go – I have learned that to be successful I must be flexible! Below is a sampling of some books in translation already on my TBR shelf:
- Out Stealing Horses, by Per Petterson (translated from the Norwegian by Anne Born) – COMPLETED January 6, 2009; rated 5/5; read my review.
- The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery (translated from the French by Alison Anderson) – COMPLETED July 18, 2009; rated 4.5/5; read my review.
- The Passport, by Herta Muller (translated from the German by Martin Chalmers) – COMPLETED November 24, 2009; rated 5/5; read my review.
- Kristin Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset (translated from the Norwegian by Tina Nunnally) – COMPLETED December 20, 2009; rated 4.5/5; read my review of The Wreath, The Wife, and The Cross.
- Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, by Marjane Satrapi (translated from the French) – COMPLETED December 27, 2009; rated 4/5; read my review.
- Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, by Marjane Satrapi (translated from the French) – COMPLETED December 28, 2009; rated 4.5/5; read my review.
- Fire in the Blood, by Irene Nemirovsky (translated from the French by Sandra Smith) – COMPLETED December 29, 2009; rated 5/5; read my review.
= Excellent
= Good/Very Good
= Okay read
= Not recommended
= Ugh! Don't waste your time.
Glad you’re doing this one, too! I really enjoyed Out Stealing Horses.
Kristin Lavransdatter is one of my favorite classics, and I loved the Nunally translation.
Kristin Lavransdatter is a favorite of mine, too…just be sure it’s the Nunally translation.
I read Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky and loved it; I’ll be interested in reading your reviews for Fire in the Blood.
Michelle: I am REALLY looking forward to reading Peterson’s book.
Carrie: I’ve heard so many great things about Kristin Lavransdatter.
JoAnn: I’m glad I got the right translation! *smiles*
Whitney: I also loved Suite Francaise. A friend sent me Fire in the Blood this year and I’m looking forward to reading it.
I’m reading Kristin Lavransdatter at the moment and it’s a big commitment but a wonderful book. It was a group read for the LibraryThing “Group Reads – Literature” group so you might find it interesting to look at some of the threads over there.
Fleur: Glad to hear you like Kristin Lavransdatter – I’ve heard mostly wonderful things about it. I will have to check out the LT thread…thanks for the heads up!
I also loved Out Stealing Horses. FWIW here are some recently-read translated books that I also loved: Desertion by Abdulrazak Gurnah; Gotz and Meyer by David Abilari; A Woman in Jerusalem by A.B. Yehoshua; The Tramslator by Leila Aboulela and Fateless(nes) by Imre Kertesz. (Don’t know how I’d manage to find intresting and little known books without these outstanding lit blogs)
P.S. I forgot Stefan Zweig’s The Post Office Girl. I asked my library to buy it and they did.
Ruby: I have A Woman in Jerusalem on my TBR pile – earlier I tried to read this author’s book The Lover and couldn’t finish it, so I admit to being reluctant to pick up another book by him. But, I will give it a try sometime! I loved Aboulela’s book! I’ll have to take a look at those others you mentioned. Thanks for the recommendations!
Hi Caribousmom–I am so happy when I open your pages and see your critters. You are the only animal person I have come across in a very long time who is critter crazy and a total bookworm as well. I live in Stanwood, WA, a small town of 4000, with a superb library system and I came here specifically to finally settle down and volunteer at Pigs Peace Sanctuary–see website, amazing! NB: Kertesz has 2 translators and the one to read is Wilkinson. Bye for now.
Ruby: I am so glad you enjoy my beautiful animals! I could not live without my critters OR my books! Thanks for the heads up on the translator for Kertesz!