It’s August again, which means it is Women In Translation Month. Why is this important? Simply put, translated literature is underrepresented in UK fiction publishing and sales, and women writers are underrepresented within that already very small percentage. That combined effect means that #WITMonth is certainly something worth getting behind and celebrating. Here are a few recommendations if you’re looking for inspiration. Of course, you don’t have to read them this month, these suggestions remain valid all year round.
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead – Olga Tokarczuk (translated from the Polish by Antonia Lloyd-Jones)
What to say about the Nobel-winning Olga Tokarczuk? I had read and heard so much about this book before beginning that it seemed like an impossible task for it to live up to the hype. But it did, and more. A slow burner at first, it soon gathers pace and tension and becomes a genre-busting cracker you just don’t want to leave. Part murder mystery, part environmental manifesto, all literary gold. I also enjoy when a translated work talks about or refers to translation, which is the case of a few of the books on this list.
The Adventures of China Iron – Gabriela Cabezón Cámara (translated from the Spanish by Fiona Mackintosh and Iona Macintyre)
I’ve mentioned this book on the blog a couple of times before but it’s worth mentioning again and again. A multi-layered sensorial delight and very worthy of its International Booker shortlisting. This was one of my top reads of 2019.
The Remainder – Alia Trabucco Zerán (translated from the Spanish by Sophie Hughes)
I said that I enjoy a translated work which refers to translation itself; well this book does so, while also dealing with themes of memory, identity, language and borders. I think being in translation further enriches and adds more layers to a book which explores such topics. The plot here is driven by a bizarre road-trip hunt for a missing corpse which should have arrived in Santiago, Chile. Along for the ride are three companions whose lives have been irrevocably marked by a past they know little about. Meanwhile, ash falls from the sky and the numbers of the living and the dead don’t add up.
Mouthful of Birds – Samanta Schweblin (translated from the Spanish by Megan McDowell) This short story collection is as weird, dark and brilliant as you would expect from the author of the breathtaking novella Fever Dream. Schweblin’s writing is always worth reading.
Many People Die Like You – Lina Wolff (translated from the Swedish by Saskia Vogel)
If you haven’t read Lina Wolff yet, you really need to. There are always so many layers to her work, so many things going on. Engaging, fascinating and simply brilliant. Read my review of her latest book, published this month by And Other Stories, here.
Die, My Love – Arian Harwicz (translated from the Spanish by Sarah Moses and Carolina Orloff)
This is my most recent read on the list. Harwicz probes at the unsayable and the unthinkable as she explores the trauma of new motherhood and troubled family dynamics in a rural setting. The language is often delirious and sometimes disorientating; Harwicz meticulously manipulates the text to immerse you in the world of the protagonist. This is not a comfortable read, but it’s not supposed to be. Another gem from Charco Press.
Europa 28: Writing by Women on the Future of Europe – edited by Sophie Hughes and Sarah Cleave
This collection from Comma Press is an ideal recommendation for #WITMonth as it brings together women writers from across Europe. The pieces are diverse in form and focus, but the common theme is the reflection on the present and future of Europe. An enjoyable and enlightening read and a timely reminder of what unites us. See my full thoughts on it here.
What are you reading for #WITMonth? Do you have any particular recommendations to share? Let me know in the comments or on social media!
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