At the start of #WITMonth, I usually go back over my reading from the last one to see how many other books by women in translation I’ve read over the past year. Here’s my list from September 2023 through the end of July 2024. It’s dominated by Nordic authors but that’s to be expected really!
- Dead Sweet by Katrín Júlíusdóttir – (8.5/10) Review
- As the Eagle Flies by Nolwenn Le Blevennec – (8/10) Review
- The Guests by Agnes Ravatn – (8/10) Review
- Eastbound by Maylis de Kerangal – (10/10) Review
- Yule Island by Johana Gustawsson – (8.5/10) Review
- Rodolfo Walsh’s Last Case by Elsa Drucaroff – (9/10) Review
- Murder Under the Midnight Sun by Stella Blómkvist – (9/10) Review
- Toxic by Helga Flatland – (8.5/10) Review
- The Divorce by Moa Herngren – (8/10) Review
And what of my plans for this #WITMonth?
The lovely Daniela at Europa editions UK has sent me many wonderful novels over the years, and I’m sorry to say I’ve built up a bit of a backlog – and all four of my unread Europa review copies are Women in Translation – and all French! I want to tackle some of these this time:
- Véronique Olmi’s Daughters Beyond Command is a bildungsroman which follows three sisters from 1968 to 1981 – bit of a chunkster at 496 pages. (trans Alison Anderson)
- Valérie Perrin’s Three follows three childhood schoolfriends as time passes. Even more of a chunkster at 560 pages! However, Perrin is a quick read. (trans Hildegarde Serle)
- Delphine De Vigan’s Kids Run the Show is a social thriller and is the most recent of this quartet from Nov 2023. (trans Alison Anderson)
- Cloé Mehdi’s Nothing is Lost from Jan 2023 is an urban thriller (trans Howard Curtis)
But which to read first?
Three is great. I have enjoyed all Perrin’s books especially Fresh Water for Flowers.
Kids Run The Show is on my list from this year too!
As usual, this being the month I try to read some Tove Jansson (her birthday being on 9th August, Book Lover’s Day), I shall be including one or two titles by her for #WITMonth. As for what else, I shall have to wait and see what I’ve got time for…
Great options Annabel – it’s always so hard to choose!
Helga Flatland is someone I have to read – was offered one of her novels as a 99p kindle deal (and it would have been rude, etc, etc). And I am determined to get to Delphine de Vigan, who seems such an interesting writer. Otherwise I think almost all the names are new to me – I need to make a list!!
I’ve read two Helga Flatlands now – enjoyed both. Just starting the Delphine de Vigan this evening.