Every Thursday it’s #TranslationThursday as founded by Stu (I’m never quite sure if I get that tag right), and this and last week, I posted reviews at Shiny New Books of translated fiction old and new.
Today, my post is about the new Penguin Maigret Capsule Collection – 12 hand-picked titles from the 75 Maigret novels – given a new Penguin Classics livery. I was sent two from the twelve to read – both ones I hadn’t reached in my gradual re-reading of the 75. No 28, Maigret’s Holiday and No 67, Maigret’s Pickpocket. Both feature cameos from Madame Maigret – always a pleasure – and I enjoyed reading both, but Maigret’s Pickpocket is one of the best.
Read my review in full HERE.
These two are my books 12 & 13 of my 20 Books, and also my contribution to Emma’s #parisinjuly2025.
Then last Thursday I reviewed a superb new novella from Europa Books called Barbara Isn’t Dying by Alina Bronsky, translated from the German by Tim Mohr.
The novel follows the trials and tribulations of Walter Schmidt, who wakes one day to find his wife Barbara, who always does everything for him, on the bathroom floor. He is forced into the role of carer, and has to learn how to make coffee, he’s that ignorant of what to do. We meet his grown-up children with their modern lives who urge him to get help, but Walter is old-fashioned and will do it his way. However, being forced to learn how to cook awakens a new passion in him and he makes a virtual friend of a TV chef whose website gets him going. By turns moving and very funny, I absolutely loved this book. Bronsky uses a light touch which gives us a refreshing take on ageing and illness – and making new friends.
Read my review in full HERE.
I think after am this time it is either thurs or Thursday when started was less space to text to cut the day off but doesn’t matter now I like the capsule Maigret had hope read all of the books but so many
I’m up to about 20/75+ now on Simenon. But they’re great for filling in gaps being quick reads.
I know that I need to read more translated books, I just don’t know how to go about finding some great ones. Google?
I read loads! Especially if you like crime/noir. You could search by language on my tags e.g. ‘Translated: French’ or ‘Translated: Icelandic’ or ‘Translated: Japanese’ for instance. You could visit the WITMonth.org website for Women in Translation. Stu’s blog which I mention above is almost all novels in translation.
Thank you for all the info! 🙂
Visit Stu’s blog! So many great reviews of translated fiction.
Barbara isn’t dying sounds like a perfect summer read! And August is approaching, so I’m looking forward to reading more Womennin Translation then, including this one.
It is a lovely book indeed – and if it had been publshed a month later, I would have read it for WIT Month. Highly recommended for Walter being not your typical grumpy old and lonely man.
I love the design on those Simenon books. Very sleek.
Barbara isn’t dying sounds wonderful! And well done on combining reading challenges!