Year End Review #4: In Translation

I’ve also decided to give books I read in translation a separate mention this year, if only to try and spur me on to do better in 2018. I was shocked to find that I’ve only read fourteen novels in translation this year, just over 10% of my reading; last year I read 27, (of which 16 were French). This year, I’ve also not read as widely, staying in Europe with one exception (although I am still working my way through a re-read of Anna Karenina too).  The title links will take you my reviews.

France/Belgium

  • The Portrait by Antoine Laurain – His first novel, which is darker than the following three, but still très charmant.
  • Vernon Subutex 1 by Virginie Despentes. Despentes is a great discovery for me (see Tues), and I can’t wait for vol 2 of this series.
  • Three Days and a Life by Pierre Lemaitre – Not his best, but still a suspenseful ‘Can he get away with it?’ tale.
  • The Grand Banks Cafe and The Pitards by Georges Simenon – a Maigret and a roman dur.

Germany

Nordic

  • Mirror, Shoulder, Signal by Dorthe Nors. This Danish bestseller was a slowburn hit for me. I’m loving it more upon reflection.
  • Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson – I never read any of the Moomin books as a child, but have fallen in love with them now.

Italy

  • Can You Hear Me? by Elena Valente – Such a good debut novel – crime meets coming of age.

Netherlands

  • Monte Carlo by Peter Terrin – Simply loved this short novel set in the 1960s, initially at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Spain

  • Such Small Hands by Andrés Barba – a wonderfully creepy tale with a chorus of schoolgirls.

and finally the only non-European book…

French-Canadian

Must try harder in 2018.

How’s your reading year in translation gone?

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