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40 of the Most Popular Translated Books on Goodreads
The joy of reading is universal—that's why we're shining a spotlight on some of the most popular translated books on Goodreads!
For this list, we focused on reader-chosen favorites that were originally published in another language before being released in English. Then we measured their popularity by taking a look at the average ratings and number of ratings per title. From A to Z, with ancient classics including Dante Alighieri's Inferno to more contemporary favorites including Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove, there's a little something for everyone.
How many of these have you read? Don't forget to add what catches your eye to your Want to Read shelf.
For this list, we focused on reader-chosen favorites that were originally published in another language before being released in English. Then we measured their popularity by taking a look at the average ratings and number of ratings per title. From A to Z, with ancient classics including Dante Alighieri's Inferno to more contemporary favorites including Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove, there's a little something for everyone.
How many of these have you read? Don't forget to add what catches your eye to your Want to Read shelf.
What are some of your favorite translated books? Let us know in the comments!
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Check out more recent blogs:
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Wes
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Apr 17, 2019 09:11AM
My favorite translated books are the Kurt Wallander series by Henning Mankell.
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Wes wrote: "My favorite translated books are the Kurt Wallander series by Henning Mankell."I was just thinking that it's a shame Mankell is not on this list.
You have excellent literary taste :) :) :)
Tales of Protection by Erik Fosnes Hansen.
This is a great list, @Goodreads. Smart, and heavy hitting. More like it, please! 👍😃I've read the following and can vouch for all eight for their sharp writing, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes. A couple of them are even works of art in opinion, as their story themes stay with you for years, long after completing them.
1. 'All Quiet on the Western Front'
2. 'Crime and Punishment'
3. 'A Man Called Ove'
4. 'The Alchemist'
5. 'The Elegance of the Hedgehog'
6. 'The Odyssey'
7. 'The Metamorphosis'
8. 'Madame Bovary'
Plus six others on my to-read list.
Thanks for this one Goodreads! I never feel like I read enough works in translation. I've read ten on this list and have to admit that I have never thought to add them to the dedicated folder I have on Goodreads for translations. Derp on me. I'm anxiously awaiting sequels of To the Lake by Yana Vagner & Shadows on the Lake by Giovanni Coco. And I'm planning next week to buy Flowers over the Inferno by Ilaria Tuti.
Thanks for the blog post Goodreads. Foreign language books are enjoyable. Having read one book from your list, маленкий принц, The little Prince, I recall I was unable to find the Russian language edition on Goodreads. At the moment, I am reading ’Ενα Παγωνι στη Στεγη by Paul Adshead. I do not have the English version "A Peacock on the Roof" to read although Goodreads has a listing for this English title and many other English books by Paul Adshead. To be truthful on my list and to save me trying to apply as a librarian, if a librarian could add these two editions, I would appreciate the effort. If not, my list will not be entirely accurate a while longer. Thank you and happy reading.
Thank you for the list. I have read 10 and have 3 on my list to read.
I've read The Little Prince in it's original French but not in English. I've also read a different book by Isabelle Allend but not the one on this list. A few books are on my to-read list. Several I've head of and didn't realize they were translated from another language!
I'd include Night by Elie Wiesel and The Pianist by Wladyslaw Szpilman. On the lighter side, Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel.
I have read the following:-Diary of a Young Girl
-The Elegance of the Hedgehog
-A Man Called Ove
-Inkheart
-Persepolis
-The Odyssey
I enjoyed most of them immensely, and even those I didn’t like as much taught me valuable lessons. I look forward to reading more books from this list!
pretty good listone obvious omission though is The Master and Margarita which has both more ratings and higher overall rating than several of the included
If you're looking for gritty and deep depictions of Paris and France, works that play with memory, forgetting and legacies, read Patrick Modiano. Compelling author.
Read: The Count of Monte Cristo, a favorite.To Read: The Odyssey and The Name of the Rose.
Hooray, there are two Czech authors - one was Czech-German jew - on the list.
Have read 8. Don Quijote, Cien años de soledad, La casa de los espíritus, and El perfume,I have read in Spanish.
Roy Jacobsen is my recent favourite-The Unseen and Borders. I'm now going to read Wonder Child by this author, as soon as I finish The Man Called Ove, which I also love.
Thoroughly recommend The Queen Of The South by Arturo Perez-Reverte.
What about Miss Smilla's feeling for snow by Peter Hoeg? I have read his other books but this is the best, really original.
I am a fan of Jussi Adler-Olsen, especially the first one in his Department Q series (The Keeper of Lost Causes). Very intriguing, comparable with the Robert Galbraith series with Cormoran Strike.
Why is The Count of Monte Cristo not here? It should be here.
1. The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles 2. The Slow Waltz of Turtles translated from the French books by Katherine Pancol; read in order.
