Task 3: Read a non-European novel in translation

[Bonnie G.]

Mandi wrote: "Bonnie G. wrote: "Mandi wrote: "Bonnie G. wrote: "Mandi wrote: "Figured I'd end up going with Never Let Me Go since I never got around to it last time there was a book in translation pr..."

I know someone who is reading Confessions right now, what a coincidence. Hope you enjoy whichever one you choose!

[WillowRaven]

I was thinking of "Seventeen" by Hideo Yokoyama.

[Kass]

If I'm really ambitious, I want to read The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. It's been on my tbr forever but it's 1182 pages. I'll probably end up just reading Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata.

[Nat]

Lauren wrote: " - I love the original movie adaptation and the first American one. I have to try the original novel."

I'm also going to be reading this book for this challenge! The movie was very good.

[Bonnie G.]

Kassidy wrote: "If I'm really ambitious, I want to read The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. It's been on my tbr forever but it's 1182 pages. I'll probably end up just reading [book:Convenience Store..."

If you are a double dipper (I am not) Genji would definitely count as an intimidating book. I read it in college -- it is very very difficult even though I had several Japanese history and Japanese literature credits under my belt.. A lot of people spend a lot of time crying into their sleeves. If you read it, get a study guide to explain what is happening, unless you have a really good Japanese history background.

[Amy J.]

Hannah wrote: "I'm probably going to read One Hundred Years of Solitude (I meant to read it this year but had a huge reading slump!). I'm also considering something by Haruki Murakami.

I..."

This is probably what I'm going with

[Dawn]

I was thinking one of Isabel Allende's. I've been meaning to read her for years but haven't yet. They're all translated to English right? Any suggestions on one to start with?

[Katie]

For this option I'm choosing a kindle book I own but haven't read yet: The Memory Police

[Richelle]

Convenience Store Woman
I think I am going to try this

[Mandi]

Dawn wrote: "I was thinking one of Isabel Allende's. I've been meaning to read her for years but haven't yet. They're all translated to English right? Any suggestions on one to start with?"
Just double checked and all Isabel Allende's books are written in Spanish and then translated. I've never read her but I have The House of the Spirits on hold and am hoping to start it in the next couple weeks. I feel like that's her most classic book so I thought I'd start there. A couple years back I was thinking of starting with Of Love and Shadows but I never got around to it.

I looked up where to start with reading her and Book Riot actually has a list that was the first search result.
https://bookriot.com/reading-pathway-...

[Matilda]

I'm a bit unsure... on my TBR list there's a book by a Russian author, The Master and Margarita, and I always have a doubt when it comes to Russia since it is partially European and partially Asian- what do you think? Does it count?
We know Russian literature is very much different from the others if we want to see it from that point, so I lean more towards a yes

[Megan]

Would something like Fever Dream work?

"Fever Dream is a nightmare come to life, a ghost story for the real world, a love story and a cautionary tale. One of the freshest new voices to come out of the Spanish language and translated into English for the first time, Samanta Schweblin creates an aura of strange psychological menace and otherworldly reality in this absorbing, unsettling, taut novel."

[Book Riot]

Greetings! Our recommendations post for this task is now live. https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2021...

[Melissa]

Dawn wrote: "I was thinking one of Isabel Allende's. I've been meaning to read her for years but haven't yet. They're all translated to English right? Any suggestions on one to start with?"

I read Eva Luna a few months ago and I enjoyed it. Going to try Daughter of Fortune by her this year.

[Elizabeth]

Megan wrote: "Would something like Fever Dream work?

"Fever Dream is a nightmare come to life, a ghost story for the real world, a love story and a cautionary tale. One of the freshest new voice..."

Yes, the author is Argentinian and the novel is set in Argentina and translated from Spanish. It's a fantastic book too, I really loved it.

[Meredith]

My Sweet Orange Tree is a beautifully told autobiographical novel that takes you into the slums of Rio de Janiero and features one of the most moving friendships I've ever encountered in literature. The audio version is brilliant!

[Renee]

I’m going a bit weird for this, choosing a book originally written in Afrikaans, Ancestral Voices by Etienne van Heerder. He’s award winning in South Africa. It’s a beautiful country

[Stina]

I have The House of the Spirits on my TBR for a few other challenges already, so I will go with that unless I read something else that fits first.

I loved Convenience Store Woman, but I think it is technically a novella, not a novel, so if you're picky about your terminology, be sure to look up the length first.

[Michelle (RavenLily)]

I plan on reading The Master and Margarita since most of Russia is in Asia.

[Jennifer]

Thinking about reading Sudden Death, The Devotion of Suspect X, or The Lake.

Recommendations:
Sweet Bean Paste
Multiple Choice
Censoring an Iranian Love Story

[Michelle]

I think I'll read One Hundred Years of Solitude too

[Nina]

Dawn wrote: "I was thinking one of Isabel Allende's. I've been meaning to read her for years but haven't yet. They're all translated to English right? Any suggestions on one to start with?"

I just finished "A Long Petal of the Sea" and really enjoyed it. More historical fiction and not magical realism. About emigration from Europe by Spaniards to Chile and politics between right and left wing. Pablo Neruda is intertwined throughout.

[Rebecca]

I'm going to read either Man Tiger or Optic Nerve.

[Dora]

I was going to read Breasts and Eggs. It has been on a lot of lists, short listed for tournament of books and heard promising things.

[Carolina]

Dawn wrote: "I was thinking one of Isabel Allende's. I've been meaning to read her for years but haven't yet. They're all translated to English right? Any suggestions on one to start with?"

I've read a couple of hers. This year I read her newest book A Long Petal of the Sea for the history prompt and it was good. I'm probably going to read another one for this challenge.

[Jess]

Caro wrote: "I want to know if for this task Turkey and Russia are consider a European or a non European country."

Both are Transcontinental Eurasian countries so I think you could use it if you wanted to.

[Jess]

I have a few I'm considering.

[Lindsey]

Does anyone have suggestions for books written originally in Amharic? Preferably by a woman but I’m open!

[Ady]

Right now, I am thinking of 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World because it is already on my TBR for January and I already own the book.

[Rosyposie]

I’m going to read Sayaka Murata’s Earthlings for this one. I loved her Convenience Store Woman (which would also work).

[Karen]

Lindsey wrote: "Does anyone have suggestions for books written originally in Amharic? Preferably by a woman but I’m open!"

I have the day off and was curious, so... No. But I did look up Amharic on Wikipedia and found only one book listed as a n English transtion: Love to the Grave by Haddis Alemayehu - a man. Also, read the fascinating article on Iyaric - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iyaric .

I am interested in Ethiopia as I am planning to read The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste - Ethiopian-American - book written in English. Also, hoping to get to Sylvia Pankhurst: Natural Born Rebel by Rachel Holmes -- Sylvia Pankhurst spent her later years in Ethiopia.

Thanks for sparking my curiosity.

[Catherine]

Breige wrote: "Some books I'd recommend for this task

Before the Coffee Gets Cold


I just finished Before the Coffee Gets Cold. It was wonderful! I highly recommend it!!

[Angela]

Any thoughts about 1Q84?

[Maddy]

Heather wrote: "The Aosawa Murders looks good, especially if you enjoyed The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle."

That;s the one i was thinking of going with too!

[Beth]

Trying to decide between , and/or

[Angela]

Ady wrote: "Right now, I am thinking of 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World because it is already on my TBR for January and I already own the book."
I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting look at Turkish culture during the lifespan of the mail character.

[Sandra]

Angela wrote: "Any thoughts about 1Q84?"

I used to be a huge Murakami fan and this was actually where I started to get disenchanted. Some parts were beautiful but I found it hard to get through. My favourite novels of his are Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, Norwegian Wood, and Kafka on the Shore.

[Sandra]

Rosyposie wrote: "I’m going to read Sayaka Murata’s Earthlings for this one. I loved her Convenience Store Woman (which would also work)."

Me too!

[Angela]

Sandra wrote: "Angela wrote: "Any thoughts about 1Q84?"

I used to be a huge Murakami fan and this was actually where I started to get disenchanted. Some parts were beautiful but I found it hard to get through. M..."
Thanks!

[Bonnie G.]

For what its worth I loved 1Q84. It is lighter than his earlier books (most of which I like very much). Different strokes...

[Susanne]

Ady wrote: "Right now, I am thinking of 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World because it is already on my TBR for January and I already own the book."

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it's a translated novel. Elif Shafak writes in both Turkish and English. I looked at the first few pages of the book in the Amazon preview and there was no mention of a translator. Her German Wikipedia also page states that "10 minutes 38 seconds in this strange world" was written in English. I don't know what her writing process is like though, maybe one could argue that she translates it herself?

[Amaris]

Maryam wrote: "If you're into Sci-Fi this series is awesome too Remembrance of Earth's Past Series "

I am currently reading The Three-Body Problem for this Task so I was very excited to see someone else mention the series.

[Jenn]

I want to read Vita Nostra by Marina Dyachenko. It's translated from the Russian.

[Erika]

Jenn wrote: "I want to read Vita Nostra by Marina Dyachenko. It's translated from the Russian."

Russia is European though.

[Jenn]

Erika wrote: "Russia is European though."

Somebody upthread said they thought it should count because it's technically Eurasian. I'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts - do you think that's cheating? I wanna do the thing right :)

[Susanne]

Jenn wrote: "Erika wrote: "Russia is European though."

Somebody upthread said they thought it should count because it's technically Eurasian. I'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts - do you think that's chea..."

Marina Dyachenko is Ukrainian though, and Ukraine is in Europe.

For Russian authors, I would maybe try to check if they are not from the European part of Russia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europea... ? However, it's perhaps too simplistic, because it doesn't consider migration and forced resettlement.

Maybe someone here knows who would be considered European in Russia?

Personally, I'll read a book from a country that is 100% not in Europe for the prompt, it requires less research. :D

[Bonnie G.]

Jenn wrote: "Erika wrote: "Russia is European though."

Somebody upthread said they thought it should count because it's technically Eurasian. I'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts - do you think that's chea..."

Most of Russia is in Asia, I think it works.

[Jenn]

Susanne wrote: "Marina Dyachenko is Ukrainian though, and Ukraine is in Europe."

Did not know that. All right, for the sake of not wanting to cheat I'm going to find something different to read. :) Thanks for your input!

[Sarah]

Shannon wrote: "Cixin Liu The Three-Body Problem and the rest of the series have been translated as well as Ball Lightning"

One of my favorite library patrons just requested this series, so I was already considering adding it to my to-read pile.

[Natasha]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a book that meets the bonus task of it being a lgbtq author?