Task 3: Read a non-European novel in translation

[Sophie]

I just read 1q84 by Haruki Murakami for this task. It's a very long book to tackle but so surreal and beautifully written! Highly recommend!

[Yrinsyde]

I've already finished this one accidentally - I'm also doing a Read Africa Challenge. The Desert and the Drum by Mbarek Ould Beyrouk - probably the only English translation of a Mauritanian novel in existence. It was a really good.

[Janell]

Hmm, I've been meaning to read The Epic of Gilgamesh, which is definitely non-European and in translation, but ... I guess it's not really a novel, is it?

[Susan]

Rachel wrote: "I've been meaning to read The Vegetarian for a while, so hopefully I'll manage it in 2021! I also have Convenience Store Woman and Tokyo Ueno Station..."

The Vegetarian is strange but for some reason sticks in the brain

[Erin]

I'm thinking either The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho or The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. I've had both on my to-read list for ages. Although maybe leaning more towards the first as I just realized that the second is over 600 pages, haha.

[Jenn]

Janell wrote: "Hmm, I've been meaning to read The Epic of Gilgamesh, which is definitely non-European and in translation, but ... I guess it's not really a novel, is it?"

I don't see why not.

[Sheri]

I am relieved to see I am not the only one who has had One Hundred Years of Solitude not only on my TBR list but on my bookshelves. Maybe this will give me incentive to read it finally.

[Bonnie G.]

Janell wrote: "Hmm, I've been meaning to read The Epic of Gilgamesh, which is definitely non-European and in translation, but ... I guess it's not really a novel, is it?"

Well, its an epic poem so I guess you could call it a novel in verse?

[Cindi]

Thx to all for the recs.... One Hundred Years of Solitude also on my TBR list for way too long so that's my pick for #3.

[Heather]

Convenience Store Woman is terrific

[Gw]

I chose MAN TIGER...Chose almost all my books from the book list suggested from Book Riot. I am totally clueless when looking for these books on this list...

[Candace]

I'm not sure if someone mentioned it, but Eartheater just came across my feed and looks interesting.

[Alex]

I think I'll read Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar, translated by Gregory Rabassa. Cortázar recommended Rabassa to translate One Hundred Years of Solitude.

[Erin]

I just picked up a new fantasy based on recommendation from my favorite local bookseller and noticed it fits this prompt, so I might change my selection: The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi

[Diane]

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

I'm from Turkey and wouldn't consider it European. I think I'll rea..."

I would consider books written about European Russia to be European, so anything in Moscow or Saint Petersburg/Leningrad, or the surrounding area. But if the story is based in the Caucasus or Siberia, then it would not be European.

[Larry]

I just finished Tender is the Flesh. it was a relentless read. it was good but also I'm definitely not good after finishing it

[Jennifer]

Most of what I am reading these days is in translation, but I recently read Chronicle of the Murdered House by Lúcio Cardosa (Brazil), as well as They Say Sarah (France), and The Savage Detectives (Mexico)

[Bonnie G.]

I went with Kafka on the Shore which for some reason has been sitting on my shelf for years even though I generally love Murakami. So happy I did. Great book!

[︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ Steph ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿]

I'm reading The Emissary for this one. I saw it won a national book award, and so far it's really intriguing!

[L Y N N]

Eva Luna

[Rachel]

I read Convenience Store Woman, very... interesting

[Sherri]

I read My Name Is Red, Orhan Pamuk, Erdag M. Goknar (Translator). The original language was Turkish.

[Chrissy]

I just finished The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao and really loved it... but the ending was a bit odd. I think I've read maybe 4-5 Brazilian novels, and all of them have been great!

[Oyinda]

I read the Kite Runner for this prompt.

[Bonnie G.]

Oyinda wrote: "I read the Kite Runner for this prompt."

The Kite Runner was written in English.

[Jessica]

murmur of bees by Sofia Segovia was excellent!

[Roos]

I read Fever by Deon Meyer for this prompt it was orginally written in Afrikaans.

[Cato]

Some of you mentioned The Vegetarian by Han Kang. I read that last year and I was very impressed with her writing. She reminds me a lot of Kafka. I just finished Human Acts (another book by Han Kang). It was very sad, very moving and one of the best books I've read this year.

[Dana]

I read The Secret Talker by Geling Yan. It was a quick read but I enjoyed it.

[Jess]

Rachel wrote: "I've been meaning to read The Vegetarian for a while, so hopefully I'll manage it in 2021! I also have Convenience Store Woman and Tokyo Ueno Station..."

Convenience Store Woman was surreal.

[Jess]

I'm going with Kafka on the Shore

[A]

I finished Tentacle by Rita Indiana
It's interesting speculative fiction book from the Dominican Republic.

[Stacia]

If you like epic/mythology/origin stories, you might enjoy The Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. I enjoyed it.

It was longlisted for the International Booker Prize this year. It was originally written in Gikuyu (a Bantu language in Kenya).

If you are interested in other possible books from Africa, I can make a few more suggestions (or check the Africa shelf on my GR page).

[Stacia]

Yrinsyde wrote: "I've already finished this one accidentally - I'm also doing a Read Africa Challenge. The Desert and the Drum by Mbarek Ould Beyrouk - probably the only English translation of a Mauritanian novel i..."

Thanks for the recommendation!

[Stacia]

Candace wrote: "I'm not sure if someone mentioned it, but Eartheater just came across my feed and looks interesting."

I really liked that one. Fascinating book.

[Stacia]

A wrote: "I finished Tentacle by Rita Indiana
It's interesting speculative fiction book from the Dominican Republic."

It's such a cool and different book. Not one that will appeal to every reader but I found it intriguing on so many levels.

[Stacia]

A recommendation from South Korea: One Hundred Shadows by Hwang Jungeun.

[Karen]

I am reading (and enjoying) Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami translated from Japanese by Allison Markin Powell.

[Mandie]

I read Before the Coffee Gets Cold for this prompt, as part of our library's book club!

[Megan]

I just finished Lady Joker, Volume One by Kaoru Takamura (translated by Marie Iida and Allison Markin Powell). I hope the second volume is translated into English soon so I can find out how this story ends!

[Sara]

I've read both of these this year and really enjoyed them. Both are translated from Japanese. BEFOER THE COFFEE GETS COLD is a slow brew but really good look at a cafe and the people who go there in order to travel in time--it's not scifi though. I'd maybe say magical realism but definitely literary too. BEAST PLAYER is high fantasy with some pretty intense world building and characters. If you enjoyed Tolkein you'd probably dig it--nature emphasis too.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold

The Beast Player

[Juulna]

Would Ancient Greece count as Europe?? Because I read The Persians by Aeschylus to help a friend with school and it would be great to use if so. Otherwise I guess I could try to finish The Three Body Problem (which I set aside last year because I didn’t like… I know, I know! Don’t hurt me! :P)

[Nimisha]

I Read Sweet Bean Paste for this prompt.

[Christine]

I suggest Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, set in Colombia

[Christine]

Chronicle of a Death Foretold

[Brittany]

The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura

[Jennifer]

A Single Swallow (China)

[Octavia]

I read Tentacle by Rita Indiana for this, translated by Achy Obejas. The author's from the Dominican Republic, and I don't know that I've read scifi come out of the DR before so I was excited to branch out.

It's a strange book. Very interesting, very complex, but I don't know that I can actually say that I enjoyed reading it.

[asteriabooks]

My 2021 favourite reads from these following country

Indonesia:


South Korea:


Japan: