Translated fiction

My 2024 translated novels

My reading goal this year was to read more translated novels, an attempt to read stories from a multitude of cultures. I had this scheduled earlier in the month then removed it in the hopes of finishing a couple more! I’ve been trying to create reading goals that aren’t number based. Each year trying to explore something different. I’ve not done a reading goal that focuses on numbers for a while, it made me crash at the end of the year frantically trying to read as much as possible. When all I was really doing was choosing the shortest, easiest books on my shelf.

Whilst I don’t think there is anything wrong with reading easy books or short novels it gave me the ick reading them for numbers sake.

I wanted to read novels not originally written in English as when I looked at lots of my favourite books they were translations. I’ve found American fiction a little stagnant and just wanted to find some new inspiration. Funnily though looking at my favourite books of this year half are American, which it has not been for years.

Funnily I feel reading more translation novels was a really popular theme this year and I’ve been surprised with how many posts I’ve seen.

I loved this post that was written back in August…

Women in Translation Month

I do think I could have done better and have read more. None of my books this year blew me away. They did all scratch an itch that I was hoping. But failed to make me rush and devour another one, which, was totally my mistake in my selections. I have 2 more which I might finish before the end of the year, this could make or break it for me!

Next year I’m going to continue to consciously pick translated novels but I think I won’t select on a whim/random recommendations and instead choose themes that I already love, that just so happen to be translations.

Translated novels I read in no particular order…

Elena knows by Claudia Piñeiro (Frances Riddle Translator) I found this a bit of a slow read. Originally I thought I found it harder to read mainly for personal reasons surrounding Parkinson’s. But I think I’m reflection the pace and the single view point didn’t entirely grab me. Piñeiro does a fantastic job of depicting a mothers struggle to be heard and believed. I thought her writing and ability to paint a picture was extremely talented.

Whilst on Elena’s journey to find justice for Rita’s death we are met with unbelievable frustration. I love how the prose really let the reader engage with Elena’s internal turmoil on her body’s limitations. As well as her limitations inflicted on her by society. women of a certain age tend to just disolve, we don’t see them in movies or magazines.

I am definitely going to explore more from this author. I really enjoyed her style and how she constructed her storytelling and have heard lots of good things about her other novels.

The Living and the Rest by Jose Eduardo Agualusa (Daniel Hahn translator)

I watched my husband laugh out loud multiple times reading this book, so when he finally finished it I was desperate to devour. The first half is great, the premise is perfect and I loved how heavy it was on conversations, some going somewhere some going nowhere. Exactly the ones you find yourself having on holiday.

I was delighted to read a book about writers who gather together on an island at a literary festival that is hit by a cyclone making connections to the mainland impossible. The premise is my ideal book.

I found the second half lost its way a little. Whilst it was still enjoyable I think I had gotten my hopes up to what it ended up being.

Kibogo -

Ok, this was a gifted book at christmas and the premis I thought sounded really interesting and something that I’ve not read anything similar before.

Whilst I found myself flying through it over a pot of tea at The Pig (dreamy) it was a really easy book to read in the sense the syntax was pleasant. I think whilst I can appreciate that it is well written and interestingly told I just didn’t feel that it was for me.

My brilliant friend, this had been sat on my bookshelf for a couple of years, I found it in a charity shop and I snapped it up after I had read the lying life of adults and really enjoyed. After the NYC list I realised so many of the top rated books were unread on my bookshelf. I’ve not yet gotten round to reading/finishing this yet but it is on my immediate tbr.

Surprisingly I thought I would have read even more, but I think as each book left me with lots to think about but not always inspired. Rather than influencing me to read more translated novels it made me more hesitant to what to pick next.

Are there any translations that should be at the top of my list to read next year?