Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Wednesday, 9 January 2013

2013 Translation Challenge


Hosted by Ellie at Curiosity Killed the Bookworm

I've signed up for this challenge for 2013. There are already a number of lovely books translated into English which are sitting on my to be read pile waiting patiently for me to read them, and I'd love to read more too. I don't know if I'll manage a book every month, ideally yes, but I'll read as many as I can.

I completed a Masters degree in translation (German into English) several years ago in my spare time and I think it is a wonderful skill to render works readable to an audience far beyond the native speakers of that language.

You don't have to be a blogger to take part in this challenge, as long as there is somewhere you can post your thoughts, eg goodreads, Librarything, or similar.

To find out all about this challenge including how to sign up to take part, click here.


Some of the books I already have which I hope to try and read as part of this challenge are:

Journey into the Past by Stefan Zweig -  NOW READ

Every Seventh Wave by Daniel Glattauer - NOW READ

The Library of Unrequited Love by Sophie Divry - NOW READ


Chess by Stefan Zweig

In the Gold of Time by Claudie Gallay

New Finnish Grammar by Diego Marani

 The Auschwitz Violin by Maria Angels Anglada

The Confident by Helene Gremillon

The Girl on Paper by Guillaume Musso

The Dinner by Herman Koch


Other translated works I have read this year:

Fear by Stefan Zweig

 Alex by Pierre Lemaitre

 The President's Hat by Antoin Laurain

 The Mussel Feast by Birgit Vanderbeke

 Someday we'll tell each other everything by Daniela Krien

Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus



Can you suggest any other translated titles that I should try?

I know there are many that I have read about on blogs and I need to remember which ones I wanted to read and then buy them or take them out from the library.

I'm looking forward to taking part!


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11 comments:

  1. Alex in Leeds9 January 2013 at 13:25

    Maybe another of the Peirene titles or something from And Other Stories? Both publish interesting/quirky translated titles of around 200-300 pages.

    I have New Finnish Grammar on loan from the library but have to finish the three(!) books I have on the go at the moment before I can start it. :)

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    1. Lindsay9 January 2013 at 16:23

      Thanks for commenting Alex. Good point, I read one of the Peirene books last year and there are more I'd like to try. I will look at And Other Stories, don't think I've read anything from there as yet unless I've forgotten.

      I always seem to have several books on the go at the moment... :)

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  2. Ellie10 January 2013 at 07:47

    I've enjoyed the Anna Gavalda books that I've read so far and The Breakers by Claudie Gallay is a good one if you like coastal settings. How about some Murakami?

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    1. Lindsay10 January 2013 at 16:31

      I liked the Anna Gavalda book I read too, I think it was called breaking away? I'm looking forward to trying the Claudie Gallay one that I've got. I've never read Murakami so would be interested to try one day.

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  3. Unknown10 January 2013 at 08:08

    The Independent Foreign Fiction Prize longlist will be out some time in March (I think...) - that will be fifteen recommendations there :)

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    1. Lindsay10 January 2013 at 16:32

      Great, thanks, I'll have a look at that for later in the year.

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  4. Sandra10 January 2013 at 08:31

    Sure can. Check out my last two posts. :)

    http://freshinkbooks.blogspot.ca/

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    1. Lindsay10 January 2013 at 16:33

      Thanks Sandra, I've had a good read of your list and got some more ideas. Hope you enjoy the challenge too.

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  5. Anonymous10 January 2013 at 12:48

    I recommend The Dark Room of Damocles by W F Hermans at any and every opportunity I can. This is no exception. :)

    http://lizzysiddal.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/the-dark-room-of-damocles-w-f-hermans/

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    1. Lindsay10 January 2013 at 16:37

      Thanks Lizzy. It sounds brilliant, and I see there is a paperback edition now too.

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  6. Anonymous12 January 2013 at 18:58

    This looks like a wonderful challenge, Lindsay! Have fun participating in it! Will look forward to following your reading adventures.

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