Read Women in Translation!
August is Women in Translation month, so pick up one of these fabulous titles that demonstrate the important contributions of those who identify as female or non-binary.
Translated from the Spanish (Cuba).
Translated from the Catalan.
Translated from the Spanish (Mexico).
Translated from the Japanese.
Published in Japan in 1997 but newly translated into English, this sprawling, slow-burning crime novel takes us on a deep dive into post-war Japanese culture. Takamura tackles kidnapping, corporate cover-ups, and racist history while bringing to life a cast of fascinating characters that wouldn't be out of place on certain classic HBO dramas. --Tony
Translated from the Chinese.
The city of Yong’an is like no others in China, in that it is inhabited by both humans and beasts. Some beasts are coveted to be made into furniture, others are desired to be a placid yet beautiful wife, while some thrive on the despair of the humans that tame them. The incomplete knowledge of these beasts is tenderly explored and built upon by the protagonist, an amateur cryptozoologist dedicated to cataloging the stories of the beasts that academics ignored. Strange Beasts of China is tantalizing and magical, both deeply sad and utterly triumphant, and its translation melodic. --Jordan
Translated from the Italian.
Translated from the German.
Translated from the Japanese.
Translated from the Spanish (Uruguay).
Translated from the Swedish.
I couldn't put down this little pocket-sized gem of mysteries! 89 year-old Maud may be murderous, but it's (mostly) on the side of good. You can't help but root for her as she enacts her own brand of justice. --Maggie
Translated from the Polish.
Totally remarkable. Begin on page 964 and you will be entirely engaged and agog til you get to page 1. What a mind. If you liked Sebald (the great German), if you liked Milkman or Lincoln in the Bardo, this is for you." Was she dyslexic there with the page numbers? --Erica
Translated from the Spanish (Mexico).
Translated from the Danish.
Haunting, poetic, sterile yet bursting with sensation, The Employees stayed with me long after I put it down. A series of intimate reflections on what it means to be human, to live in the face of death and spend that life working, disconnected from the natural world and from each other. Recommended especially for anyone who works, who is interested in the ethics of AI, or who has asked "is this all there is?" --Henry
Translated from the Spanish (Argentina).
Pola Oloixarac's Mona is an insightful exploration of tokenism in the mostly white, mostly male world of the ultra-hip literary elite, and the feeling of isolation that it fosters. How can someone be a complicated and realized person when one is made to be a representative for a whole group of people? A fascinating read that deals with the different types of violence these self-aggrandizing and inward-facing groups are capable of. --Colin
Translated from the Japanese.
This is the story of a girl who doesn't fit into the society around her and begins to believe she's an alien from another planet. While it covers topics such as loneliness, community, and family, this book challenges MANY societal taboos and is, more often than not, downright disturbing. Dark, weird, perverse, shocking, and unforgettable--this novel is an original and compelling treat for any reader who is ready and willing to experience it. --Jennie
Translated from the Arabic (Oman).
Translated from the Japanese.
Translated from the Spanish (Ecuador).
Such a wild ride! Centered on the practically conjoined BFFs Annelise and Fernanda and their super-obsessive teacher at an all-girls high school, Ojeda explores the horror of being a teenage girl in a masterful saturation of the senses. The book is layered with themes including the physical transformation of puberty, the growth and decay of nature, the duality of mother and daughter—giving birth and then devouring each other—pleasure and pain, fear and desire, intimacy and rejection. The body and language. Ojeda’s language is visceral and thrilling, and is wonderfully translated by Sarah Booker, who also provides an insightful essay following the text. --Tony
Translated from the Spanish (Chile).
Iván’s writing brings forth a reality shared by many yet overly ignored by the masses. The book presents us, the readers, with a group of individuals from different parts of the globe (Chile, El Salvador, Ecuador, Honduras, etc.) that are united with an endless sense of community and collective care within their circle. They were brought together, as mentioned by the author, by a single thing: El Español. A shared language creates an almost immediate understanding between individuals, a sense of ~I SEE YOU~ that is hard to replicate. This is not to say that language forges indestructible connections. The relations were pulled and strained as the book progressed and, yes, some connections became obsolete but when considering the dangers of their everyday life–simply for being their true selves having honest connections with people seem key to the upholding of their sanity. --Morella
Translated from the French.
Translated from Spanish (Chile).
Translated from the Spanish (Mexico).
Translated from the Japanese.
Translated from the French.
An stunning, epic sweep through the history of modern Iran. --Elese
Translated from the Spanish (Spain).
This short, odd, and oddly sweet novel is suffused with tension. The unlikely friendship between a teenage girl and a middle-aged yet child-like man inevitably makes us uncomfortable, but it also makes us think. --Tony
Translated from the Swedish.
Translated from the Korean.
Translated from the Japanese. Best for kids ages 8-12.
A ghost story, a friendship story, and an adventure story, all steeped in Japanese folklore with beautiful illustrations. What's not to love?! --Jennie