In August, my primary reading focus was reading women in translation for Women in Translation Month (WITMonth). Founded Meytal Radzinski on her blog Biblibio in 2014, WITMonth is a monthlong initiative to promote women writers from around the world who write in languages other than English. Since I tend to read many Scandinavian female authors throughout the year, I generally focused on writers from other countries and continents this month. As I shared last month, I had a big stack of potential books to read. I read many, but my efforts will continue in September and beyond.
A fun project I contributed to was Meytal’s compilation of the 100 best women in translation (#100BestWIT). She asked for nominations from readers around the world. Nominations were due August 26 and the next day she published the results. I was pleased to see that 5 of the 10 books I nominated made it onto the final list. Among those were these three Norwegian ones: Love by Hanne Ørstavik (translated by Martin Aitken), Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset (translated by Tiina Nunnally), and The History of Bees: A Novel by Maja Lunde (translated by Diane Oatley).
How’s your reading life been lately? Did you read any women in translation in August?
Kristin Lavransdatter II: The Wife by Sigrid Undset
(Translated from the Norwegian by Tiina Nunnally)
Last summer I read the first book in the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy and was so surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I was curious to see how Kristin’s marriage to her lover Erlend would go. Just like the first book, this one provides a thorough depiction of daily life in medieval Norway. I was a little confused by the political history of the time and had some trouble remembering and distinguishing characters, but I chose not to let those issues affect my enjoyment of the book. Kristin’s life as a protective mother to seven sons, a faithful wife to a husband with questionable political intentions, and a very pious person eager to save her soul were very engaging. I definitely enjoyed the first book more, but I’m very eager to see how her life plays out in the last book.
Reading Challenges:
- Scandinavian Reading Challenge—A Scandinavian book published before you were born
- Reading Women Challenge—A translated book published before 1945
- Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge—A book published before you were born
Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi
(Translated from the Arabic by Marilyn Booth)
This book came on my radar about a year ago and I bought it right away, but then it lingered on my bookshelf. However, when the author (first female Omani novelist to be translated into English) won the International Booker Prize this spring, it jumped to the top of my TBR pile for WITMonth. It’s a uniquely structured novel that follows three sisters who live in a village outside the capital city of Muscat. One sister marries after realizing she’ll never have the one she truly desires. Another sister marries out of obligation. And the third sister refuses to marry and instead waits for her beloved to return from Canada. The chapters jump between the first person perspective of the first sister’s husband and the third person perspective of various family and community members. It was hard to keep track of characters (grateful for the family tree at the beginning!) and time, but I was fascinated by the lives of these women in contemporary Oman, so different from what I’m used to or been exposed to in reading before. And I learned a bit about the history of the region which was interesting as well.
Reading Challenges:
- Scandinavian Reading Challenge—n/a
- Reading Women Challenge—A book featuring a religion other than your own; A multigenerational family saga
- Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge—A book in translation; A book by an author who is new to you
Human Acts: A Novel by Han Kang
(Translated from the Korean by Deborah Smith)
Last year for WITMonth I read Han Kang’s The Vegetarian and liked it so I thought I’d try another of her novels this year, especially since on May 25, 2019, Han Kang was the latest author to submit a manuscript to the Future Library in Norway for publication in 2114 (view handover ceremony in the woods of Oslo here). This novel was about a horrific historical event I had never heard of before, the violent 1980 student uprising in Gwangju, South Korea. The story is told through chapters that are interconnected short stories. In the first chapter, which takes place in 1980, readers are introduced to several characters who then reappear in the next chapters over a period of 30 years. Interestingly, the chapters are either in first or second person with one chapter in third person. Be aware, Han Kang does not shy away from the gruesome details of this violent time, but at the same time, she shares examples of kindness and compassion too. I liked this one even more than The Vegetarian.
Reading Challenges:
- Scandinavian Reading Challenge—n/a
- Reading Women Challenge—A historical fiction book
- Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge—A book in translation
Strange Weather in Tokyo: A Novel by Hiromi Kawakami
(Translated from the Japanese by Allison Markin Powell)
I read Hiromi Kawakami’s The Nakano Thrift Shop last year for WITMonth and really liked it, so this summer I wanted to read this one, and I was able to convince my book club to join me as well. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it as much. It’s about Tsukiko, a woman in her thirties, and a former high school teacher (whom she calls Sensei because she can’t remember his name) who happen to meet again by chance. Over time they fall in love, but it’s an odd relationship based on unplanned meetings at a bar to drink beer and hot saké. Both characters are quirky and their conversations are limited and formal. I did really enjoy the insight into Japanese culture and foods. Even though I didn’t enjoy this book as much as The Nakano Thrift Shop, I am still glad I read it, and our book club had a good reason to meet at a Japanese restaurant and enjoy our own hot saké.
Reading Challenges:
- Scandinavian Reading Challenge—n/a
- Reading Women Challenge—A romance or love story
- Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge—A book in translation
What have you been reading lately?
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I have heard great things about Kristin Lavransdatter but the series seems like such a big commitment! I am glad you are enjoying them. Hopefully one day I can get over my reticence and just read them already!
My September reads are in my name link
You don’t have to commit to the whole series at once! Just start with book #1 and go from there. I hope you give a try!
I didn’t read a WIT in August…however, read 3 in spring, early summer. As for the Scandinavian Reading Challenge, I’ve not completed 3 areas: written before I was born, non-native Scandinavian author and non-Scandinavian set in Scandinavia. Any suggestions for the last 2 areas?
Have read some good books this summer though!
Great progress on the Scandinavian Reading Challenge! For “non-native Scandinavian author” I want to read Sara Omar’s Dødevaskeren (Danish-Kurdish). It’s not translated into English yet so you’d have to read it in Swedish. I have the Norwegian version on my bookshelf. For “non-Scandinavian set in Scandinavia” I’m considering 40 Days without Shadow: An Arctic Thriller by Oliver Truc or Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller. I’m so curious to hear what your other reads for the challenge have been!