{"id":425102,"date":"2019-08-29T13:28:11","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T17:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/?p=425102"},"modified":"2019-08-29T13:28:11","modified_gmt":"2019-08-29T17:28:11","slug":"thirty-one-books-by-women-in-translation-btba-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/2019\/08\/29\/thirty-one-books-by-women-in-translation-btba-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Thirty-One Books by Women in Translation [BTBA 2020]"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week’s BTBA post is from\u00a0Pierce Alquist<\/b>, who\u00a0has a MA in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College and currently works in publishing in Boston. She is also a freelance book critic, writer, and Book Riot contributor. She can be found on Twitter @PierceAlquist<\/a> and on\u00a0Book Riot<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Women in Translation Month is nearing its end but the joy of celebrating and reading women in translation doesn\u2019t have to! That\u2019s especially true in a year like this one\u2014there are so many exciting new releases by women eligible for this year\u2019s Best Translated Book Award in Fiction. I thought I\u2019d share a recommendation for every day in the month of August, so here are thirty-one brilliant books to keep the spirit of Women in Translation Month going. Enjoy!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Mouthful of Birds: Stories<\/em><\/a> by Samanta Schweblin, translated by Megan McDowell<\/strong> (Riverhead)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Strange and fantastic, dark and disturbing, the stories in Mouthful of Birds <\/em>are sure to please fans of Fever Dream <\/em>and Schweblin\u2019s uniquely unsettling style.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tentacle<\/em><\/a> by Rita Indiana, translated by Achy Obejas (And Other Stories)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tentacle<\/em> is the queer, punk, dystopian, climate change, science fiction novel from the Dominican Republic you didn\u2019t know you needed in your life. An unforgettable and wild book.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Welcome to America <\/em><\/a>by Linda Bostr\u00f6m Knausg\u00e5rd, translated by Martin Aitken (World Editions)<\/strong><\/p>\n

An intense and masterful portrait of a family, with a child narrator you won\u2019t soon forget.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All My Goodbyes<\/em><\/a> by Mariana Dim\u00f3pulos, translated by Alice Whitmore (Transit)<\/strong><\/p>\n

In striking fragments that shift between time and place, All My Goodbyes<\/em> follows a young Argentinean woman and her \u201crepeated acts of departure.\u201d A propulsive, restless force kept me glued to this novel and I read it in one sitting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Territory of Light <\/em><\/a>by Yuko Tsushima, translated by Geraldine Harcourt (FSG)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A women starts her life over again after her husband leaves her and their young daughter. Her new Tokyo apartment is awash in light, but she finds herself falling further into darkness and depression. Painful and beautiful with a truly exquisite translation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The White Book<\/em><\/a> by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith (Hogarth)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A nameless narrator reckons with the death of her older sister, who died a few hours old and left an indelible mark on the narrator and her family. She writes about this tragedy in a series of profound reflections through the color white. A gorgeous and startling meditation on death and grief.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Thirteen Months of Sunrise<\/em><\/a> by Rania Mamoun, translated by Elisabeth Jaquette (Comma Press)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A beautiful and moving collection of stories set in contemporary Sudan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hunting Game <\/em><\/a>by Helene Tursten, translated by Paul Norlen (Soho)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first installment in a new series from the author of the Irene Huss series and An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good <\/em>follows Swedish Detective Inspector Embla Nystr\u00f6m as she\u2019s swept into a murder investigation during her family\u2019s annual moose hunt. A fun and chilling Nordic mystery.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Beyond Babylon<\/em><\/a> by Igiaba Scego, translated by Aaron Robertson (Two Lines)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A poignant family story for our turbulent times, this novel set across Somalia, Argentina, and Italy still haunts me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Blood Sisters<\/em><\/a> by Kim Yideum, translated by Jiyoon Lee (Deep Vellum)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blood Sisters<\/em>, the debut novel from celebrated poet Kim Yideum, tells the story of Jeong Yeoul, a college student trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be amidst the unrest of 1980s South Korea. A thought-provoking and powerful novel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Factory<\/em><\/a> by Hiroko Oyamada, translated by David Boyd (New Directions)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Three employee\u2019s lives are taken over by the large factory they work for in this strange and surreal tale, that I suspect might fill part of the Convenience<\/em> Store<\/em> Woman<\/em>\u2013sized hole in many readers\u2019 hearts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Arid Dreams: Stories<\/em><\/a> by Duanwad Pimwana, translated by Mui Poopoksakul (Feminist Press)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pimwana turns her keen eye and sharp wit on a changing modern Thailand in this collection.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>History. A Mess.<\/em><\/a> by Sigr\u00fan P\u00e1lsdott\u00edr, translated by Lytton Smith (Open Letter)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The narrator of History. A Mess.<\/em> believes she\u2019s made a groundbreaking discovery, one that will forever change the art world and her own academic career. That is until she realizes\u2060 that her discovery was nothing more than two pages stuck together. Strange and interior, History. A Mess.<\/em> is a fascinating novel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Empty Hearts <\/em><\/a>by Juli Zeh, translated by John Cullen (Nan. A Talese)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A suicide prevention clinic doubles as a criminal organization connecting suicidal patients to terrorist organizations in this prescient thriller inspired by today\u2019s headlines.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Ten Loves of Nishino<\/em><\/a> by Hiromi Kawakami, translated by Alison Markin Powell (Europa)<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong>In ten closely-linked stories, Kawakami follows the lives of ten different women at their intersection points with the enigmatic and seductive Yukihiko Nishino. An intimate and insightful portrayal of sex, love, and modern relationships.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Remainder<\/em><\/a> by Alia Trabucco Zer\u00e1n, translated by Sophie Hughes (Coffee House\/And Other Stories)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Intense and haunting, The Remainder<\/em> is a startling reckoning with the history of violence and a novel of unforgettable imagery as three friends set off on a journey to find a coffin lost in transit.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Girl at the Door<\/em><\/a> by Veronica Raimo, translated by Stash Luczkiw (Black Cat)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A fascinating novel of power and sex, it\u2019s been called \u201cthe first post-Weinstein novel\u201d by Vanity Fair<\/em> Italy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Wind That Lays Waste<\/em><\/a> by Selva Almada, translated by Chris Andrews (Graywolf)<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Almada\u2019s arresting debut, four souls are \u201cthrown together on a single day in rural Argentina\u201d as a storm brews overhead. A profound examination of family and faith, set against one of the most powerful and beautifully described backdrops of a novel I\u2019ve ever read.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Accommodations<\/em><\/a> by Wioletta Greg, translated by Jennifer Croft (Transit)<\/strong><\/p>\n

In this much-anticipated continuation of Swallowing Mercury<\/em>, we follow Wiola as she leaves her childhood village for the nearby city. She moves around, adapting, growing, and soaking up the sights, sounds, and stories around her. A lush and evocative translation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Memory Police<\/em><\/a> by Yoko Ogawa, translated by Stephen Snyder (Pantheon)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The master Yoko Ogawa\u2019s take on an Orwellian novel of state surveillance. Ogawa\u2019s writing is always stunning\u2014haunting in its own spare, powerful way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Mars: Stories<\/em><\/a> by Asja Baki\u0107, translated by Jennifer Zoble (Feminist)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A thought-provoking and darkly funny collection of stories from an exciting new voice in Balkan literature.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dark Constellations<\/em><\/a> by Pola Oloixarac, translated by Roy Kesey (Soho)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A wildly brilliant and genre-defying novel that combines science fiction with naturalism, political satire, and more, resulting in a darkly funny read.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Celestial Bodies<\/em><\/a> by Jokha Alharthi, translated by Marilyn Booth (Sandstone\/Catapult)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first novel originally written in Arabic to ever win the Man Booker International Prize, and the first book by a female Omani author to be translated into English. A beautiful and sweeping story of one Omani family.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

A Fist or a Heart<\/em><\/a> by Krist\u00edn Eir\u00edksd\u00f3ttir, translated by Larissa Kyzer (Amazon Crossing)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A novel of isolation and secrets, the emotional resonance of A Fist or a Heart <\/em>sneaks up on you as you\u2019re busy trying to figure out what\u2019s lying underneath the solitary lives of these women.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Fool and Other Moral Tales<\/em><\/a> by Anne Serre, translated by Mark Hutchinson (New Directions)<\/strong><\/p>\n

From the author of the brilliant novel The Governesses<\/em>, comes another beguiling piece of art, this time a collection of three novellas exploring desire and morality.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead<\/em><\/a> by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Riverhead\/Fitzcarraldo)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reclusive Janina is a passionate astrologer and advocate for animals, happy to keep to her quiet life until her neighbor turns up dead and things take a strange turn in her community. Part investigative thriller and part fairytale, with biting social critique and a wicked sense of humor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A Kitchen in the Corner of the House<\/em><\/a> by Ambai, translated by Lakshmi Holmstrom (Archipelago)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ambai\u2019s stories of motherhood, marriage, and sexuality confront the construction of gender in Tamil literature.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Flowers of Mold & Other Stories<\/em><\/a> by Ha Seong-Nan, translated by Janet Hong (Open Letter)<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would love to get a glimpse into Ha Seong-Nan\u2019s brain, although I\u2019m a little scared of what I might find. These stories are chilling and I\u2019d recommend them to fans of Revenge<\/em> by Yoko Ogawa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Cook: A Novel<\/em><\/a> by Maylis de Kerangal, translated by Sam Taylor (FSG)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A deceptively simple and beautifully told story of a young cook finding his way in the kitchen and in the world.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Aphelia<\/em><\/a> by Mikella Nicol, translated by Lesley Trites (V\u00e9hicule)<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love a novel set during a heat wave. The sticky, claustrophobic heat affecting everyone\u2019s tempers and judgment. This one, set in Quebec, is a gem.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Promise<\/em><\/a> by Silvina Ocampo, translated by Suzanne Jill Levine and Jessica Powell (City Lights)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Legend Silvina Ocampo worked on perfecting this novella over the course of twenty-five years! A woman reminisces about her life, and lets her imagination get away with her, after falling into the sea.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This week’s BTBA post is from\u00a0Pierce Alquist, who\u00a0has a MA in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College and currently works in publishing in Boston. She is also a freelance book critic, writer, and Book Riot contributor. She can be found on Twitter @PierceAlquist and on\u00a0Book Riot. Women in Translation Month is nearing its end but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":292,"featured_media":425272,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67476],"tags":[69572,48176],"class_list":["post-425102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-best-translated-book-awards","tag-btba-2020","tag-pierce-alquist"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/292"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=425102"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425102\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":425292,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425102\/revisions\/425292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/425272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=425102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=425102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/College\/translation\/threepercent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=425102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}