Read Women discussion

Translated novels written by women was probably my single biggest category of books read for 2020, because of the small presses I subscribed to this year (Charco, Two Lines) but even so I like the idea of making Women in Translation a goal instead of an accident.

The first book for 2020 in this category is likely to be The Cheffe: A Cook's Novel by Marie NDiaye. I loved Ladivine by the same author.

Some of my favorites read in 2019 were these:

Toddler Hunting and Other Stories by Taeko Kōno (Japan)

The Wind That Lays Waste by Selva Almada (who has a new translation due in 2020, from Charco Press, of Chicas muertas (Argentina)

Bright by Duanwad Pimwana (Thailand)

Optic Nerve by Maria Gainza (Argentina)

Season of the Shadow by Léonora Miano (Cameroon)

The First Wife: A Tale of Polygamy by Paulina Chiziane (Mozambique)

I'd recommend these to all, especially if you're looking for something from a particular geographic area to round out your 2020 challenge reading.

For 2020 I want to read these, along with many others I'm sure:

Escenario de guerra by Andrea Jeftanovic (trans. by Frances Riddle and due from Charco Press July 2020 as Theater of War)

Chicas muertas aka Dead Girls by Selva Almada (trans. Annie McDermott)

Holiday Heart by Margarita Garćia Robayo (trans. Charlotte Coombe) (Charco, May 2020)

History. A Mess. by Sigrún Pálsdóttir (Open Letter, July 2019)

Garden by the Sea by Mercè Rodoreda (Open Letter, May 2020)

Cars on Fire by Mónica Ramón Ríos (Open Letter, April 2020, translation by Robin Myers)

Four by Four by Sara Mesa (Open Letter, May 2020, translation by Katie Whittemore)

The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada (New Directions, 2019, translated by David Boyd)

Blood Sisters by Kim Yideum translated by Jiyoon Lee (Deep Vellum, 2019)

North Station by Bae Suah (Open Letter, 2017, translated by Deborah Smith)

A Greater Music by Bae Suah (Open Letter, 2016, translated by Deborah Smith)

A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio (Europa, 2019, translated by Ann Goldstein)

The Polyglot Lovers by Lina Wolff (& Other Stories, 2019, translated by Saskia Vogel)

Savage Theories by Pola Oloixarac (Soho, 2017, translated by Roy Kesey)

One Another: A Novel by Monique Schwitter, (Persea Books, 2019, translation by Tess Lewis)

The Adventures of China Iron by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, (Charco, 2019, translated by Fiona Mackintosh and Iona Macintyre)

Loop by Brenda Lozano (Charco, 2019, translated by Annie McDermott)

This Tilting World by Colette Fellous (Two Lines, 2019, translated by Sophie Lewis)

Love in the New Millennium by Can Xue (Yale University Press, 2018 translated by Annelise Finegan Wasmoen)

Thanks for the recommendations!

Sara wrote: "Thanks for the recommendations!"

Sara, I think all of these have been published in the last year or two, a reflection of the way I'm always looking for the latest which is a bit of a blind spot I have, imo. Maybe this challenge will be a good time for me to finally read The Tale of Genji! I'm looking forward to seeing other people's recommendations for books that are a little more seasoned.

It's good to look for new authors you can support so it is a positive blind spot. I appreciate your list to peruse for possibilities. I haven't read The Tale of Genji either and plan to this year. I really look forward to it.

Lark wrote: "this challenge will be a good time for me to finally read The Tale of Genji!"

I have a 2 volume set and I loved the rhythm of the writing. I haven't read the 2nd volume because Genji isn't in it and I wasn't ready to go back to that world without him.

Nadine wrote: "I have a 2 volume set and I loved the rhythm of the writing. I haven't read the 2nd volume because Genji isn't in it and I wasn't ready to go back to that world without him. ..."

I have a weird block too about The Tale of Genji, which is that whenever I think its time to read it I remember how much I love Tale of Heike and re-read it instead.

Lark wrote: "I have a weird block too about The Tale of Genji, which is that whenever I think its time to read it I remember how much I love Tale of Heike and re-read it instead...."

Uh oh, now you have me doing it too. I didn't know it existed and now I have to buy it. I think Volume 2 of Genji is going to wait even longer.....

Lark wrote: "Bright by Duanwad Pimwana (Thailand) ..."

Thank you so much, I have been looking for books written by Thai women translated to English for quite a while. I was able to order both this one and Arid Dreams from my library.

I also started The Tale of Genji this year :)

Anita wrote: "Lark wrote: "Bright by Duanwad Pimwana (Thailand) ..."

Thank you so much, I have been looking for books written by Thai women translated to English for quite a while. I was able to order both this..."

I'd love to hear both of your thoughts on Bright when you read it. I've read nothing authored by a Thai woman notwithstanding my interest, so a great example of how organically, impulsively choosing one's reading doesn't naturally result in diverse reads and it takes affirmative effort to seek out new voices. Or you can tag along with good friends and recommendations just flow your way, lol.

Carol, Bright was one of my favorite books last year. It reminded me a great deal of Man Tiger by Indonesian author Eka Kurniawan, for the way it takes a group voice as the narrative voice and where the community becomes a kind of character in the story. Very different from "omniscient voice" and I loved it.

American books Then We Came to the End and The Virgin Suicides come close to what I'm talking about but in those books the voice seemed like an artistic layer whereas in Pimwana it feels like an organic expression of village life...that everyone knows everyone's business and community is all.

Lark wrote: "Carol, Bright was one of my favorite books last year. It reminded me a great deal of Man Tiger by Indonesian author Eka Kurniawan, for the way it tak..."

Thank you, Lark! This is helpful. I still haven't read Kurniawan's Man Tiger (it's on my shelf across the room... lol) and thanks for nudging me on that one, too.

Carol wrote: "Lark wrote: "Carol, Bright was one of my favorite books last year. It reminded me a great deal of Man Tiger by Indonesian author Eka Kurniawan, for t..."

Carol and Lark--I hope you don't mind me adding my two cents worth. I've read Man Tiger and loved it. But Kurniawan's Beauty Is a Wound was even better. It begins with the sentence:

One afternoon on a weekend in March, Dewi Ayu rose from her grave after being dead for twenty-one years.

An awesome novel!

Tamara wrote: "Kurniawan's Beauty Is a Wound was even better.|..."

Thanks Tamara! I'm in Carol's spot with this novel--it's been on my shelf since the year it was published.

BTW--It bears mentioning that Eka Kurniawan is a man. I say this in case there are members who aren't familiar with his work and because this is a Read Women group.

Tamara wrote: "Carol wrote: "Lark wrote: "Carol, Bright was one of my favorite books last year. It reminded me a great deal of Man Tiger by Indonesian author [author:Eka Kurniawan|..."

Thanks, Tamara. Great advice.