The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem (Palestine), translated from Arabic by Sinan Antoon (& Other Stories). 224pp

Interestingly the translator appears to be the more famous author in this case? I recall enjoying The Book of Collateral Damage a lot. I am less convinced by the language in this one at least so far, but find it hard to pinpoint why. It does have an interesting premise that keeps me reading.

I’m over halfway through and enjoying the story and the way it’s unfolding but this is the only book of the longlist I’ve read thus far that continually reminds me I’m reading a translation.

I am finding that a little with Reservoir Bitches but I think there it’s very hard to translate a book written in dialect and slang and with English thrown in.

The translator of this one is one of only three people I think who have made the International Booker / Independent Foreign Fiction Prize list for translating their own novel.

The others Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and Paul Verhaeghen.

A interview, presented in cartoon form, with the author here

https://electricliterature.com/the-bo...