I think I’m going to start doing Friday Reads posts to share what I’ve read and what I’m currently reading.
My Women in Translation Month reads are off to a great start.
I read Abigail, my second Magda Szabó book (translated from the Hungarian by Len Rix). I first read The Door in 2021 and I knew I wanted to read the rest of her books that have been translated into English. Abigail was a great read about a young girl who was sent off to a religious girls school far away from her home by her father. The situation surrounding this decision is very precarious and we, like our young protagonist, are unaware of what is driving this change. What I appreciated about this book is the balance of heavy and light. When we find out more of the details of what is actually going on, we realize how serious and dangerous things are, but much of this book is set at this school for girls, and while there are serious world issues happening, it is often offset by the silly petty things young girls do and say to each other and all of the shenanigans they get up to. All of that added some light and innocence to the story.
I also read Incidental Inventions by Elena Ferrante, translated from the Italian by Ann Goldstein, with illustrations by Andrea Ucini. This is a collection of her essays from a weekly column she wrote for the Guardian for one year. I gotta be honest. I truly enjoyed these essays. I found so many of them relatable and overall it was so nice getting to know Ferrante a little deeper. From these essays, you get to see how her mind works and learn what her thoughts and opinions are on various things from personal friendships to politics.
The third book I read was The Epic of Gilgamesh. There is a backstory to why I read this book and it’s 1000% because of the book There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak. That book took me on such a journey. I’m working on a post about it that will be published sometime next week. So stay tuned for that.
No son is left with his father, for Gilgamesg takes them all; and this is the king, the shephard of his people? His lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warrior's daughter nor the wife of the noble.
Now on to the books I’m reading and plan to start over the weekend.
I started The Wall by Marlen Haushofer last week and I can already tell this is going to be a favorite read from this year. I am so deep in this story and it’s not like anything explosive or exciting is happening, I’m just right there with this woman who went to this cabin with her uncle, woke up the next day with everyone having disappeared, and found an invisible wall blocking her from the rest of the town. I am loving it!
I’m part of a few Discord servers and one of those servers has some fun buddy reads coming up. I am finally reading The Sword of Kaigen: A Theonite War Story by M.L. Wang with a group on that server. I am only a few chapters in, but it is already enjoyable and intriguing. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun reading this one. I bought this book three or four years ago, so I am happy finally be reading it.
I am also reading between:
This Is Not Miami by Fernanda, translated from the Spanish by Sophie Hughes
A Sunny Place for Shady People by Mariana Enriquez, translated from the Spanish by Megan Dowell (out from Hogarth in the U.S. on 9.17.24 and from Granta in the UK on 9.26.24)
Bear by Julia Phillips
Private Rites by Julia Armfield (out from Flatiron Books in the U.S . on 12.3.24)
Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin (out from FSG in the U.S . on 9.17.24)
The Rent Collectors: Exploitation, Murder, and Redemption in Immigration LA by Jesse Katz (I started this one in July)
I am looking forward to all of these reads. What are you all reading?
I need to get through Booker (three books to go!!!!) And then I’m reading Private Rites and Time of the Flies - I can’t wait!!!