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libbysbookshelf's Reviews (745)
WOLFSKIN by LARA MORENO translated by KATIE WHITTEMORE
Thanks to @jordtaylorjones for sending this one my way. It’s translated literary fiction, which is my absolute favourite and it’s by a Spanish writer and I’m currently in Spain (although, today we fly back to England after two months away!)
This novel is tense. It’s about a woman whose husband has left her, so she goes to her old family home with her four year old son. She is later visited by her younger sister who is keen to sell the family home now that their father has died. Over the course of the summer, we learn more about the sisters and their past.
The novel is written with hardly any paragraphs and with no speech demarcation, so that it becomes unclear who is speaking and when they are speaking. Clearly this was done intentionally and when it worked, it was brilliant. However, I did get lost at times. Overall, this wasn’t a problem because the characters felt so real and the drama was so intense.
I think this is a brilliant book and a good one for people trying to read more translated fiction.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #spanishliterature #translatedliterature #adpr
Thanks to @jordtaylorjones for sending this one my way. It’s translated literary fiction, which is my absolute favourite and it’s by a Spanish writer and I’m currently in Spain (although, today we fly back to England after two months away!)
This novel is tense. It’s about a woman whose husband has left her, so she goes to her old family home with her four year old son. She is later visited by her younger sister who is keen to sell the family home now that their father has died. Over the course of the summer, we learn more about the sisters and their past.
The novel is written with hardly any paragraphs and with no speech demarcation, so that it becomes unclear who is speaking and when they are speaking. Clearly this was done intentionally and when it worked, it was brilliant. However, I did get lost at times. Overall, this wasn’t a problem because the characters felt so real and the drama was so intense.
I think this is a brilliant book and a good one for people trying to read more translated fiction.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #spanishliterature #translatedliterature #adpr
FAMILY LEXICON by NATALIA GINZBURG translated by TIM PARKS
Writing as an Italian Jew during a period of fascism in Europe, Ginzburg chooses to focus on her family’s way of communicating; their language; their lexicon. It’s a book that feels like it loses much in translation because the father, who is such a strong character in this semi-autobiography, calls everyone a jackass and I’d love to know what word he uses in Italian because, somehow, the word jackass does not feel very Italian to me. Perhaps it’s only a problem because I know the culture and language quite well, but I’d have loved to see the Italian word used (as often translators are wont to do).
I must not complain, though, because it’s thanks to translators that we get an insight into other languages and cultures and I’m so glad for that. I don’t know much about Italian Jewish culture, or even about Italian history, so this was enlightening for me.
Also, the way it’s written is certainly endearing (stole that word from @thisbookmagnet who is the reason I read this book). I loved the main character because her voice was so youthful, yet expert in the ways of her family. She is able to write about her closest family and early memories with such clarity and just the right amount of distance.
I’m impressed with this book, even if my attention was not held all the way through.
Do you like it when translated books keep a little of their own language or do you prefer it when every word is translated?
#book #bookstagram #nataliaginzburg #familylexicon #italianliterature #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs
Writing as an Italian Jew during a period of fascism in Europe, Ginzburg chooses to focus on her family’s way of communicating; their language; their lexicon. It’s a book that feels like it loses much in translation because the father, who is such a strong character in this semi-autobiography, calls everyone a jackass and I’d love to know what word he uses in Italian because, somehow, the word jackass does not feel very Italian to me. Perhaps it’s only a problem because I know the culture and language quite well, but I’d have loved to see the Italian word used (as often translators are wont to do).
I must not complain, though, because it’s thanks to translators that we get an insight into other languages and cultures and I’m so glad for that. I don’t know much about Italian Jewish culture, or even about Italian history, so this was enlightening for me.
Also, the way it’s written is certainly endearing (stole that word from @thisbookmagnet who is the reason I read this book). I loved the main character because her voice was so youthful, yet expert in the ways of her family. She is able to write about her closest family and early memories with such clarity and just the right amount of distance.
I’m impressed with this book, even if my attention was not held all the way through.
Do you like it when translated books keep a little of their own language or do you prefer it when every word is translated?
#book #bookstagram #nataliaginzburg #familylexicon #italianliterature #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs
A SUNDAY IN VILLE D’AVRAY by DOMINIQUE BARBERIS translated by JOHN CULLEN
In my experience French literature can always been relied upon for something subtle, slow and sensual. This book was no exception. Set over the course of one Sunday when one sister from Paris visits the other sister in the suburbs. While there, the suburb sister reveals a strange affair she had with a foreign man. And what ensues is something erotically charged and sinister.
I adored the telling of this story; a very strong novel.
I’m noticing a lot of the books I’m really enjoying lately are from @dauntbooks publishing. I’ll have to seek out some more.
#book #bookstagram #frenchliterature #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #asundayinvilledavray #dominiquebarberis #dauntbooks #dauntbookspublishing
In my experience French literature can always been relied upon for something subtle, slow and sensual. This book was no exception. Set over the course of one Sunday when one sister from Paris visits the other sister in the suburbs. While there, the suburb sister reveals a strange affair she had with a foreign man. And what ensues is something erotically charged and sinister.
I adored the telling of this story; a very strong novel.
I’m noticing a lot of the books I’m really enjoying lately are from @dauntbooks publishing. I’ll have to seek out some more.
#book #bookstagram #frenchliterature #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #asundayinvilledavray #dominiquebarberis #dauntbooks #dauntbookspublishing
A PASSAGE NORTH by ANUK ARUDPRAGASAM
Longlisted for the @dylanthomasprize. This novel is set entirely in one man’s thoughts. Things are happening in the present day, but the narrative is mostly reflections that the characters makes about his life so far. At the beginning of the novel he receives news of a death of someone he knows and then he must travel across Sri Lanka by train for the funeral.
This novel is political and factual, and that’s what makes it brilliant. It also deals with first love, and the writing on this subject was my absolute favourite. Every sentence is quotable. This writer expresses himself so beautifully. But be warned that you must concentrate very hard while you are reading this book. You cannot simply lay back and relax; you must put in some effort for this novel. Don’t worry, it’s worth it.
I didn’t fancy the sound of it when it was on the Booker list, but I have to do whatever the DT prize tells me and it hasn’t steered me wrong yet. This is a strong contender for the shortlist.
#book #apassagenorth #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookerprizelonglist #bookerprize2021 #dylanthomasprize #dylanthomasprize2022 #bookstagramreadsthebooker
Longlisted for the @dylanthomasprize. This novel is set entirely in one man’s thoughts. Things are happening in the present day, but the narrative is mostly reflections that the characters makes about his life so far. At the beginning of the novel he receives news of a death of someone he knows and then he must travel across Sri Lanka by train for the funeral.
This novel is political and factual, and that’s what makes it brilliant. It also deals with first love, and the writing on this subject was my absolute favourite. Every sentence is quotable. This writer expresses himself so beautifully. But be warned that you must concentrate very hard while you are reading this book. You cannot simply lay back and relax; you must put in some effort for this novel. Don’t worry, it’s worth it.
I didn’t fancy the sound of it when it was on the Booker list, but I have to do whatever the DT prize tells me and it hasn’t steered me wrong yet. This is a strong contender for the shortlist.
#book #apassagenorth #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookerprizelonglist #bookerprize2021 #dylanthomasprize #dylanthomasprize2022 #bookstagramreadsthebooker
THE LOVE SONGS OF WEB DU BOIS by HONOREE FANONNE JEFFERS
I’m struggling to find the highest superlative that will do this book justice. I want to say it’s a masterpiece, but I’m horribly aware of the gendering of that phrase and its inclusion of a word that is emotionally loaded when it comes to slavery. Instead, it feels more appropriate to call it a feminist love song to African American and Native American ancestry. But that doesn’t seem to do it justice either.
This novel spans centuries and celebrates the admirable Black and Native women (and some men) who came first.
I’m so grateful to my university teachers who put Du Bois and hooks and Lorde and Hurston on my reading list because I already had some knowledge of the excellence of Black writers. After reading this, my wishlist has expanded and I can’t wait to learn even more.
Thanks to @4thestatebooks for this proof. Ad PR. You best believe I’ll also be buying myself a signed hardback because this book needs to be in my collection for the rest of my life.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #honoreefanonnejeffers #thelovesongsofwebdubois
I’m struggling to find the highest superlative that will do this book justice. I want to say it’s a masterpiece, but I’m horribly aware of the gendering of that phrase and its inclusion of a word that is emotionally loaded when it comes to slavery. Instead, it feels more appropriate to call it a feminist love song to African American and Native American ancestry. But that doesn’t seem to do it justice either.
This novel spans centuries and celebrates the admirable Black and Native women (and some men) who came first.
I’m so grateful to my university teachers who put Du Bois and hooks and Lorde and Hurston on my reading list because I already had some knowledge of the excellence of Black writers. After reading this, my wishlist has expanded and I can’t wait to learn even more.
Thanks to @4thestatebooks for this proof. Ad PR. You best believe I’ll also be buying myself a signed hardback because this book needs to be in my collection for the rest of my life.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #honoreefanonnejeffers #thelovesongsofwebdubois
TAR BABY by TONI MORRISON
Once again, I am rendered speechless by Morrison’s exquisite abilities.
My experience with this book might have been my favourite of any of the Morrison books I’ve read before (this is my fourth). I felt a whole host of emotions. In the same way that I admire Ann Petry for simply presenting characters and not making them good or bad people, I also admire Morrison. Many of the characters do and say awful things, but they’re also shown in moments of vulnerability that makes it impossible for me to hate them.
This book included Black and white characters from various backgrounds. It was also written in the 80s, so there is a lot of discussion about race. There were whole passages from the point of view of Son that could be written as an essay on critical race theory, and it was in reading those bits that my eyes were glistening.
This writer has so much wisdom and so much talent. I’m so excited that I have more of her work to devour. And, although I’m not a rereader, I can see myself revisiting Morrison’s entire back catalogue more than once in my life, and I’d image I’ll discover something new each time.
#book #tarbaby #tonimorrison #tonimorrisontarbaby #tarbabytonimorrison #bookstagrammer #bookstagramuk #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookreading #bookrecs
Once again, I am rendered speechless by Morrison’s exquisite abilities.
My experience with this book might have been my favourite of any of the Morrison books I’ve read before (this is my fourth). I felt a whole host of emotions. In the same way that I admire Ann Petry for simply presenting characters and not making them good or bad people, I also admire Morrison. Many of the characters do and say awful things, but they’re also shown in moments of vulnerability that makes it impossible for me to hate them.
This book included Black and white characters from various backgrounds. It was also written in the 80s, so there is a lot of discussion about race. There were whole passages from the point of view of Son that could be written as an essay on critical race theory, and it was in reading those bits that my eyes were glistening.
This writer has so much wisdom and so much talent. I’m so excited that I have more of her work to devour. And, although I’m not a rereader, I can see myself revisiting Morrison’s entire back catalogue more than once in my life, and I’d image I’ll discover something new each time.
#book #tarbaby #tonimorrison #tonimorrisontarbaby #tarbabytonimorrison #bookstagrammer #bookstagramuk #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookreading #bookrecs
A GIRL RETURNED by DONATELLA DI PIETRANTONIO translated by ANN GOLDSTEIN
This is an Italian translation and the writer is from the place where I went to school for a couple of years. The place where my parents have lived on a off for the last 19 years. I already felt a connection to this book.
Rest assured, this is not the only reason I loved this book. I loved it because it was so effortlessly readbable, yet literary as well. I loved the characters who were flawed but so wonderful and real. I loved that I couldn’t bear to put this book down, even when I was thirsty or hungry or needed a wee! It was just a perfect little read and I can’t wait to read the sequel, which is waiting for me when I return to England.
Thank you @europaeditionsuk for always publishing such gorgeous books (I haven’t been paid to say that btw 🤣)
Read this book, please.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #donatelladipietrantonio #europaeditions #italianliterature
This is an Italian translation and the writer is from the place where I went to school for a couple of years. The place where my parents have lived on a off for the last 19 years. I already felt a connection to this book.
Rest assured, this is not the only reason I loved this book. I loved it because it was so effortlessly readbable, yet literary as well. I loved the characters who were flawed but so wonderful and real. I loved that I couldn’t bear to put this book down, even when I was thirsty or hungry or needed a wee! It was just a perfect little read and I can’t wait to read the sequel, which is waiting for me when I return to England.
Thank you @europaeditionsuk for always publishing such gorgeous books (I haven’t been paid to say that btw 🤣)
Read this book, please.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #donatelladipietrantonio #europaeditions #italianliterature
PERMAFROST by EVA BALTASAR translated by JULIA SANCHES
When in Spain…
Wanna know the reasons I read this:
- translated feminist fiction
- lesbian
- recommended by Saskia from @toppingsbath
- indie publisher
- short in length
- brutal protagonist
- existential
Need I say more?
When in Spain…
Wanna know the reasons I read this:
- translated feminist fiction
- lesbian
- recommended by Saskia from @toppingsbath
- indie publisher
- short in length
- brutal protagonist
- existential
Need I say more?
PACHINKO by MIN JIN LEE
A book I’ve been meaning to read for years. When I heard there was a film coming out in March, I finally began reading it.
It’s an epic family saga that follows a Korean family from Korea to Japan throughout the twentieth century. I learned a lot. For example, Korean people were treated terribly by the Japanese, even if they’d been born in Japan, even if their parents had been born in Japan. Of course we can draw parallels to other types of prejudice that we’re more familiar with in the west, which makes it all the more heartbreaking. This book also explores other ways that people can become outcasts, even if they are Japanese in blood as well as citizenship, for example homosexuality or any kind of sexual desire in a female, especially if it’s out of wedlock.
I enjoyed the fact that every scenario did not play out the way I imagined it should. However, my character-led-loving-self could not keep up when something grave happened in every single chapter! It was exhausting! The beginning was more my speed because it wasn’t as action packed. Having said that, the whole book is brilliant and I can see why so many love it.
I’m intrigued how they’ll make this into a movie because so much happens over such a long period of time, so I’d imagine there will be many people switching off their tvs, saying, ‘I preferred the book’, but when don’t we say that?!
Anyway, I’m still trying to work out the overall message of this book, but I don’t think there is just one. If anything it would be, live your life the way you want to because either way haters gonna hate.
#pachinko #book #minjinlee #minjinleepachinko #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #koreanliterature
A book I’ve been meaning to read for years. When I heard there was a film coming out in March, I finally began reading it.
It’s an epic family saga that follows a Korean family from Korea to Japan throughout the twentieth century. I learned a lot. For example, Korean people were treated terribly by the Japanese, even if they’d been born in Japan, even if their parents had been born in Japan. Of course we can draw parallels to other types of prejudice that we’re more familiar with in the west, which makes it all the more heartbreaking. This book also explores other ways that people can become outcasts, even if they are Japanese in blood as well as citizenship, for example homosexuality or any kind of sexual desire in a female, especially if it’s out of wedlock.
I enjoyed the fact that every scenario did not play out the way I imagined it should. However, my character-led-loving-self could not keep up when something grave happened in every single chapter! It was exhausting! The beginning was more my speed because it wasn’t as action packed. Having said that, the whole book is brilliant and I can see why so many love it.
I’m intrigued how they’ll make this into a movie because so much happens over such a long period of time, so I’d imagine there will be many people switching off their tvs, saying, ‘I preferred the book’, but when don’t we say that?!
Anyway, I’m still trying to work out the overall message of this book, but I don’t think there is just one. If anything it would be, live your life the way you want to because either way haters gonna hate.
#pachinko #book #minjinlee #minjinleepachinko #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #koreanliterature
SORROW AND BLISS by MEG MASON
This is not a book I had planned to read. A woman dealing with depression (and other mental illnesses) and a failed marriage sounds too triggering for me. But @myfanw was persuasive so I ended up reading it. And I was triggered. In the past few days I have experience some horrific feelings of depression. There are other factors making me feel this way, so it’s not just this book, but it’s interesting to see how triggering something can be when you’re already on the edge. (I am fine btw).
Anyway, enough about me. This book is a sneaky little thing. It presents as fluffy, throwaway ‘chick lit’ (awful phrase, but work with me here) then it evolves into literary fiction with a dark sense of humour and clever literary devices. I am usually a fan of a lot of dialogue in a book, but Mason presented her punchlines in prose a lot of the time, and it worked. It felt funnier because it was unexpected and a bit cheeky.
I think I enjoyed this more because it was better than I expected, so I won’t big it up too much, but I do think it’s a good reminder that a blurb can sometimes tell you fuck all. Some writers could write about a chicken crossing a road and make it a literary masterpiece. Plot, once again, is by the by. It’s the writing that’s important.
#book #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookstagramuk #sorrowandbliss #megmason
This is not a book I had planned to read. A woman dealing with depression (and other mental illnesses) and a failed marriage sounds too triggering for me. But @myfanw was persuasive so I ended up reading it. And I was triggered. In the past few days I have experience some horrific feelings of depression. There are other factors making me feel this way, so it’s not just this book, but it’s interesting to see how triggering something can be when you’re already on the edge. (I am fine btw).
Anyway, enough about me. This book is a sneaky little thing. It presents as fluffy, throwaway ‘chick lit’ (awful phrase, but work with me here) then it evolves into literary fiction with a dark sense of humour and clever literary devices. I am usually a fan of a lot of dialogue in a book, but Mason presented her punchlines in prose a lot of the time, and it worked. It felt funnier because it was unexpected and a bit cheeky.
I think I enjoyed this more because it was better than I expected, so I won’t big it up too much, but I do think it’s a good reminder that a blurb can sometimes tell you fuck all. Some writers could write about a chicken crossing a road and make it a literary masterpiece. Plot, once again, is by the by. It’s the writing that’s important.
#book #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookstagramuk #sorrowandbliss #megmason