The Reading Challenge Group discussion

Looking at my books, I have realized I don't read much foreign lit at all, so that got me to thinking, do any of you all read foreign lit? Do you prefer a certain translator? What foreign country do you mostly read lit from? What are some of your favorite foreign books?

For me, I mostly have read from Russia and China, though only a few from either. I enjoy Tolstoy and Lisa See. She is a French born Chinese author who has since moved to America, specializing in historical novels set in China or about Chinese immigrants to America. I adore her books, from just the one that I read!

I am a big fan of Russian, French and German writers. I am trying to widen my horizons by trying to read more books from South America and Africa.

My favorite South American author is Jorges Borges. Have you read any of his stuff, Rosemarie?

I also love Haruki Murakami from Japan. I was obsessed with his novels and short stories for awhile. So, I've read almost everything he has written. I'll need to revisit soon to see if his style is still as delightfully eccentric to me.

I have read Ficciones and The Aleph and other stories.
I like Vargas Llosa and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I recently read Dom Casmurro and enjoyed it. It is a novel with a very unreliable narrator.

no i havnt read any foreign lit at all any suggestions

I forgot about Kafka. His stories are strange and sometimes disturbing. I liked his novel The Castle--but I couldn't sum up the plot for you, but it is entertaining.
If anyone likes more cheerful reading, I recommend some of the works of Hermann Hesse. He wrote some charming fairy tales and shorter novels. He was very popular in the 1960's, among the hippies.

o ko thank u rosemarie

There are also graphic novels/comics that I like, from France.
I like TinTin, but my favourite is Asterix the Gaul.

i have no idea what those r

They might have them in your school library, Ashley.
There was a TinTin movie a few years ago.
There are three TinTin books in the Guardian 1000 book list. I just finished reading TinTin in Tibet.

o that is cool

I have been trying to read good literary books by foreign authors this year, in my Personal Challenge, so I have a few recommendations.

July's People by South African writer Nadine Gordimer
The God of Small Things by Indian writer Arundhati Roy
The Old Gringo by Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes
A Fine Balance by Indian writer Rohinton Mistry

These were the best of the bunch.

I am glad you recommend July's People, Linda, because I bought a copy of the book at a used book sale this past Saturday.

I hope you like it, Rosemarie.

Thanks.

is "A Fine Balance" a good book linda h

A fine balance is told in non chronological order , and I was confused in the beginning until I caught on. But it's a family story full of the human emotions that drive plots, and it's beautifully written. At the center of.the drama are two seemingly precocious children.

Ashley! I just realized the book I described in the previous comment is The God of Small Things.

A fine balance , which IS told chronologically and did NOT confuse me :) , is a wonderful story of one young man, striving , surrounded by good people, and the forces in society which threaten to topple him.

Some very interesting books here!
In Maryland, we have a One State, One Book every September- October. There is one book picked and the libraries all have free copies, and there are group discussions, author speaks, cultural activities and much more related to the book. This years book is Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a young Nigerian immigrant. It is set in her home country and follows a prominent family through a military coup. I have not started it, but it sounds interesting and I have seen many good reviews.

I have read four books by French author Antoine Laurain. I thought "The Red Notebook" and "The President's Hat" were both quite fun.

In the future, I'd like to read a few books by Portuguese and Japanese authors.

I read a lot of scandinavian books

Rosemarie wrote: "There are also graphic novels/comics that I like, from France.
I like TinTin, but my favourite is Asterix the Gaul."

Tintin is from Belgium 😉

I live in Europe and I read a lot of foreign literature, but mostly European.

Claire wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "There are also graphic novels/comics that I like, from France.
I like TinTin, but my favourite is Asterix the Gaul."

Tintin is from Belgium 😉"

I should know that. 🥴 We went to the TinTin store when we were in Bruges.