Read Women discussion

I'm aiming for 12 titles, TBD

1. How to Fall In Love with a Man Who Lives in a Bush by Emmy Abrahamson (translated from the Swedish). 2 stars.
I chose this because I used to be an ESL teacher (like the protagonist) and I needed a light read during a heavy work month, but it was too chick-lit for my tastes.

Story❤ wrote: "1. How to Fall In Love with a Man Who Lives in a Bush by Emmy Abrahamson (translated from the Swedish). 2 stars.
I chose this because I used to be an ESL teacher (..."

That's always a bummer. I hope your next read is a better fit.

2. Miss Iceland by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir (translated from the Icelandic)

4 stars (and my fervent gratitude for the creation of effective birth control!)

My review here

3. Betty Boo by Claudia Piñeiro (translated from Spanish/Argentina)

3 stars. I liked it but the formatting (extra-long paragraphs) and the author's decision not to use traditional dialog formatting (line breaks and quotation marks) made it a bit of a slog to get through.

4. A Change of Time by Ida Jessen (translated from the Danish)

4 stars. Very much liked this quiet story, set in a small Danish town in 1928, of a widow reflecting on the choices that led her to enter a loveless marriage.

Story❤ wrote: "4. A Change of Time by Ida Jessen (translated from the Danish)

4 stars. Very much liked this quiet story, set in a small Danish town in 1928, of a widow reflecting ..."

That looks really interesting. Unfortunately, my library doesn't have it. I'll have to keep looking.

Mine didn't have it originally either but I requested they order it and they did. Does your library take suggested purchase requests?

Story❤ wrote: "Mine didn't have it originally either but I requested they order it and they did. Does your library take suggested purchase requests?"

I haven't tried. But I'll ask. Thanks for the suggestion.

5. Straight from the Horse's Mouth (now listed only as La vérité sort de la bouche du cheval on GR) by Meryem Alaoui. (from Morroco, translated from the French.) 2.5 stars for this ARC. It started well but turned into a slog to get through.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...

6. The Red Sofa by Michele Lesbre (from France, translated from the French.) 3 stars.

Good novella about the inner and outer journey of a woman travelling by train through Russia to seek out an old lover while at the same time remembering her friendship with an elderly neighbour.

Story❤ wrote: "6. The Red Sofa by Michele Lesbre (from France, translated from the French.) 3 stars.

Good novella about the inner and outer journey of a woman travelling by tra..."
I'm adding this to my list, thanks for the reminder, it sounds like an intriguing read.

7. The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-eun (Korea, translated from the Korean)
4 stars. Very fresh and interesting.

My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Story❤ wrote: "6. The Red Sofa by Michele Lesbre (from France, translated from the French.) 3 stars.

Good novella about the inner and outer journey of a woman travelling by tra..."

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I also thought it was very good.

Story❤ wrote: "7. The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-eun

I'm looking forward to this one!

I haven't updated this for a while...

8. Finding Dora Maar: An Artist, an Address Book, a Life This one just wasn't for me and I ended up skimming to get to the end. Translated from French.

9. The Hole Loved this Gothic novella by Japanese author Hiroko Oyamada

10. Valentino and Sagittarius: Two Novellas by Natalia Ginzburg. Two solid, readable novellas from this Italian author.

11. The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda. Translated from Japanese. (half-way through this one and liking it.)

12. Ferdinand, The Man with the Kind Heart: A Novel by Irmgard Keun, translated from German. I'm almost finished this one--a novella about a German POW trying to return to 'normal' life in 1950. I'm loving it so far. Simultaneously funny and sad. Sometimes I''ll laugh at one paragraph then be tearful at the next. He reminds me very much of my grandfather who lived through similar experiences and came out quite damaged but also filled with dark humour.

That sounds great, I really like what I've read of Keun so far, basically her three 'new women' novels, and have Child of All Nations lined up...An English translation of 'Ferdinand's' not due out here until December - that's if publishers manage to stay on schedule.

Shame about the Dora Maar one though, have a copy so can't avoid it.

Alwynne wrote: "That sounds great, I really like what I've read of Keun so far, basically her three 'new women' novels, and have Child of All Nations lined up...An English translation of 'Ferdinand's' not due out ..."

I have an ARC of the Keun so got lucky there, Alwynne. And you might like the Dora Maar book. It might have just been my mood when I was reading it.

13. The Lost Soul by Olga Takarczuk A lovely little picture book for adults.

I think that's a wrap for 2020.

Brilliant! I thought that one looked very enticing.