The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

https://www.lollieditions.com/books

We publish contemporary fiction that challenges existing ideas and breathes new life into the novel form. Our aim is to introduce to English-language readers some of the most innovative writers that speak to our shared culture in new and compelling ways, from Europe and beyond.

A few of the ten books they’ve published so far have been nominated or have one literary prizes, including The Employees which was shortlisted for the International Booker.

I love the origin of their name which speaks to work that challenges boundaries of genres:

Antonio Lolli was an itinerant 18th-century composer who lived between Scandinavia, England, Russia and Italy. Transcending traditional, national “schools”, Lolli worked from the ethic that artistic thought, and the means through which it could express itself, should be the basis of art, rather than following the predetermined rules of a school.

Those I've read so far:

2020 list:
New Passengers - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Employees - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

2021 list:
After the Sun - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and The Dolls will be coming soon on the RoC book club

They also published

2020:
Marble
Tools for Extinction (an anthology)

2021:
Adorable
Sevastopol (from Portuguese)

I like this as well:

Walter Benjamin once wrote that there are two kinds of storytellers: one who comes from afar to tell stories, and one who has always remained at home and is slanted towards local tales and traditions. We think there are two kinds of readers too, and in this time of Brexit, imperial delusions, anticulturalism, and, of course, lockdown, we believe more than ever in the urgency of translated literature, and that reading beyond the confines of national borders is a way of countering such insular developments.

While we continue to champion Danish literary fiction in particular given its scarcity of representation in the English speaking world, common for our 2021 cohort of authors is precisely that they liquefy traditional conceptions of place, home, belonging—and, however elusive, what it means to be human.

I really enjoyed The Employees and After The Sun looks amazing as well, also based on Paul his positive review of the book

I’ve read The Employees and New Passengers, which I loved. And to my great surprise and delight my Asymptote subscription sent me After the Sun for this month’s book and it arrived today. I think the press will be a completist press for me.

That is great (and good it wasn’t The Dolls as that will come from the RoC book club)

Really? Is that coming to us soon? This is the 2nd or 3rd time that I’ve heard about a book I wanted and it showed up from either Asymptote or RofC.

Yes.

Had the pleasure to meet in person Denise who founded the press tonight. Sounds like they have some great books coming up. For those London based and who enjoyed The Dolls, the author is over in the UK at the end of the month to promote a film based on the story translated as The Compartment.

That’s cool.

I mentioned readers who like all their books from a publisher neatly in same format to Denise from Lolli as well. That’s an anathema to her as they very deliberately have different designs for their different books.

That’s interesting. I wonder what it says about a publisher that some want their books to have a signature look while others want each title to have its own unique design.

The important part of every book is what it says, but I do love books that make a nice set.

Well the Lolli argument was that cover art is key to how a reader perceives a book. Eg the US cover of After the Sun is very different and in her view will impact how the reader approaches the work.

Interesting, because I see clear similarities in the design of the Employees and the After the Sun cover, if only from the black background used for both.

Though these covers - https://www.lollieditions.com

Quite varied. Don’t use same font size etc.

True, only Adorable seems to be in the same black background vibe still. Definitely something of an anchoring bias from my side, with the Employees being the first book of them that I read and After the Sun being the second.

One interesting comment she made was that she doesn’t feel the need for someone to see one of their books and instantly recognise it as a Lolli book (cf Charco, Peirene, Fitzcarraldo, Galley Beggar).

I’m sure the authors appreciate that, but for me knowing the publisher means I know it’s likely a worthwhile book.

25% off subscriptions, books, and preorders until June 26. Use code SUMMER at checkout.

I am loving their latest, Strega. Any other subscribers who’ve received that one?

I don’t have a subscription but I want this book! Strega sounds amazing.

I don’t have a subscription so I’m ordering Strega next month. It sounds amazing!

I probably missed nuances when I read it in Swedish not too long ago. Not my strongest language. Looking forward to hearing what people from this group make of it.

I received a review copy today - it came with a Strega tote bag

In Saskia Vogel’s English translation at least the prose is delicious.

Well I had a hunch the prose was great in the original too, plus I loved the atmosphere (which is a very vague concept though). I ended up reading the novel as an allegory of sorts, but am curious to hear how other people interpret it before going any further with my far-fetched theories.

Strega sounds quite interesting. I pre-ordered the Audible.

Interesting review of "Strega" in the recent LARB, Ana Mendieta seems to be having a moment keep coming across references to her atm.

https://www.lareviewofbooks.org/artic...

Thanks for that. A very insightful review of an impressive book.

I have a few books ordered, Strega is the one I’m most eager to read.

My copy of Strega arrived so I’m putting JCB/Song of the Soil on hold to read this.

Another great book for Lolli. I had a crazy, busy week so I didn’t do Strega justice. I loved it, but it’s definitely a book that is best read in one sitting so you can settle into the atmosphere and enjoy the prose.

That was an excellent review, thanks for posting the link, Alwynne.

I just received word that my audiobook of Strega is ready for download. Do not remember why I got it in audio but it does mean it will be read sooner rather than later, but not in non-fiction November.

I forgot about Nonfiction November.

2023 catalogue out

https://static1.squarespace.com/stati...

If this is anything like their 2022 output this will be worth looking out for.

Every book sounds good!

Max Porter in the Guardian

Since I first read Olga Ravn’s spectacular The Employees I’ve been obsessed with this independent publisher, which specialises in “formally innovative fiction” in translation, with an emphasis on Scandinavian work. Every single one of its releases that I’ve read has rearranged my brain in some way. They are beautifully designed and produced books too. Thread Ripper by Amalie Smith, translated by Jennifer Russell, is another of my favourites, a book like a weaving made of nature and numbers, lives and ideas.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2...

It is remarkable how many authors credit him for either inspiration or direct support

He seems a real champion of quality literary fiction

And he collects Pez!

And Shy is a return to form I think

Yes he does a lot for the world of fiction.

Interviewed in Irish Examiner this week he said he liked literary characters more than people, but he does seem very generous to other authors and publishers.

Also said the books he had on the go were mainly translated fiction including novellas by Krasznahorkai, Tawada and Ostravik. Presumably A Mountain…, Scattered All Over the Earth and Ti Amo - three omissions from the IB list. Shame he wasn’t a judge!

But Lolli deserves the praise. Extremely impressive publisher.

My initial reaction to the White Mausu sauce he raves about was it sounded a bit like culinary appropriation. So was good to read this acknowledgement on the firm’s website:

It's important to note that we are an Irish company with Japanese design inspired by our own experience of flavours in places we have lived, travelled and admired. The Chilli Oils that we make have their origins in China and can be traced back for thousands of years. So by starting this company we are adding to the great tapestry of a changing recipe over time and place. But we do so with utmost respect for its backstory and the people that have made it long before we did.

A rare moment – a book translated from Finnish to English. Eunukki by Kristina Carlson coming out in June from Lolli (not yet on Goodreads). Haven’t read the original, but will soon, as I just reserved it from the library.

I'm enjoying Olga Ravn's My Work so far, although I'm reading an ARC from Book*hug Press, but if it continues in the same vein think I may spring for the Lolli version. Definitely making me wonder if I was too hasty in wanting to avoid books that revolve around motherhood.

I’ve got a physical proof and hopefully I’ll start it this week - I am looking forward - the employees did not disappoint

My subscribers copy has also arrived.

That's good, although this didn't live up to my expectations, there were some pleasing, inventive aspects even if the the underlying politics/arguments were a bit muddled.

In other consolidation news I think Lolli may be going into abeyance.

Denise has joined Penguin as Editorial Director focusing on innovative, contemporary literary fiction in translation

Which hopefully we will see some decent stuff from PRH who tend to have had a significant gap in that space. There was this wonderful release they put out in 2022 which had them claiming 4 books from the Booker list - of which they actually published 1 in the UK, two onto in the US and one only in the original language:

https://global.penguinrandomhouse.com...

One of those books they featured was a Lolli / Riverhead collaboration - if Denise can turn the UK imprints into a version of Riverhead, who I know she worked with in partnership, that would be great.

Although again as with Fum d’Estampa it does mean loss of a press focused on a particular geographic area - was a surprise how big names (eg Nordic Prize winners) Lolli picked up due to lack of attention from elsewhere.

I posted that - and literally an hour later my subscription auto renewed! Better check what happened there…