I always tell myself, self, you must read more books in translation. There is always agreement but then I never truly make an effort. In 2006 I read seven books in translation. Not a bad number when you look at it like that. But then when I look to see what countries those books were from, well, five were French, on was Portuguese and one was Japanese. Not a very diverse or wide-ranging group. Well, now is the time to do something about it. As many of you may have seen on various book blogs around town, Kate is hosting a Reading Across Borders Challenge.
Kate is a kind and flexible gal and has not placed any hard and fast rules on the challenge. It’s good for the whole year and each reader can decide which and how many books to read just so long as they are outside the normal purview.
I’ve been thinking about a list. Given that I am reading Proust, France in unavoidable, and, I think, I shouldn’t count it. The intent of the challenge after all is to stretch beyond the usual. I’m going to overlap a few books and projects because I only have so much time to read, but here is the plan:
- The Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz (Poland), the Slaves of Golconda book set for discussion January 31st
- Anna Karennina by Leo Tolstoy (Russia)
- The Metamorphisis and Other Stories by Franz Kafka (Germany)
- Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino (Italy)
- Acts of Worship by Yukio Mishima (Japan)
- Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather by Gao Xing Jian (China)
- The Iliad, The Odyssey, Hesiod and various others (Greece)
- Gilgamesh (Sumeria)
That will do for now. I hope to add something from South America and Africa sometime during the year too, but I’m not sure what yet. I am thinking of Neruda and/or Borges, and Ismail Kadare, perhaps Agamemnon’s Daughter to wind up the year since it won’t be published until November.
I may add, subtract or substitute as the year progresses. It’s early yet and I am very much a whim reader, though with all these lists and reading plans I’ve been tossing out lately you’d never guess it. Maybe this is the year of turning over a new leaf.
I am reading Anna Karenina (I just spelled that wrong, osrry) right now and I LOVE it. Which I always think sounds so trite, to say one loves a classic, but I do, I really, really do. I can’t believe I waited this long to read it. I don’t have my edition in front of me but it is the Oprah book club edition (I know -groan) and it’s wonderful! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
Courtney
Nice list! I may end up reading more than I set out to read, just because I’m seeing so many great possibilities in all the various lists. I need to read Borges (I could easily have added him to my list, as I have one of his books at home) and now I’m curious about Ismail Kadare.
Great list. This is part of why I like challenges so much–discovery of new books! I plan on reading Homer this year, too, and I didn’t even think about him writing in Greek (duh), so I guess I can add him to my list! I didn’t go into many specific titles since I keep changing my mind!
Great idea and really serendipitous for me! I just started a book group here in Albania (mostly for expats) and I’m calling it “Around the World”. My idea is to read around the world alphabetically from A to Z, starting with Albania and reading Kadare (who is fabulous btw). If you have an idea for a country that begins with B I’d love to hear it! Cheers!
This reading challenge is provoking so many interesting lists. You have some wonderful reads there, Stefanie and I can’t wait to see how you get on with them.
You’ve inspired me to order Gilgamesh and get reading it since just now I’m going through an “Ancient Mid East” phase (including reading the Old Testament and listening to Prof. Levine’s wonderful lectures on OT history on Teaching Company CDs). When I moved to Tokyo, I read everything then in translation by Mishima (this was just after his dramatic suicide in the 70′s). But Acts of Worship is a comparatively recent translation which I’ve yet to get to, so I’m looking forward to hearing what you think.
Hugo Claus’ The Sorrow of Belgium might make an interesting B title, Kim.
Courtney, my husband read Anna K last summer and raved about it and now you are doing the same. I was going to save it for later in the year but maybe I should get to it ASAP!
Thanks Dorothy. I’ve not read Borges except for a story here and there. We’ll see if I make it to him. I’ve not read Kadare either but have heard lots about him.
Homer is such a fixture Danielle it took me a minute to realize he wrote in Greek and I could add him to the list so don’t feel bad
Kim, what a great idea you and your group is doing. I’m glad Susan gave a suggestion because I was having trouble trying to think of something from Bosnia other than Zlata’s Diary.
Thanks Litlove. I’ll bet you can come up with a fantastic list of authors most of us have never heard of!
Yay Del! I’ve been wanting to read Gilgamesh for years, ever since the Star Trek Next Generation episode where Captain Picard and the alien exchanged stories on some rather desolate planet. I’ve heard about Mishima’s suicide. This will be my first book of his.
Okay I need to go over to Kate’s and read the details on the challenge because you, Susan, Dorothy and Danielle are making it hard for me to pass up on it.
Join us Iliana! Resistance is futile!