Happy International Translation Day!

Posted On October 6, 2021

<Reposting this because a stupid malware issue deleted it.>

Hi Readers! Happy International Translation Day! I am a bit behind schedule as this was on 30th September, but better late than never! This for me only means an appreciation post for all the amazing books translated to English from many other languages! I have only read books that are translated from Japanese, Swedish, Italian & Portuguese. I also have many books on TBR translated from many other languages which I am looking forward to read! Have a look!

~~BOOKS TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE~~

Books by Haruki Murakami translated by Philip Gabriel, Alfred Birnbaum, Jay Rubin

I have read a lot of Murakami novels, of which I loved a few, hated a few & only just liked a few. But, in all of these novels, there is a distinct weirdness which I loved reading & really enjoyed. Whether or not you like reading magical realism, I think you should read at least one book by Murakami.

Books by Toshikazu Kawaguchi translated by Geoffrey Trousselot

I read Before the Coffee Gets Cold & its sequel recently & fell in love with the story & writing & all the characters! I found an incredible touch of beauty in the writing in this one and would recommend reading both these books.

~~BOOKS TRANSLATED FROM SWEDISH~~

Books by Fredrik Backman translated by Henning Koch & Neil Smith.

I have absolutely loved reading Fredrik Backman novels over the last few years. I have loved every single novel I have read, which includes A Man Called Ove, Anxious People & And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer. I have had all the other novels on my TBR and I will get to them sooner or later and I am sure I will love them too.

~~BOOKS TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN~~

In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri translated by Ann Goldstein

I love Jhumpa Lahiri. Though I have not read her 2 most popular books (The Namesake & The Lowland) I have enjoyed reading Whereabouts, Unaccustomed Earth, Interpreter of Maladies & In Other Words which is translated from Italian. Unfortunately, this is the book which I did not enjoy at all. I know how backwards this is because the book is all about Jhumpa Lahiri’s love for the Italian language. But, somehow I just did not enjoy the prose in this because of a lack of a narrative.

~~BOOKS TRANSLATED FROM PORTUGUESE~~

Books by Paulo Coelho translated by Alan R. Clarke, Matgaret Jull Costa, Thien Nga, Arash Nejazi

Paulo Coelho is another one of my favourite authors. I always love how I am on a journey when it comes to any of his books!

I haven’t read any of the below books, but I have heard such great reviews, which is why they are high on my TBR list!

~~BOOKS TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH~~

Books by Gabriel Garcia Marques translated by Gregory Rabassa & Edith Grossman.

Books by Isabel Allende translated by Magda Bogin, Margaret Sayers, Nick Caistor

~~BOOKS TRANSLATED FROM TURKISH~~

Books by Orhan Pamuk translated by Maureen Freely & Ekin Oklap

~~BOOKS TRANSLATED FROM MARATHI~~

The Great Shivaji by Ranjit Desai translated by Vikrant Pande

~~BOOKS TRANSLATED FROM MALYALAM~~

Jasmine Days by Benyamin translated by Shahnaz Habib

~~POETRY BOOK TRANSLATIONS~~

The Essential Rumi by Rumi translated by Coleman Barks

The Poetry of Pablo Neruda translated from Spanish

I can speak, write & read only 3 languages, which are English, Marathi & Hindi, which is quite like most Indians. I have never really had that love for languages or that curiosity to learn a language. I am so eternally grateful for all the authors worldwide who chose to get their books translated to English. Happy International Translation Day to all the authors & translators!

Until next time,