By Jane Bentham and Megha Alam
July is well and truly underway and, if you’re searching for your next summer holiday read, here are some of our recommendations for great translated books.
Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi
Translated from Japanese by David Boyd and Lucy North
How far would you go for a lie?
Diary of a Void, Yagi’s debut novel, follows Shibata, who, frustrated by the daily misogyny she faces at her workplace, pretends to be pregnant. She is instantly treated with more respect by her colleagues, no longer responsible for menial office tasks and is given a better work/life balance. As Shibata is sucked into her lie, her sense of reality and fantasy are blurred. The feigned pregnancy leads Shibata on a journey of self-discovery and encourages her to take control of her own destiny.
With its blend of feminist commentary and absurdist humour, the novel makes for a compelling and thought-provoking read, shedding light on the continuing inequalities of parenthood alongside society’s veneration of pregnant women. Yagi doesn’t stop there, as she also tackles toxic work culture and the experience of alienation and loneliness in the urban world.
At the Breakfast Table by Defne Suman
Translated from Turkish by Betsy Göksel
On a beautiful summer’s morning on the Turkish island of Büyükada, the family of famous artist Shirin Saka gathers to celebrate her hundredth birthday. Amidst the festivities, however, long-concealed family secrets are threatening to emerge. Shirin’s grandson, Fikret, is determined to unearth the identity of his great-grandfather and hires an investigative journalist to the party in order to encourage Shirin to open up about her past.
What follows is the unravelling of an extensive saga through 20th century Turkey, featuring collective memory and trauma, and examining how past decisions can have an irreversible impact on future generations. Rich in history and philosophical reflections, At the Breakfast Table is also a feast for the senses, celebrating the pleasures of food, art and nature.
Dogs of Summer by Andrea Abreu
Translated from Spanish by Julia Sanches
In Dogs of Summer, two ten-year-old girls spend the summer together in their neglected working-class neighbourhood in Tenerife. During their strange misadventures and pursuit of carnal pleasures, the narrator experiences obsessive jealousy and longing for her best friend that give way to queer desire. Told in a mixture of Canary dialect and experimental prose, which is frequently vulgar and crude, Dogs of Summer will bring you face to face with the realities of girlhood, burgeoning sexuality and codependent friendships. Through the sticky heat of summer and with the unique backdrop of Tenerife’s volcanic, arid environment, Andrea Abreu deftly captures visceral childhood love and yearning in this gritty and captivating short novel.
The Book of All Loves by Agustín Fernández Mallo
Translated from Spanish by Thomas Bunstead
A philosophical romance ideal for a contemplative summer read, The Book of All Loves follows the dialogue between two lovers in a post-apocalyptic world as they explore the concept of love. As they navigate a landscape of desolation, their conversations delve into profound questions about human connection and the essence of affection. Amidst a fictional tale set during humanity’s twilight, Agustín Fernández Mallo weaves in essays and poems, expanding the meaning of love beyond relationships and touching on themes from politics to physics. The reflection into their previous lives and the narrative’s blend of fiction and philosophical musings create a rich tapestry that challenges readers to think deeply about what it means to love. Through this exploration, when meaning becomes lost in the material world, the novel fosters an appreciation for the abstract and invites readers to find beauty in the intangible.
Until August by Gabriel García Márquez
Translated from Spanish by Anne McLean
Gabriel García Márquez’s lost novel Until August was recently posthumously published in March. The Nobel Prize-winning author, renowned for his love stories, has created a sensual atmosphere in this short, rediscovered novel. It follows our protagonist, Ana Magdalena Bach, and her tradition of leaving her husband and kids every August to visit the island where her mother is buried and where she takes a new lover. Through Ana’s yearly one-night stands, García Márquez weaves a tale that delves deeper into Ana’s character as she meditates upon her identity and memories. The novel explores themes of freedom, longing and self-exploration, providing readers with a nuanced look at a woman’s journey towards self-discovery. García Márquez’s signature magical realism adds depth and texture to Ana’s story, making Until August a compelling novel that invites readers to ponder the complexities of love and identity.
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