Tram 83: by Fiston Mwanza Mujila (c2014) translated from the French by Roland Glasser, c2015.
Tram 83
Congo mining town
complete seediness abounds
hope trapped in corners
experimental, somewhat
surreal, exotic read
MM
The President’s Hat by Antoine Laurain (c2012) translated from the French by Gallic Books, c2013
The President’s Hat
by Antoine Laurain (c2012)
translated from the French by Gallic Books, c2013
France, Mitterrand’s time
black felt hat with style & more
wearer’s dreams come true
lively & funny & fun
romp through the 1980s
MM
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer: A Novella by Fredrik Backman (c2016) translated from the Swedish by Alice Menzies, c2016
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
in his twilight years
three generations learning
how to say goodbye
precious memories linger
through dreamlike bewilderment
MM
Sirius by Jonathan Crown (c2014) translated from the German by Jamie Searle Romanelli, c2015
Sirius
one smart little dog
from Berlin to Hollywood
transform to live on
whimsical writing explores
nature of identity
MM
The Altogether Unexpected Disappearance of Atticus Craftsman by Mamen Sánchez (C2013) translated from the Spanish by Lucy Greaves, c2015
The Altogether Unexpected Disappearance of
Atticus Craftsman
literary trip
five fierce Spanish girls and a
missing Englishman
madcap cultural caper
in breezy, light-hearted style
MM
What We Become by Arturo Pérez-Reverte (c2012) translated from the Spanish by Nick Caistor & Lorenzo Garcia, c2015
What We Become
traveling the world
witnesses of each other
the haves, the have-not
high-stakes passion, betrayals,
chess, & a gentleman thief
MM
Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman (2014) translated from the the Swedish by Henning Koch, c2016
Britt-Marie Was Here
crumbling little town
warm heart, socially awkward
cleaning up one’s life
peculiar characters and
soccer encircle it all
MM
The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa (1990, 1991) translated from the Japanese by Stephen Snyder, c2008
The Diving Pool
trio of females
with dark possibilities
extreme loneliness
slightly creepy, surreal
plotlines that will follow you
MM
The Blue Fox by Sjon (c2014) translated from the Icelandic by Victoria Cribb, c2008
The Blue Fox
Icelandic Winter
nature & humans being
man's transformations
very brief tale with depth and
mysterious qualities
MM
The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol (c2006) translated from the French by William Rodarmor & Helen Dickinson, c2013
The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles
family travails
mother of two left behind
wild scheme to publish
fun array of characters
warm tale with hints of laughter
MM