I love McDowell and all she translates so I am sat for the ‘Mouthful of Birds’ rec! I’m planning my October reads rn to include some Jackson and Enriquez’s ‘Our Share Of The Night’ so that makes me excited!
I’m intrigued by the Erpenbeck rec - my first of hers was Kairos this year and to be frank, I hated it. A lot of people in the translated lit lover community really adore her, so I am unsure if I should try again w a different novel! What would you recommend? I would also love to read your thoughts on why you’re drawn to translated lit - I think about it all the time too, and have written various pieces about it but never put any of those thoughts in a newsletter.
And thank you for sharing my piece! I look forward to you reading Cousins & The Details xxx
I'm about halfway through McDowell's translation of Enriquez's collection Things We Lost in the Fire right now, and I'm totally hooked-- can't wait to hear what you think of Our Share of the Night! Things We Lost is my first by Enriquez, but I already know I'll be wanting to read more by her soon, and I love moving from a writer's short fiction into their longer work.
Moment of honesty here-- although I really liked/appreciated/am glad I read Kairos, it didn't feel like the type of book I could fully enjoy, and while all of Erpenbeck's books are difficult on some level, that one felt especially tough to get through, so I can absolutely feel where you're coming from. If you're wanting to try another by her (and I'd encourage it!!), Go, Went, Gone is more straightforwardly likable in my opinion, and more traditionally narrative. It's a good option if you're interested in some glimpses of GDR-era experiences but a main setting in contemporary Germany, commentary on the refugee crisis, etc. The narrator is an aging professor who's recently lost his wife and becomes interested in/engaged with the plights of African refugees he encounters in Berlin. Or, if you're feeling like you're down for something a little more experimental/stylized, Visitation is only 150 pages and I find really showcases Erpenbeck's strengths and musicality (without shying away from heavy historic & emotional themes).
Eager to hear which --if any!-- you end up reading :) Always love your thoughtful comments, Martha! and I'd be so curious to read your thoughts on translated lit if you every do decide to include them in a newsletter (or if you'd be willing to share any of the pieces you've written!)
I am super interested to hear that you didn't love Kairos - I also thought it felt so so tough to get through. Like wading through treacle, it was one of the hardest books I have read in a long time. I will make note of what you recommend by her instead! After enough time has lapsed from my Kairos trauma I am willing to try her work again. I do love history, by extension have done a lot of GDR Germany so it sounds interesting! Maybe I'll start with Visitation if it is so much shorter! I am curious to share my thoughts on translated lit one day too - because I do think my relationship to it is definitely shaped by several 'events' in my life. I always love your thoughtful comments too Regan! I am excited to read Our Share of the Night - even if a little apprehensive of the length lol
I love McDowell and all she translates so I am sat for the ‘Mouthful of Birds’ rec! I’m planning my October reads rn to include some Jackson and Enriquez’s ‘Our Share Of The Night’ so that makes me excited!
I’m intrigued by the Erpenbeck rec - my first of hers was Kairos this year and to be frank, I hated it. A lot of people in the translated lit lover community really adore her, so I am unsure if I should try again w a different novel! What would you recommend? I would also love to read your thoughts on why you’re drawn to translated lit - I think about it all the time too, and have written various pieces about it but never put any of those thoughts in a newsletter.
And thank you for sharing my piece! I look forward to you reading Cousins & The Details xxx
I'm about halfway through McDowell's translation of Enriquez's collection Things We Lost in the Fire right now, and I'm totally hooked-- can't wait to hear what you think of Our Share of the Night! Things We Lost is my first by Enriquez, but I already know I'll be wanting to read more by her soon, and I love moving from a writer's short fiction into their longer work.
Moment of honesty here-- although I really liked/appreciated/am glad I read Kairos, it didn't feel like the type of book I could fully enjoy, and while all of Erpenbeck's books are difficult on some level, that one felt especially tough to get through, so I can absolutely feel where you're coming from. If you're wanting to try another by her (and I'd encourage it!!), Go, Went, Gone is more straightforwardly likable in my opinion, and more traditionally narrative. It's a good option if you're interested in some glimpses of GDR-era experiences but a main setting in contemporary Germany, commentary on the refugee crisis, etc. The narrator is an aging professor who's recently lost his wife and becomes interested in/engaged with the plights of African refugees he encounters in Berlin. Or, if you're feeling like you're down for something a little more experimental/stylized, Visitation is only 150 pages and I find really showcases Erpenbeck's strengths and musicality (without shying away from heavy historic & emotional themes).
Eager to hear which --if any!-- you end up reading :) Always love your thoughtful comments, Martha! and I'd be so curious to read your thoughts on translated lit if you every do decide to include them in a newsletter (or if you'd be willing to share any of the pieces you've written!)
I am super interested to hear that you didn't love Kairos - I also thought it felt so so tough to get through. Like wading through treacle, it was one of the hardest books I have read in a long time. I will make note of what you recommend by her instead! After enough time has lapsed from my Kairos trauma I am willing to try her work again. I do love history, by extension have done a lot of GDR Germany so it sounds interesting! Maybe I'll start with Visitation if it is so much shorter! I am curious to share my thoughts on translated lit one day too - because I do think my relationship to it is definitely shaped by several 'events' in my life. I always love your thoughtful comments too Regan! I am excited to read Our Share of the Night - even if a little apprehensive of the length lol