This is a review I wrote for The Quarterly Conversation a few years ago. I’ve linked to it before, during a past Women In Translation months even, but now that the site is no longer — RIP QC! — I’ve revised and moved it permanently to Reader at Large. Bohman is one of my favorite writers. She doesn’t coddle her characters or give her heroines … Continue reading Two Novels by Therese Bohman, both translated by Marlaine Delargy.
Sea of Memory by Erri De Luca was originally published in 1999 (in English) by the independent publisher Ecco Press. It was re-released this month by Other Press as Me, You. (Note: it seems to be the same translation – from the Italian by Beth Archer Brombert). Me, You begins as a 1950’s coming of age/summer love story. It is narrated by a 16-year old … Continue reading Me, You by Erri De Luca (translated from the Italian by Beth Archer Brombert)
Books can develop personalities separate from the characters and author. This is not true for every book – I’m not endorsing some new form of literary theory based on the psychoanalysis of literature. But sometimes it does happen. For example – Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy is definitely a sociopath. Mundane day-to-day existence and violence are so enmeshed that they easily transition in and out … Continue reading Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
It seems the North American teenager is a truly resilient creature. Even when taken out of their natural environment and dropped into an exotic locale they maintain their normal behavior patterns – angry moping. The quick summary of Deb Olin Unferth’s Revolution: The Year I Fell in Love and Went to Join the War goes like this – Girl meets Boy. Girl falls for Boy. … Continue reading Revolution: The Year [Deb Olin Unferth] Fell In Love & Went To Join the War
The book trailer REVOLUTION continues! I’m still trying to get into this book trailer thing. On the whole – not going so well. But this landed in my Gmail the other day and I found myself intrigued… The book is Revolution: The Year I Fell In Love & Went To Join the War by Deb Olin Unferth. It’s not every day a girl finds God, … Continue reading La Revolución remolque libro continúa!
READER AT LARGE 