Latest Previews (Forethoughts)
Forethoughts: Oh Sweden! Oh Israel! by Stephan Mendel-Enk
This debut explores the Jewish community in Gothenburg which appeals to me greatly, because I have a deep interest in religion-based diasporas. Wohoo!
Forethoughts: Me and You by Niccolò Ammaniti
It’s been three long years since Niccolò Ammaniti has had a novel published in the UK. He returns with a new one, and I’m just a little ‘bouncing off the walls’ about it.
Latest Reviews (Afterthoughts)
Afterthoughts: Me and You by Niccolò Ammaniti
I thought before reading it that Niccolò Ammaniti’s latest novel might be the best thing since sliced bread, and it almost ends being so.
Afterthoughts: Scenes from Village Life by Amos Oz
Amos Oz’s IFFP longlisted novel turned out to be as ambiguous and as puzzling as I thought it would be, yet I loved it. I think you will too, if you’re not too hung on open endings, and zero closure.
Translated Fiction News
Longlist announced for Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2013
The 2013 Independent Foreign Fiction Prize longlist has been announced, revealing a globe-spanning selection of sixteen translated titles which will be vying for this year’s top prize of £10,000, which is uniquely shared equally between author and translator. Heading the longlist this year, which features books translated from thirteen different languages, is Turkish novelist Orhan [...]
Aharon Appelfeld wins Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2012
Aharon Appelfeld becomes the oldest winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, with his Holocaust novel Blooms of Darkness
Sjón chosen as winner of 2012 ‘Shadow’ Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
The ‘shadow jury’ for this year’s Independent Foreign Fiction Prize select an Icelandic epic as their overall winner.
Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2012 shortlist
The shortlist for this year’s Independent Foreign Fiction Prize was published this morning, revealing a final line up of six titles which span two centuries of history, and a geography that reaches from Iceland through western Europe, all the way to the Far East. The biggest name on this year’s shortlist is undoubtedly Italian author [...]
‘Shadow’ Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2012 shortlist revealed
If you’ve been following my activities over the past month or so (both here, and on Twitter), then you’ll know that I’ve been busying myself with serving on a ‘shadow jury’ for this year’s Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. The brain child of translated fiction aficionado Stu from the Winstonsdad blog, we, the shadow jury – [...]
Given that it offers an opportunity to travel the world at will without having to physically go anywhere, it's surprising that so few readers take any real interest in translated fiction. Not so at RobAroundBooks where the literary form is put on a pedestal offering an insight into the sights, sounds and culture that can be enjoyed by the more cosmopolitan reader.
