internationalBookerPrize2022

Lovely news to wake up despite the utter grimness of things. Happy for Geetanjali Shree & translator Daisy Rockwell for winning the #internationalbookerprize2022 I believe it's the first for Indian literature, & indeed South Asian lit more broadly. I stole this pic off of Merve Emre's twitter because I like the energy here 🙂

I haven't yet had the time+focus to devote to Books of Jacob, but was so sure it was going to win. This is a fun surprise.

LeahBergen Very cool! I think I read it was the first winner translated from Hindi? 2y

batsy @LeahBergen Yes! I saw translator Arunava Sinha say that it was the first for a Hindi novel & first for an Indian and/or South Asian novel, which is very cool indeed 🎉 2y

Centique Yay! This is the one that really stood out to me from all the reviews on Litsy I‘ve seen - seems very well deserved, and I‘m excited to read it. 2y

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Centique That was probably your review that got me excited for it in the first place 😂 2y

batsy @Centique I think it's a book you'll like, Paula! It's a bit of a chunkster but goes by very fast because of the short chapters and structure. I have a soft spot for a few others on the shortlist but am happy that this won, and would have been had some of my other faves won as well 🙂 2y

TheKidUpstairs This one wasn't even on my radar until today's announcement, but it sounds so good! I'm excited to add it to my list. May have to be a chunkster summer! 2y

TheKidUpstairs Apparently it's not available in Canada right now! Hopefully this win pushes it into our stores. 2y

batsy @TheKidUpstairs I hope it gets a North American deal soon and I'm sure it will 🙌🏾 2y

Suet624 I agree that this one winning the award was a bit of a surprise. Can‘t wait to get my hands on it. 2y

86 likes9 comments

rockpools

Untitled | Unknown

For any of you #ReadAroundTheWorld / #InternationalBookerPrize2022 / translated fiction folks, this is a really lovely newsletter from Tilted Axis, asking their IBP-nominated authors and translators for books-in-translation recommendations: https://mailchi.mp/d5b020b6d9b6/what-are-they-reading?e=80a23e9051

Stacking may occur!!

Simona, sprainedbrain, batsy, TorieStorieS, Currey, BookwormM, BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB O wow, this is really great and so tempting! Thank you for sharing 😀 3y

batsy Thanks for letting us know! 🙂 3y

42 likes2 comments

batsy

Heaven | Mieko Kawakami

pick

My first book by Mieko Kawakami, & now I want to read everything else by her. This book about bullying & the two teens who strike up an unusual friendship over their shared condition of being victimised is deeply philosophical—interviews with Kawakami suggest an exploration of Nietzsche‘s concepts of power. It is the coolly detached bully-by-association, Momose, whom I found disturbing. He‘s the libertarian bro we find everywhere in our spaces.

batsy I found Kojima fascinating; completely devoid of the trappings of usual notable female characters. It‘s not about beauty/sex appeal/a sassy personality, just someone with a single-minded devotion to a principle. A kind of martyrdom, to counter Momose‘s self-centredness. But maybe Kojima‘s & Momose‘s principles are two sides of the same coin of individualism? Perhaps the narrator‘s passivity is his way of saying no to those moral systems. 3y

batsy By refusing, he's thinking his way into a moral system that considers not only the individual making those choices, but their responsibility to others. I like that Kawakami reminded me about how teenagers can be: lots of thinking going on about the systems & values that order the world. It might be simplistic, but there's often a useful clarity. It's nice when adult writers treating young characters with respect. #InternationalBookerPrize2022 3y

erzascarletbookgasm Insightful review 👍 3y

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sarahbarnes Great review. I completely agree with you that I love the way Kawakami didn‘t patronize or oversimplify the young characters in the book. I really liked Breasts and Eggs, too. 3y

batsy @erzascarletbookgasm Thanks! 😘 3y

batsy @sarahbarnes Thank you! I'm so pleased to hear you liked it, too. I really can't wait to read Breasts and Eggs and her new (in translation) one also sounds really good

All the Lovers in the Night

sarahbarnes Yes, I‘m excited to read the new one, too! I‘m anxiously waiting for the library to get it in. 3y

ErikasMindfulShelf I loved Breasts and Eggs. Didn‘t know about this one but definitely want to read it! 3y

vivastory Wonderful review. If you do read Breasts & Eggs, I found it's helpful to think of it as 2 linked novellas rather than 1 novel. Def worth reading & I hope to read Heaven soon. 3y

BarbaraBB Wonderful review. I kept thinking about this book for a long time. The characters are so authentic. Same goes for Breasts and Eggs. I just preordered the new one. (edited) 3y

batsy @ErikasMindfulShelf I highly recommend it; it's quite short, as well 🙂 3y

batsy @vivastory @BarbaraBB Thank you! I am so looking forward to Breasts and Eggs. She has a way of writing about really difficult topics without losing the substance of the matter. 3y

BarbaraBB And without the drama. That is what I really admire: that she gives the reader their choice of emotions. 3y

batsy @BarbaraBB That's a really astute point! 3y

85 likes2 stack adds14 comments

BarbaraBB

Cursed Bunny | Bora Chung

so-so

I haven‘t been feeling well for the last few days (the flu I think) and this book was obviously not the best companion. A mix of horror and violence and SF and monsters and rats and abortions… I had a hard time finishing these short stories, especially the ones in the second half of the book. Definitely not among my favorite short story books.

#InternationalBookerPrize2022

LeahBergen Oh, I definitely think you might need somethings cozier to read! Feel better soon! 😘😘 3y

merelybookish Hope you're on the mend! Maybe a different read will help. 3y

AmyG Feel better! 3y

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CarolynM Might be time for some Furrowed Middlebrow or Persephone🙂 Hope you feel better soon💐 3y

BarbaraBB @CarolynM @LeahBergen @merelybookish You are so right! I have been reading a Dutch one (that‘s quite comforting for me as well) but have a Persephone lined up 🤍 (edited) 3y

Bookwomble I hope you're soon feeling more comfortable 💖 3y

sarahbarnes I had mixed feelings about this one, too. 3y

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I was happy to read your review! I thought I‘d be the only one! 3y

BarbaraBB @Bookwomble @AmyG Thank you 🤍 I feel better already! 3y

Bookwomble @BarbaraBB 😊👍🏻 3y

Megabooks I think I‘ll skip it. I hope you continue to feel better! 💕💕💕 3y

59 likes11 comments

BarbaraBB

Paradais | Fernanda Melchor

pick

This is the uncomfortable read about two Mexican boys, more or less condemned to each other out of loneliness, and frustration about how life is turning out. They can‘t be more different yet they keep meeting each other. But it‘s a toxic friendship and you know from the start that no good can come from this.

#52BooksIn52weeks #WealthyCharacter
#internationalBookerPrize2022

jenniferw88

merelybookish Are you going hiking? 🥾 3y

BarbaraBB @merelybookish My daughter is about to go traveling for two months… these are her shoes and stuff 🤍 3y

merelybookish @BarbaraBB oh wow! Sounds fun! 3y

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Megabooks Looks like R is all organized, but I know your Mama heart will worry after her while she‘s gone. 💜 3y

BarbaraBB @Megabooks You are so right! She is extremely organized and she‘ll be fine but I‘ll be worrying and missing her those months! 3y

sarahbarnes Great review. I‘m on the list for this one at the library. I hope your daughter‘s travels go well. ❤️ 3y

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes You‘ll enjoy this one, I think! My daughter arrived safely in Costa Rica but I‘ll be a bit worried throughout her whole trip I think 😇 3y

sarahbarnes I‘m looking forward to it! And I completely understand-I always worry, too. ❤️ 3y

75 likes8 comments

batsy

Tomb of Sand | SHREE

pick

I can't summarise my thoughts; it's a book that I'll be thinking about for a long time. I love the way it flows & how the narrative takes its time & wanders. Much like Mataji herself, it makes no apologies for where it goes. It makes me think I've not read enough big, vast, & deep books by women writers & that I must remedy this. It feels very “free” & uninhibited & I love the idea of (older) women taking up space like this in life & on the page:

batsy “The page is a stage”, to quote from the book. I don‘t know Hindi but this reads like the translation was an immense labour of love, what with the references to myths, scripture, other works of literature, as well as the imagery & the wordplay, the freewheeling style that also needs to be disciplined because all of the threads can‘t just be left to unravel but must be pulled taut & woven into this complex tapestry. #internationalbookerprize2022 3y

DivineDiana Wonderful review! Stacked. 3y

Lindy Okay, I‘m wowed. Must read this. Great review! 3y

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batsy @DivineDiana @Lindy Thank you! I hope you both like it if you read it—it's different, unique, & requires a bit of persistence, but worth it in my opinion 😊 3y

Lindy @batsy It looks like it‘s not readily available here, but I had already marked it “want to read” on Goodreads and I will keep an eye out for it. 3y

Suet624 My computer is glitching a bit, so I hope this comment comes through. Your note that you love the idea of an older woman taking up space rings so many bells of “I must read“! It's hard as an older woman... you start to become more and more invisible to kin and strangers. So off I go to find this one. 3y

batsy @Suet624 I hear you! I love that the International Booker shortlist has two older/ailing women staking their claim ... Elena Knows is the other one. 3y

batsy @Suet624 (I think Litsy is a bit glitchy atm? It's being weird on my phone, as well.) 3y

AnneCecilie Loved your review. This was already on my reader, but will definitely read it now. 3y

LeahBergen Great review and gorgeous fabrics! 3y

BarbaraBB You were looking so much forward to this one and apparently you were right. I love your review and want to read it now too. But I‘m still struggling with

The Books of Jacob

batsy @AnneCecilie Thank you! I hope you like it. 3y

batsy @LeahBergen Thank you! I used a saree ... The things we do for a Litsy photo 😆 3y

batsy @BarbaraBB Yes, I'm really happy it was worth it. This year's list is super intriguing. I'm looking forward to Jacob, too. Hope to start it next month. I also hope it improves for you! 3y

nathandrake1997 Stunning review ❤️ I was contemplating about reading the original Hindi version, but after reading this exquisite review, I might read the English translation first ❤️ 3y

batsy @nathandrake1997 Thank you! I look forward to your thoughts 💕 I'm sure it'll be an amazing experience to read the English translation and compare it to the original. 3y

RohitSawant This sounds like such a fascinating read! Stacking! 3y

sarahbarnes Love your review. ❤️ This is the one on the shortlist I want to read, but that is not published yet in the US so can‘t get it from the library. I‘m trying to decide if I should buy it…. 3y

batsy @rohit-sawant I hope you'll give it a go! 3y

batsy @sarahbarnes Thank you! It's tough to make call on who will like this book; some of the people I thought would like it thought it was just OK. I hope it finds a US publisher soon! 3y

109 likes14 stack adds20 comments

rockpools

New Name: Septology VI-VII | Jon Fosse

pan

A book to be savoured slowly, after you‘ve read the first 5 parts of the Septology. I simply wasn‘t prepared to put the work in, result being I found it almost unreadable. Lots of stream of consciousness philosophising on art and religion. With doppelgängers.

Don‘t trust my review - this is appreciated by greater minds than mine, & I won‘t be at all surprised if it wins the #InternationalBookerPrize2022

Full review: https://tinyurl.com/mv589xry

BookwormM Part of me hopes my library hold fails to show up 🤣🤣 3y

rockpools @BookwormM Are you going to read the earlier books first? It *might* make a difference. But I‘m not going to attempt it! 3y

BookwormM Ummm probably not I think I read the first book when that was nominated but I can‘t remember a thing about it 3y

41 likes3 comments

rockpools

Elena Knows | Claudia Pi�eiro

pick

Still catching up with reviews from #InternationalBookerPrize2022. This is the one I came away from with a firm commitment to read everything else the author has in English!

Elena knows that her daughter would never have gone to the church in the rain, would never have taken her own life in that way. So Elena travels acoss Buenos Aires to investigate. Beautiful writing & translation. And yes, I cried.

Full review: https://rb.gy/fkd4xr

TrishB Stacked 👍🏻 great review. 3y

rockpools @TrishB Thanks Trish! It‘s a teensy tiny little novel, but I do think you‘d like it. 3y

TrishB I think this is on my next pay day list- it keeps popping up for me so I guess it‘s a sign! 3y

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Cathythoughts Lovely review! I see I have it stacked already 👍🏻♥️ 3y

BookwormM My hold is at the library just need to collect it one downside to bank holidays 🤣🤣 3y

squirrelbrain I have it stacked already too, I think from @BarbaraBB ‘s review, but your review makes me want to read it even more. 3y

squirrelbrain Just found it on Scribd - yay! 3y

BarbaraBB Yes @squirrelbrain I loved it too. Great review. So sad 💔 3y

53 likes2 stack adds8 comments

rockpools

Tomb of Sand | SHREE

pick

I‘ve finally finished the final book off the #InternationalBookerPrize2022 shortlist, and I‘m a bit floored. I loved it.

It‘s an ‘experimental‘ novel. The story rambles off all over the place, and is picked up by any passing narrator, friend of the family, wall, crow. And there is such a joy in the language, whether Hindi or English - it‘s delightful fun.

Then in the final third of the book, the story takes over and had me in bits.

rockpools This is a story of mothers and daughters (and sons), caring, how much/little we know another person, generations, gender, history, home and borders. There is SO much to unpack in here. My heart broke for Ma. I‘m furious for Rosie. And I empathised horribly with Beti. And then I discovered how shockingly little I knew about a piece of history I should know something about. This is a lot. It‘s also quite beautiful. And there are crows. (edited) 3y

rockpools #AlmostAChunkster @TheAromaofBooks 3y

Cathythoughts Beautiful review ❤️ 3y

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youneverarrived I‘m sold 🤍 3y

TrishB Wow 😯 fab review Rachel- stacked again! 3y

batsy I'm reading it now. Your review really captures the way it flows, which I love. It takes its time. I love that crows suddenly narrate the story. It feels very "free", for lack of a better word ? 3y

rockpools @Cathythoughts Thanks Cathy! It‘s a lovely, unusual book! 3y

rockpools @youneverarrived Ooh. I think you might like this, Katie! 3y

rockpools @TrishB Yay! It‘s a really good list this year - lots to enjoy, along with the ??? stuff! 3y

rockpools Thank you @batsy 😊. It does feel very free and airy and all-encompassing. And then part 3 it turned into a page-turner, and 💔. And the crows are fab! I could spend a lot of time talking about this one! 3y

BookwormM Looking forward to this 3y

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! I love your review!! 3y

52 likes4 stack adds12 comments

rockpools

Heaven | Mieko Kawakami

so-so

I‘m going to attempt to get up to date with my #InternationalBookerPrize2022 reviews this weekend. apologies in advance!

#UnpopularOpinion - this has made the shortlist, and I understand why. It‘s a powerful but incredibly bleak and graphic look at school bullying, with the two young characters philosophising over why they‘re bullied and how to react.

rockpools It reminded me of GCSE ‘required reading‘ (Susan Hill‘s King of the Castle, anyone?) which I had a similar reaction to, hundreds of years ago, and, as far as I could see was all similarly brutal and hopeless.

My Readers Room review is at https://thereadersroom.org/2022/03/25/booker-international-longlist-2022-heaven/ 3y

squirrelbrain Great review Rachel - sounds like it by be a ‘not-for-me‘ too… 3y

BarbaraBB GCSE? What‘s that? I loved this one but I haven‘t read the whole longlist do you can maybe judge better! 3y

rockpools @BarbaraBB GCSEs are the exams 16-year-olds take here. My English Literature books at school all seemed to be extremely dark and miserable, and heavily based around ‘issues‘ - this had a very similar feel. And I‘d trust your judgement more than mine for these lists 🙃 - I wasn‘t surprised to see this on the shortlist, even though I didn‘t like it. I guess I like the possibility of a happy ending in my books, even if there‘s no ‘conclusion‘! 3y

BarbaraBB Thanks for clearing that up. And indeed all lists here are dark and about “issues” too! 3y

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