Click on the banner to join this reading challenge
The Challenge is organized by
@IntrovertReader (Twitter)
@Introverted.Reader (Instagram)
@IntrovertedReader (Facebook)
I haven’t participated in this challenge for several years.
So far, as I prepare this post, I have read 17 books in translation in 2020 (plus 28 books in French), so this is not really a challenge. I’m joining more for the social aspect and connecting with other readers of world literature.
So am shooting for the Linguist Level = 10+, I wish there were a higher level.
SO I HAVE ACTUALLY DECIDED TO CHALLENGE MYSELF TO 20 BOOKS
I will be updating the list here as I go along.
I start the year with the Japanese Literature Challenge, so by the end of March, I should already have read 9 books in translation.
The links will send you to my review
- The Book of Psalms
translated from the Hebrew
audiobook finished on 1/6/21 - The Sound of Waves, by Yukio Mishima
translated from the Japanese
by Meredith Weatherby
finished on 1/16/21 - Some Prefer Nettles, by Junichiro Tanizaki
translated from the Japanese
by Edward G. Seidensticker
finished on 1/22/21 - The Book of Job
translated from the Hebrew
audiobook finished on 1/23/21 - N.P., by Banana Yoshimoto
translated from the Japanese
by Ann Sherif
finished on 1/25/2021 - In Praise of Shadows, by Junichiro Tanizaki
translated from the Japanese
by Edward G. Seidensticker
and Thomas J. Harper
finished on 2/4/21 - The Book of Proverbs
translated from the Hebrew
audiobook finished on 2/8/21 - A Cat, a Man, and Two Women, by Junichirō Tanizaki
translated by Paul McCarthy
finished on 2/9/21 - The Half-Finished Heaven, by Tomas Tranströmer
translated from the Swedish
by Robert Bly
finished on 2/13/21 - Dans l’œil du démon / Devils in Daylight, by Junichirō Tanizaki
translated from the Japanese into French by Patrick Honoré and Ryoko Sekiguchi
finished on 2/13/21 - The Book of Ecclesiastes
translated from the Hebrew
audiobook finished on 2/27/21 - The Book of the Song of Songs
translated from the Hebrew
audiobook finished on 3/1/21
Recap of languages translated from:
Hebrew: 5
Japanese: 6
Swedish: 1
Oh, this challenge is so tempting. I did it years and years ago. But I think this coming year I’ll just watch your blog and see how you do. Best of luck!
LikeLike
You sure? The first level is not very high. Am I a tempter? I hope so, lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh goodness, I counted 8 translated books I’m aiming for during the first half of the year. Hmmm …. I just might do it. You ARE a tempter!
LikeLike
That’s a great compliment, lol
LikeLike
I only read 7 this year. Last year I read 10. I must do better in 2021.
LikeLike
funny, I thought you were reading a lot in translation
LikeLike
I’m giving this a try too! Good luck!
LikeLike
Let me know if you need great titles translated from the French or the Japanese
LikeLike
Great, I love Japanese literature, I’ll be reading your reviews with interest 🙂
LikeLike
And looking forward to read yours! If you are looking for titles, there’s also the list of those I read last year. At the end of the post you can find my recap, with links to my reviews: https://wordsandpeace.com/2019/12/16/japanese-literature-challenge-13/
So far for 2020, I have actually read 17 books translated from the Japanese, and I will probably add 2 mangas to that before the end of the year, so that will be double of the books read during the challenge
LikeLike
Thanks Emma 🙂
LikeLike
And thanks for your comments on my blog. You are in the top three for December: https://wordsandpeace.com/2020/12/31/2020-december-wrap-up/
LikeLike
This challenge is perfect for you, Emma! And, wow, twenty books!
LikeLike
It’s fascinating to read books in translation, you see a different emphasis
LikeLike
Good luck with this challenge! If I were more ambitious I’d try it lol.
LikeLike
Maybe one year?
LikeLike
Great challenge, I would like to also read more books in translation but I think I’ll stay on the sidelines this time.
LikeLike
well, you are reading some in German and French I believe, so that’s already huge
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for joining in! I always have a hard time setting levels. It’s so difficult to find a balance between setting the bar low enough so that newbies aren’t afraid to sign up but setting it high enough to be a real challenge.
Good luck!
LikeLike
Yes, difficult balance
LikeLike
This looks interesting. Looking forward to the list that you’re going to come up with.
Happy Reading.
LikeLike
Mostly Japanese probably
LikeLike
That’s fine. I love reading books from all around the world, so I’m sure I’ll find a book or two (or three, or four …). Maybe you’ll also find some international ones on my page.
Happy New Year!
LikeLike
I’m sure. What’s your blog? It doesn’t show on your ID when you comment, it only shows your email address. I suggest you change your ID, so it’s easier for readers to find your blog when you leave a comment somewhere
LikeLike
Thanks for letting me know. The trouble is, my blog is with blogspot and when I comment on your posts, I get asked to log in with WordPress (which I don’t have), Twitter (which I also don’t have) or Facebook. Don’t know how to change that because if it doesn’t show on your page, it also doesn’t show on other blogs like that. 😞
But for the time being, this is my blog.
LikeLike
Hmm, I didn’t realize you needed that type of sign up to comment, I’ll see if there’s anything I can change on my side. But I can see that you did manage to change your comment ID, now you blog url does show on the comment ID
LikeLike
Well, it seems to work now. Let me know if you can’t get to my blog from this comment. Thanks.
LikeLike
This is a riot, your blog url is not accompanying this comment, but it was with the previous one. Go figure
LikeLike
So sorry for that. I have no idea what to do other than leaving my link directly when I comment on your page. I just wonder how many other people have that problem when I comment on their WordPress page and never told me. ;(
LikeLike
well, maybe others don’t bother taking time to visit bloggers who commented, but for me it’s courtesy. But I do know commenters who automatically post their homepage link on their comment. Good idea, you will get more visitors this way
LikeLike
I will probably have to do that. And you are right, some people never answer. But I’m the happier with those who do. Because it usually means we have similar interests and they make the effort to get back to you.
I know there are people who don’t like it if you always answer with a link but I guess they will either understand or not comment anyway.
Marianne @ Let’s Read
LikeLike
exactly
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some challenges are great for the actual challenge and some are great for the networking. Sounds like this will connect you with lots of other people who love books in translation!
LikeLike
Definitely
LikeLike
Pingback: The top 8 books to read in January 2021 | Words And Peace
I like the sound of this and if I hadn’t already signed up for a European Reading Challenge I might have joined you. I shall just watch with interest what you read – no doubt it will mean I add more books to my wishlist……
LikeLike
you can use the same books in two different challenges
LikeLike
I have done that a few times but I thought it was a bit of a cheat to use it in successive months
LikeLike
Why?
LikeLike
because it would have been so easy for me to just link to the same books!
LikeLike
I see, I guess I’m not that strict
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Sunday Post #34 – 1/17/2021 | Words And Peace
Pingback: Sunday Post #35 – 1/24/2021 | Words And Peace
Pingback: Sunday Post #36 – 1/30/2021 | Words And Peace
Pingback: 2021: January wrap-up | Words And Peace
Pingback: The top 8 books to read in February 2021 | Words And Peace
Pingback: Sunday Post #37 – 2/7/2021 | Words And Peace
Pingback: Book review: In Praise of Shadows | Words And Peace
Pingback: Sunday Post #38 – 2/14/2021 | Words And Peace
Pingback: 2021: February wrap-up | Words And Peace
Pingback: The top 8 books to read in March 2021 | Words And Peace