#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook and you can learn more about it here. It occurs every Monday when we post about 5 books on our TBR.
I amended this one – the actual prompt is ‘In Translation’, but I’m not sure how many translated books are currently on my TBR! Got to remember to start noting that down. So instead, I’m going to highlight five books on my TBR set in countries that aren’t the USA or UK.
#5OnMyTBR July 10th: Not Set in UK/USA
Witches by Brenda Lozano, Translated by Heather Cleary
Format: Hardback
Genre: Magical Realism
Country: Mexico
When I did initially see ‘translation’, this was the first book that came to my mind. I have an absolutely stunning hardback copy of this, and I really do want to dive into this. I think I’m just bad and avoiding ‘bigger’ books! But I am going to try and get to this one as soon as I can, and I admit I need to read more translated books!
Landru’s Secret: The Deadly Seductions of France’s Lonely Hearts Serial Killer by Richard Tomlinson
Format: ebook
Genre: Non-Fiction – History – True Crime
Country: France
I admit, I am kind of drawn to Historical True Crime. I’m not a huge True Crime reader, but I do pick it up now and then. This book in particular contains information that seems like it was hidden/overlooked for a long time, and has some intriguing aspects to it.
Two Women in Rome by Elizabeth Buchan
Format: ebook
Genre: Historical – Contemporary
Country: Italy
I’m always trying to ‘spread my wings’ with historical fiction, trying to find books from different time periods or in different genres. Some things I’m drawn to more than others, and I have enjoyed those that split the story in two different time periods, with some link connecting the MCs. So this one sounds, on the face of it, like something I’ll enjoy!
Zhiguai: Chinese True Tales of the Paranormal and Glitches in the Matrix by Yi Izzy Yu, John Yu Branscum
Format: ebook
Genre: Horror – Paranormal
Country: China
I’ve always been drawn to ‘true’ tales of the paranormal, and this one sounds really intriguing – it’s also another translated book, with the two writers having translated these stories from the originals. Definitely seems like it could verge into unnerving territory, too, depending on what the stories are like.
Free: Coming of Age at the End of History by Lea Ypi
Format: ebook
Genre: Non-Fiction – Memoir – History
Country: Albania
It’s hard not to be drawn to this memoir, a story of growing up in the last Stalinist outposts in Europe. It’s a part of history that almost feels overlooked in some ways, but recent years seem to be changing that. I think this one will likely be a bit of a harder read, and one I want to read when I really feel up to the task of absorbing as much as posisble!
So there we have it – five books on my TBR set in countries that aren’t the UK or USA. If you’ve read any of these, I’d love to hear what you thought!
Unwrapping Words 