Category Archives: World Literature

**Books translated from the original language to English**

All That Dies in April – Mariana Travacio (Author), Will Morningstar and Samantha Schnee (Translator)

Posted on October 6, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)   Lina wants to leave her Argentinian quebrada, where the soil is dry and the land barren, no longer offering them anything for sustenance. Her only son left years earlier with her younger brother. She is … Continue reading →

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Eden at Dawn – Karim Kattan (Author), Jeffrey Zuckerman (Translator)

Posted on September 22, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by John Heilman) Eden at Dawn is the mesmerizing tale of two Palestinian men, Isaac and Gabriel who meet in Jerusalem and slowly captivate one another, only to back away and later reunite. Their love inspires them to embark … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle Eastern Literature, Romance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Imaginary Life of a Laurel Tree – Mario Fortunato (Author), Michael F. Moore (Translator)

Posted on September 8, 2026 by J D Jung

When I was visiting Genoa, Italy, I popped into Feltrinelli Librerie and picked up a book with an intriguing and original plot: The Imaginary Life of a Laurel Tree by Mario Fortunato. Our unnamed narrator, a writer in his forties, … Continue reading →

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The Eye of Goliath – Diego Muzzio (Author), Rahul Bery (Translator)

Posted on August 31, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) When I started reading The Eye of Goliath, I was immediately intrigued by Dr. Edward Pierce, a physician running a sanatorium outside Edinburgh who uses hypnosis and other controversial methods to treat soldiers suffering from the … Continue reading →

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Pereira Maintains – Antonio Tabucchi, translated by Patrick Creagh

Posted on August 17, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) When I picked up Pereira Maintains at Paperback Exchange in Florence, Italy, I had no idea how relevant this novel would feel today. Set in Portugal in the summer of 1938, during the rise of fascism … Continue reading →

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Almost Blue -Carlo Lucarelli (Author) , Oonagh Stransky (Translator)

Posted on August 7, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung)     “That’s why I’m listening to the city tonight, with Chet Baker playing softly in the background.” Another book I picked up while visiting Bologna, Italy, was Almost Blue by Carlo Lucarelli at Feltrinelli Librerie. … Continue reading →

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Toulouse Noir – Charles Henri Lavielle (Editor), David and Nicole Ball (translators)

Posted on August 4, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’ve now read thirteen books in the Akashic Noir series, and one thing I’ve learned is that you don’t need to know a city to appreciate its stories. In fact, I’ve enjoyed several collections set in … Continue reading →

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Buyer Beware – Catherine Ryan Howard

Posted on July 28, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Set on the outskirts of Dublin in 2025, Buyer Beware follows Ellie as she moves into the first home she’s ever owned. Unfortunately, it’s cold, filthy, and falling apart, and with little money to spare, she can … Continue reading →

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Happy Life – David Foenkinos (Author), Sam Taylor (Translator)

Posted on July 14, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Eric Kherson is forty years old, divorced, has little contact with his son, and is struggling to find meaning in his life. He makes a good living but feels disconnected from both his personal life and … Continue reading →

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Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop – Alba Donati (Author), Elena Pala (Translator)

Posted on July 10, 2026 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “People want stories; it doesn’t matter who wrote them, they need stories to take their mind off things, stories to identify with or to take them elsewhere. Stories that won’t hurt, that will heal a wound, … Continue reading →

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