Category Archives: World Literature
Outsider in Amsterdam (Amsterdam Cops) – Janwillem Van De Wetering
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “ “Papuans…He saw the wild men from the early ages who once populated the swamp that, now, today, was called Holland.” Today in 1970’s Amsterdam, most have learned about these people from the Dutch colony of … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Culture, Lost and almost forgotten, World Literature
Tagged crime fiction, Dutch literature
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The Little Book of Sham: More secrets than “The Secret” Funnier than “The Tibetan Book of the dead” More urgent than the “Power of Now” – Keith Martin
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Trolls use to live under bridges. Then they migrated to Twitter. Now they run for President.” Or how about this one? “Swearing is caring. Swearing shows passion, can help reduce the sensation of pain and is … Continue reading
The Complete Review Guide to Contemporary World Fiction – M. A. Orthofer
(Reviewed by J.D. Jung) As an aficionado of contemporary world fiction, I’m always on a quest to discover more works translated into English. The internet is a great resource, but I spend too much time desperately trying to find authors … Continue reading
Posted in Our Best, World Literature
Tagged book reviews, reference, world literature
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Reader for Hire – Raymond Jean , (Translated from the French by Adriana Hunter)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I was absolutely right to accept and harden my heart. A model reader should be a perfectly neutral and biddable instrument. Purely a tool. Purely a voice. Purely transparent. That may well be her limitation, but … Continue reading
Posted in French Literature, Modern Literary Fiction, World Literature
Tagged book review, French literature
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In the Café of Lost Youth – Patrick Modiano (Translated from the French by Chris Clarke)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I’ve always believed that certain places are like magnets and draw you towards them should you happen to walk within their radius. And this happens imperceptibly, without you even suspecting… It seems to me that because … Continue reading
Posted in French Literature, Noir-esque fiction, World Literature
Tagged French, noir
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The Cowboy Bible and Other Stories – Carlos Velázquez (Translated from the Spanish by Achy Obejas )
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “The sacrilege I’d committed two hours earlier of breaking dozens of records proved irrelevant. The Cowboy Bible didn’t respond either. I tore at it, implored it, cursed it, and still failed.” These are the words of … Continue reading
Posted in Humor & Satire, Latin American Literature, World Literature
Tagged Mexican literature
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Hope We Never Meet Again – Srinath Krishnamoorthy
(Reviewed by Darshith Badiyani ) I must admit that I’m not an avid reader anymore but there are a few books that hold my interest right from the prologue until the very end. Hope We Never Meet Again is one … Continue reading
Red Lights – Georges Simenon, Translated from the French by Norman Denny, Introduction by Anita Brookner)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I met a man in whom, for hours, I tried to see another me, another me that wasn’t a coward, a man I wished I could be like…” Steve Hogan, and his wife, Nancy are driving … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, French Literature, Lost and almost forgotten, World Literature
Tagged classics, mystery, noir
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Fardwor, Russia!: A Fantastical Tale of Life Under Putin – Oleg Kashin, (Translated from the Russian by Will Evans)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Fardwor, Ruissa!” The girls at the mental hospital mean “Forward, Russia!”, but it doesn’t come out that way, and as everything else, is blown out of proportion. That is one aside but amusing part of the political satire, … Continue reading
Posted in Humor & Satire, Political fiction, Slavic Literature, World Literature
Tagged book reviews, Putin, Russia
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The Treacherous Net – Helene Tursten (translated from the Swedish by Marlaine Delargy)
(Reviewed by Melanie Hamilton) You would think that Detective Inspector Irene Huss had enough to contend with between a gang war and a mummified body in the chimney. In The Treacherous Net, Helene Turston makes Irene’s work life really difficult. … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Scandinavian Literature, World Literature
Tagged Sweden
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