Italian author Vicenzo Latronico's Perfection, which was shortlisted for the 2025 International Man Booker Prize, was my reading group's August book. It was my suggestion, for three reasons: I like for us to read at least one translated book a year (which we don't always achieve); I'd seen a few bloggers in my circles review … Continue reading Vicenzo Latronico, Perfection (#BookReview)
Italian writers
Vincenzo Cerami, A very normal man (Review)
And now for something very different from my recent fare here, a modern Italian classic. Originally published in 1976, A very normal man was, the back cover blurb says, Vincenzo Cerami's first novel - and it brought him instant acclaim. I can see why. At least, this is the sort of writing that gets me in, but more … Continue reading Vincenzo Cerami, A very normal man (Review)
Delicious descriptions: Diego Marani on translation
In Diego Marani's The last of the Vostyachs, which I have just reviewed, the two linguists argue about language. The Russian, Olga, sees language as key to communication across cultures and to conveying plural meanings. She says to the Finnish Jarmo: Your language has never known the dizzying heights of universality. No one studies it … Continue reading Delicious descriptions: Diego Marani on translation
Diego Marani, The last of the Vostyachs (Review)
Italian writer Diego Marani's The last of the Vostyachs was originally published in 2002, but the English translation was not published until 10 years later in 2012. How lucky we are that it was, because this book is unlikely to have been written by an English-language writer. Its focus on the relationship between language, culture and … Continue reading Diego Marani, The last of the Vostyachs (Review)
