“I saw the walls clearly tattooed with letters: they were poems, on the ceiling, on the mirror, on the leaves of the translucent geraniums vegetating in their pots. I had lines written on my fingers and on the heel of my hand…my skin was tattooed in minuscule letters…” (p. 27)

“…just getting something to drink would make things easier, the stone would get lighter, yes, his stone might shift off him a little bit so that he could get a little light and a little air…” (p. 25). Love how, like with that “yes”, the voice constantly reassures and soothes.

“Which just goes to show you. Mythology is written the same way as history. And the life of a human being.”. (p.31). I was expecting something more elliptical and surreal, but this is very straightforward thus far and I’m enjoying it a lot.

These are the books I’ll be reading over the next couple of weeks. These translations come highly recommended by you all so I’m sure they will be amazing. Miranda July will be in Seattle next month, so I want to refresh and read her newest before seeing her. #BookTwitter

Finished today. Part poetry, part prose, part play, all mountains and rivers, rain and snow, bears and wolves, gunshots and violence. The prose is so spare, austere…if you like Lydia Davis, you should like this prose. #EBRDLiteraturePrize2024

Finished today. This was a great set of stories, I felt the collection got stronger as it went. Personal favorites were “Cold Floor” and “Take Five”, two of the longer stories in the collection. Recommended. #EBRDLiteraturePrize2024

Announcing our #EBRDLiteraturePrize2024 finalists!

The End by Attila Bartis translated by Judith Sollosy Archipelago Books
The Wounded Age and Eastern Tales by Ferit Edgü translated by Aron Aji Books at NYRB
Barcode by Krisztina Tóth translated by Peter Sherwood Jantar Publishing

Has anyone else read this? I am about 100 pages in, and am struggling. Far more like memoir, the erudition is impressive, but that seems to be all it is…erudition. More meditation than fictional narrative, the argument feels circular. Does he just cycle for 350 pages?

Finished my 4th book off the The EBRD Literature Prize shortlist. An endearing portrait of a father-son relationship, from the son’s perspective. A good translation, a pandemic novel, and a slice of life tale from Croatia. It was good but probably not a finalist for the prize.

Finished today. Existential, neurotic, alcoholic, I found the book to be at its strongest when discussing writing or crossing borders. The alcoholism feels lived in, replete with the jump cuts of an inebriated mind. Really, really good; I’ll have to seek out more of his writing.

A little more than halfway in this novel, and admiring every so often Mavor’s turning of phrase, such as “a mouth as closed and pink as a cat’s anus.”. (p. 110) It’s hard to get a sense of the distance between Mavor and her characters, is she sympathetic or parodying? Both?

Finished today, my third read from the The EBRD Literature Prize shortlist. A great translation, highly readable. Focuses mostly on 1930’s-1950’s Greece, where a female protagonist comes of age amongst war, poverty, politically radical parents, and an extended family. Recommended.

I’m only 20 pages or so into this novel, but it is terrifically funny, the opening made me 😂. Is it all like this? We will find out. I’ve not read Hilbig before, more about not enough hours in the day to read than lack of interest, hopefully this is a good entry point.

Finished today. I enjoyed this, as I was telling a friend it’s like a box of photographs old and new, some more clear than others, all out of order chronologically, with one character, Imogen, the most in focus. Surprisingly chaste book given some plot points. Recommended.

Another trip to Seattle which means another trip to Elliott Bay Book Co.. The selection is so remarkable here. Looking forward to all of these. Recently listened to Goddard on Beyond The Zero Podcast which led to this purchase so thanks for that.

Sunset in Seattle

This is an excellent overview of all the films playing in competition at Cannes this year, for anyone else so inclined to learn about them. JacquiWine thought you might like to read this.

I enjoyed this. Some latitude granted given it is a first novel. Insightful - a terrific depiction of a panic attack - and sensitive, the two main characters Dev and Nicky are so well drawn. The peripheral characters less so. Would recommend, but start with his stories first.

Finished my second read off the The EBRD Literature Prize shortlist. I found this novel to be at its best when exploring one of two themes: a woman coming into her own body, and authorial authenticity. When it strayed from these two themes, it became repetitive. On to the next one.

I visit the site daily. Congratulations Michael Orthofer and thanks for all that you do for the community!!