First up are two for review from new publisher Peirene ,they are stones in a landslide by Maria Barbel a modern classic from catalan it follows a life of a Conxa through her life and touches the spanish civil war and lost loves .The second is beside the sea a french novel by Veronique Olmi that follows a mother visit to the seaside with her two kids and what happens there .Now both these have got good reviews so far on different blogs going to have to work on something special for these ,many thanks to Meike and peirene for sending me these great to support a new publisher of translated books ,also believe Meike looking for other books that are short to be translated .
next are three great finds at my local Oxfam ,they are –
The engineer of human souls by Josef Skvorecky ,this is a thick book from the acclaimed czech writer it follows Danny an exile from a police state and follows some of Josef own story ,now this is going to one side for my 2011 challenge .
The sorrows of war by Bao NInh ,this novel tells the story of a north Vietnamese solider during the Vietnam war ,be interesting to see the other side of the coin in regards to the Vietnam war ,this also won the Independent foreign fiction prize .
One day of life Manlio Argueta ,now this is really exciting to me ,Argueta is a el Salvadoran writer this book was in the top ten latin american novels of 20th century by modern library ,it follows a day in the life of a pheasant farmer in El Salvador .
Has any one read any of these ?
Jun 15, 2010 @ 12:06:12
Great books there Stu! I am waiting on my own copy of Stones in a Landslide and Beside the Sea, so I’m interested to see what you think of them! So far I’ve only heard great things!
Jun 15, 2010 @ 12:19:59
hi amy ,be great compare notes all the best stu
Jun 15, 2010 @ 17:20:42
I loved Beside the Sea, but haven’t read any of the others. Enjoy!
Jun 15, 2010 @ 21:52:03
thanks jackie ,stu
Jun 18, 2010 @ 20:55:32
I’m happy to hear you get to read Beside the Sea and Stone in a Landslide as well! I have yet to read Beside the Sea, but I’m looking forward to it.
Jun 18, 2010 @ 21:09:02
be fun to see what we make of it too iris 🙂 ,all the best stu
Jun 21, 2010 @ 07:31:19
Everyone seems to be reading those Peirene books!
Jun 21, 2010 @ 19:37:24
yes they are good finished beside the sea over the weekend ,all the best stu
Jun 23, 2010 @ 17:30:57
The Engineer of Human Souls has been on my TBR pile for the longest. Maybe we could read it together?
Jun 23, 2010 @ 23:50:33
yes be great idea when you in mind ?,all the best stu