“All great ideas seem like bad ones at some point.” Current installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re still in the Bs. Country: BrazilTitle: We All Loved CowboysAuthor: Carol BensimonLanguage: PortugueseTranslator: Beth FowlerPublisher: Companhia das Letras 2013; English translation, Transit Books 2018 We All Loved Cowboys is a queer, coming of age novel that both seemsContinue reading “WE ALL LOVED COWBOYS – Carol Bensimon”
Tag Archives: Tommi Reads the World
BEFORE THE FEAST – Saša Stanišic
“I am sure she wanted me as a witness to carry the story of her child out into the world, and may God help me, I will do so.” Current installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re still in the Bs. Country: BosniaTitle: Before the FeastAuthor: Saša StanišicLanguage: GermanTranslator: Anthea BellPublisher: Random House GmbH, 2014; EnglishContinue reading “BEFORE THE FEAST – Saša Stanišic”
AMERICAN VISA – Juan de Recacoechea
“We’re all rotting in this country. Only the dead are saved.” Current installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re still in the Bs. Country: BoliviaTitle: American VisaAuthor: Juan de RecacoecheaLanguage: SpanishTranslator: Adrian AlthoffPublisher: Librería-Editorial Los Amigos Del Libro, 1994; English translation, Akashic Books, 2007 My journey to read books from every country continues, and thisContinue reading “AMERICAN VISA – Juan de Recacoechea”
CALL AND RESPONSE – Gothataone Moeng
Current installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re still in the Bs. Country: BotswanaTitle: Call and ResponseAuthor: Gothataone MoengLanguage: EnglishTranslator: N/APublisher: Viking 2023 It’s been a bit since I’ve done a “Tommi Reads the World,” but I’m back and we are STILL in the Bs. Call and Response is a collection of stories that reallyContinue reading “CALL AND RESPONSE – Gothataone Moeng”
SNARES WITHOUT END – Olympe Bhêly-Quenum
Current installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: BeninTitle: Snares Without EndAuthor: Olympe Bhêly-QuenumLanguage: FrenchTranslator: Dorothy S. BlairPublisher: Longman Group Limited (English version) 1981; first published 1960 Bhêly-Quenum’s Snares Without End is a slim novel about destiny, colonization, and the monsters inside. Admittedly, it’s been a long time since I’ve readContinue reading “SNARES WITHOUT END – Olympe Bhêly-Quenum”
JOSEPHINE AGAINST THE SEA – Shakirah Bourne
Current installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: BarbadosTitle: Josephine Against the SeaAuthor: Shakirah BourneLanguage: EnglishTranslator: NonePublisher: Scholastic Press 2021 You never outgrow books (or you shouldn’t), so it’s no surprise that a middle grade book shows up in Tommi Reads the World. And thank goodness, because Josephine Against the SeaContinue reading “JOSEPHINE AGAINST THE SEA – Shakirah Bourne”
AN EVENING IN GUANIMA: A TREASURY OF FOLKTALES FROM THE BAHAMAS – Patricia Glinton-Meicholas
“Once upon a time, a very good time, Monkey chew terbakker and spit white lime, Bullfrog jump from bank to bank while Mosquiter keep up the time.” Current installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: The BahamasTitle: An Evening in Guanima: A Treasury of Folktales from The BahamasAuthor: Patricia Glinton-MeicholasLanguage: EnglishTranslator:Continue reading “AN EVENING IN GUANIMA: A TREASURY OF FOLKTALES FROM THE BAHAMAS – Patricia Glinton-Meicholas”
The Sorrow of Belgium – Hugo Claus
“Times are bad, the radio says so, and the newspapers. No, things aren’t getting any better, far from it.” Current installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: BelgiumTitle: The Sorrow of BelgiumAuthor: Hugo ClausLanguage: DutchTranslator: Arnold J. PomeransPublisher: First published in Dutch as Het Verdriet van Belgie by De Bezige BijContinue reading “The Sorrow of Belgium – Hugo Claus”
BLOOD – Sunil Gangopadhyay
Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: BangladeshTitle: BloodAuthor: Sunil GangopadhyayLanguage: BengaliTranslator: Debali Mookerjea-LeonardPublisher: First published in Begali as Rakta by Biswabani Prakashani 1973, translation first published by Juggernaut Books 2020 Sunil Gangopadhyay’s Blood could have served as either my selection from Bangladesh or India. As Gangopadhyay was born inContinue reading “BLOOD – Sunil Gangopadhyay”
DAWA: THE STORY OF A STRAY DOG IN BHUTAN – Kunzang Choden
Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: BhutanTitle: Dawa: The Story of a Stray Dog in BhutanAuthor: Kunzang ChodenLanguage: EnglishTranslator: NonePublisher: Riyang Books 2016, originally published 2004 Dawa is the story of a street dog. While I’ve never been to Bhutan, I did study in Thailand where street dogs, orContinue reading “DAWA: THE STORY OF A STRAY DOG IN BHUTAN – Kunzang Choden”
A Girl Named Tommi 