Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: BelarusTitle: The As*trobiologists Volume 1Author: Olga GromykoLanguage: RussianTranslator: Shelley Fairweather-VegaPublisher: Cyborg Protection Union Ltd. (2021) Kissed with the spirit of Futurama meets Firefly, Olga Gromyko’s The As*trobiologists is a hilarious space adventure. I imagine some of the humor is lost in the translation,Continue reading “THE AS*TROBIOLOGISTS – Olga Gromyko”
Tag Archives: Tommi Reads the World
BEKA LAMB – Zee Edgell
Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – we’re in the Bs. Country: BelizeTitle: Beka LambAuthor: Zee EdgellLanguage: EnglishTranslator: NonePublisher: Heinemann Educational Books (1982) While published just after Belize’s independence, Zee Edgell’s Beka Lamb is set in the 1950s. The novel covers mere months in the life of a 14-year-old girl living in a country fightingContinue reading “BEKA LAMB – Zee Edgell”
QUIXOTIQ – Ali Al Saeed
Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – ringing in 2024 with the Bs. Country: BahrainTitle: QuixotiQAuthor: Ali Al SaeedLanguage: EnglishTranslator: NonePublisher: iUniverse Inc. (2004) Finding a novel in English from Bahrain was extremely difficult, and QuixotiQ was one of very few options. Had this not been part of my reading challenge, I’d have DNF’d justContinue reading “QUIXOTIQ – Ali Al Saeed”
ALI AND NINO – Kurban Said
Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – the last of the As. Country: AzerbaijanTitle: Ali and Nino, A Love StoryAuthor: Kurban SaidLanguage: GermanTranslator: Jenia GramanPublisher: E. P. Tal (1937), First published in the US by The Overlook Press (1999) “I, your Nino, I too am a tiny piece of this Europe that you hate, andContinue reading “ALI AND NINO – Kurban Said”
TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG – Peter Carey
Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – still in the As. Country: AustraliaTitle: True History of the Kelly GangAuthor: Peter CareyLanguage: EnglishTranslator: N/APublisher: Alred A. Knopf (2001) “Wait to see what more there is to hear my daughter for in the end we poor uneducated people will all be made noble in the fire.” PeterContinue reading “TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG – Peter Carey”
THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS – Chris Bohjalian
Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – still in the As. Country: ArmeniaTitle: The Sandcastle GirlsAuthor: Chris BohjalianLanguage: EnglishTranslator: N/APublisher: Doubleday (2012), First Vintage Contemporaries Edition (2013) “But history does matter. There is a line connecting the Armenians and the Jews and the Cambodians and the Bosnians and the Rwandans. There are obviously more, but,Continue reading “THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS – Chris Bohjalian”
THE PIANO TEACHER – Elfriede Jelinek
Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – still in the As. Country: AustriaTitle: The Piano TeacherAuthor: Elfriede JelinekLanguage: GermanTranslator: Joachim NeugroschelPublisher: Rowholt Verlag GmbH (1983), English translation by Weidenfeld & Nicolson (1988) What on earth did I just read? The Piano Teacher is one of the more disturbing novels I’ve cracked the spine of. TheContinue reading “THE PIANO TEACHER – Elfriede Jelinek”
THE STAR OF ALGIERS – Aziz Chouaki
Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – still in the As. Country: AlgeriaTitle: The Star of AlgiersAuthor: Aziz ChouakiLanguage: FrenchTranslator: Ros Schwartz and Lulu NormanPublisher: Graywolf Press (2005), éditions Balland (2002) Aziz Chouaki fled Algeria in 1991 due to the civil unrest and the placement of the author on an assassination list. He died inContinue reading “THE STAR OF ALGIERS – Aziz Chouaki”
THE TEACHER OF CHEOPS – Albert Salvadó
Next installment of Tommi Reads the World – still in the As. Country: AndorraTitle: The Teacher of CheopsAuthor: Albert SalvadóLanguage: CatalanTranslator: Marc Brian DuckettPublisher: Indie Published (2012) The tiny country of Andorra has thus far proved the most difficult to find a selection of fictional works translated into English. Nearly every other reader also seeking toContinue reading “THE TEACHER OF CHEOPS – Albert Salvadó”
THE BOOK OF CHAMELEONS – José Eduardo Agualusa
In my ever-constant desire to devour the world, I’ve decided to commit myself to reading a work from every country. I anticipate the journey to take several years as I intend to only read a couple from the list (which I’m slowly curating!) each month. I’m starting with the As. Country: AngolaTitle: The Book of ChameleonsAuthor:Continue reading “THE BOOK OF CHAMELEONS – José Eduardo Agualusa”
A Girl Named Tommi 