The vast majority of books published in translation in the UK and US are written by men, and so, in certain bookish circles, August has become known as Women in Translation Month. It’s a means of championing the women who have been translated into English, and calling for more to be able to follow suit. Taking part is very simple; all you have to do is read and/or recommend books in translation that were written by women.
I browsed my shelves at the start of the month and picked out four relevant books, which I’ve since read. For each, I’ve linked to my review on Goodreads, in case you’d like to know more about them, or what my thoughts were.

My picks for Women in Translation Month; have you read any of them?
Irmina by Barbara Yelin, translated from the German by Michael Waaler. This graphic novel was inspired by the diaries of the author’s grandmother. It tells the story of a young, non-Jewish German woman during the war, who, though not directly affected by Nazi rule, finds herself turning the other cheek, compromising everything she once stood for.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, translated from the Japanese by Philip Gabriel. This is a touching and surprisingly nuanced story about a young man, reconnecting with old friends to try and find a new home for the beloved cat he can no longer house. Throughout their journey, we learn about the man’s past, and the ways each of the people he meets with shaped his life.
Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated from the German by Susan Bernofsky. This novel captures Germany at a time of great disruption and change, giving us snapshots into the lives of various people who call the same property home over the years.
The Diving Pool by Yoko Ogawa, translated from the Japanese by Stephen Snyder. This book is comprised of three quietly unsettling novellas. They explore the sordid, sinister side of human nature that lurks just beneath the surface of seemingly normal everyday life.
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I’m sure I’m forgetting some, but off the top of my head, women I’ve read in translation in the past include: Han Kang (from Korean), Leїla Slimani (from French), Natsuo Kirino (from Japanese), Maja Lunde (from Norwegian), Ludmilla Petrushevskaya (from Russian), Clarice Lispector (from Portuguese), Sappho (from Ancient Greek), Anne Frank (from Dutch), Banana Yoshimoto (from Japanese), Julie Moroh (from French), and Sun-mi Hwang (from Korean).
I’d love recommendations of some of your favourite women in translation. Happy reading, and happy #WITMonth !
Some of these sound amazing! My favourite female author in translation, definitely Sophia de Mello Breyner. But I have to admit, I haven’t read a whole lot in translation recently. Might be time to pick it back up!
Ooh, I’m not familiar with her work so I’ll certainly look into it! 😊
Well done on reading so many already this month! I’m still working my way through the one #WIT novel I selected, though I’m hoping to try some Yoko Ogawa as well before the month is up. But I may copy you and do a recommendations post on some authors I’ve read in the past.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy Ogawa’s work; there’s something about her style that just really clicks for me.
I’d love to see that post if you decide to do it.
I’m embarrassed to say I don’t have any female authors in translation on my bookshelf, or my virtual one for that matter. I must rectify that right away! Great post 😃
Thanks, Mel 😊 No need to be embarrassed. I think most of us don’t realise how few translated books we read until a great initiative like #WITMonth comes along!
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Greta recommendations! I will look out for these!
😊
I’ve read Ludmilla Petrushevskaya; it’s hard to miss her lengthy book titles. I’m also interested in your collection of novellas, a form I truly believe is under appreciated, though readers have to be careful because it can easily be done badly.
Yes, she certainly knows how to come up with a stand out title!
Such an exciting idea! I love women writers, and I’d recommend a writer from my home country: Leila S. Chudori. It’s probably more difficult to find her translated works, but if you’re interested in Indonesian literature or history that is not too old, give her a try.
I’ve heard great things about the Traveling Cat Chronicles, and Anne Frank is another author I’d highly recommend because her diary is such a heartbreaking and beautiful insight into WW II.
I’m not sure I’ve ever tried any Indonesian literature, so I’ll certainly look into it! Thank you for the recommendation 😊
And yes, Anne Frank’s diary is an excellent choice. I read it many years ago but have been considering rereading it soon.
I just read Visitation this month for #WIT although sadly I wasn’t particularly enamoured by it.
One that I would highly recommend is The Bridge of Beyond by Simone Schwartz Bart, it was my top read of the year when I read it and one more recent I just read is Disoriental by Négar Djavadi and the exquisite novella So Long A Letter by Mariama Bâ, which I just lent to a friend for the summer.
All three translated from French, however they are all writers whose origin is not France, which brings an added richness to their stories.
I didn’t love Visitation either, sadly. There were elements that I liked, but I enjoyed it a lot more in theme and intent than I did in actual execution.
Thanks for the recommendations! I’ll be sure to look into them 😊