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Feriel 🍋 فريال

@translatedgems

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October Theme: Island Nation + Minority Language
🍋 despot of #translatedgemsbookclub

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It’s August, which means it’s Women in Translation Month. We’ll be featuring our books written and translated by women for the rest of August. But for now, here are some covers to whet your appetite. Which of these books have you read? Which ones do you want to read? Comment and repost this and we’ll select a couple folks to receive ARCs of our two fall titles: The Hamlet Called America and Dogs.
#witmonth #translatedgems #translation #independentpublishing #readwomen

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🌟 Half-year review 🌟

Slightly belated but I finally got some headspace to evaluate half year review in my first year using a reading spreadsheet, gifted to be by @foreverinastory.

Here are some stats, standouts, goals and a challenge update.

Challenge organisers are tagged where possible!

Any recommendations for me based on my goals? 🥰

#halfyearreview #midyearreview #diversereads

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🇨🇲Don't Whisper Too Much & Portrait of a Young Artiste from Bona Mbella by Frieda Ekotto (tr. Corine Tachtiris)🇨🇲

An uncomfortable, suffocating, and purposefully destabilising read. An essential one, though!
This one broke me open in the best way.

“Here, despair expresses itself only with silence; the greatest suffering is lived without a word. Here, human will is an illusion. Every one knows that things are decided by custom. Individual choice? It doesn’t exist.”

I found myself completely gripped by how unflinchingly the book handles violence against the female body; not for shock, but as something political. Confinement, forced marriage, silence used as both a weapon against women and a form of resistance by them.

@kryescent called the prose "dry" during our #translatedgemsbookclub discussion, and I think that's exactly where the unease lives for me. There's a starkness to the writing that refuses to soften what it's showing you. No warmth to hide behind. It simply sits with you.
But that's also what makes it so intriguing. The fragmented journals, the flashbacks, the ghosts of women who came before; it never lets you look away from silence as both erasure and survival.

#TGBC #fiction_in_translation #reading_around_the_world #decolonisingreading

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📚 MID-YEAR READING UPDATE 📚
__________
I'm not reading a lot, but I'm really enjoying what I'm reading, and I have the DNFs to prove it! 😂 Last year, I figured out what my reading wheelhouse is - the genres, tropes, elements, etc that I enjoy in my reading. (I think I'll make a post about that ... one day!) I'm ignoring all of that this year by focussing on my reading challenges, which focus on nonfiction and translated reads.
__________
A couple of surprise hits:
👼🏻 CLEO DANG WOULD RATHER BE DEAD was sooooo sad but also written with a surprising amount of levity
🐦‍⬛ I listened to STRANGERS in just a matter of days thanks to Belle Burden's straightforward prose and crisp narration!
(Now that I'm looking visually at what I read, I'm noticing that sad moms is a recurring theme - very weird considering I was on maternity leave for half the year!)
__________
I'm loving other people's mid-year check-in posts and it's inspiring me to post more regularly again in the second half of the year!

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V tej knjigi kamerunške pisateljice Friede Ekotto (v prevodu acorine Tachtiris) sta dve njeni deli, Don't Whisper Too Much je kratek roman, Portrait of a Young Artiste From Bona Mbella je zbirka kratkih zgodb. Deli sta napisani zelo različno, a v obeh je tema prikazati ljubezen med ženskami na pozitiven način, kar je prvič v afriški literaturi.

Don't Whisper Too Much, ki se dogaja na kamerunškem podeželju med Fulami ljudstvom, je zgodba treh generacij žensk, izobčene Siliki, njene neimenovane mame in njene hčerke Affi. Njihovo življenje so omejevale družbene norme in običaji, njihovo usodo skuša razvozlati četrta, Ada, tudi sama izobčenka in ljubimka od Siliki. Poleg fokusa na kvir ljubezen je na pičlih 100 straneh tudi vpletena tematika pogleda zahodnjakov na vaško življenje.

Don't Whisper Too Much je napisana iz večih glasov, ki se pogosto neopazno menjajo. Veliko je miselnega toka, mešanice sanj, spominov in realnosti in zato definitivno ni lahko branje, ampak je definitivno vredno truda.

V Portrait of a Young Artiste From Bona Mbella skozi kratke zgodbe v linearni pripovedi in oči Chantou dobimo vpogled v dogajanja in atmosfero megamesta. Tudi te zgodbe imajo fokus na lezbično ljubezen, neenakopravnost žensk in mizoginijo, tradicije pa so predstavljene tudi z mitološkimi elementi.

Drobna knjiga z močno pripovedjo.

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Brala sem jo skupaj s @translatedgems knjižnim klubom.

#dontwhispertoomuch #portraitofayoungartistefrombonambella
#friedaekotto
#cameroonianliterature
#translatedfiction

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🇨🇱 Assassines, Alia Trabucco Zerán

💥 Alors que seulement 5% des homicides dans le monde sont commis par des femmes, l'Autriche décide de consacrer cette enquête à 4 de ces assassines, toutes chiliennes.

💥 « Les femmes devaient être de bonnes mères et des épouses exemplaires, elles devaient cuisiner et avoir six ou sept enfants. »
Alors quand elles sont soupçonnées d'avoir commis un crime —qui a tué son mari, qui a tué son amant, qui a tué les enfants du couple qui l'emploie—, si de surcroît ce crime présente une surenchère de violence, comment sont-elles jugées par la police, la justice, la presse, l'opinion publique, la culture populaire ?

💥 Hystérie, crime passionnel, nécessaires complicités et manipulations masculines, jalousie. Dès les premiers soupçons, toutes sont dépossédées de l'acte qu'elles auraient commis, déresponsabilisées, infantilisées. Des décennies plus tard, l'autrice qui a fait un gros travail d'archives, montre comment il est encore impossible de penser la violence des femmes : « [Il] était plus facile d’imaginer une femme tuée qu’une femme qui tue. Et peu importait que je précise femmes violentes ou homicides, le même glissement, plus culturel qu’auditif, réussissait à effacer l’image dérangeante d’une femme armée et à la remplacer par une autre, désarmée et six pieds sous terre. »
Me revient en écho le résumé éditeur de "La Terreur féministe" d'Irene : « "Le féminisme n'a jamais tué personne". Cette phrase est brandie depuis des décennies par le discours féministe majoritaire. Comme si les féministes cherchaient à rassurer un patriarcat pétri d'angoisse, ou à appuyer l'idée [...] qu'une femme ne peut pas faire peur, qu'une femme ne peut pas être dangereuse. Mais est-il vrai que le féminisme n'a jamais tué personne ? »

💥 Sujet passionnant, analyses pertinentes, mais si ennuyeux à lire ! Écriture plate, pas découpée, pas structurée, avec des propos qui tournent en boucle et se répètent au sein d'un chapitre (1 chapitre = 1 assassine). Le chapitre dont la lecture m'a le plus enthousiasmée est celui où l'autrice fait œuvre de fiction (Mária Teresa Alfaro, la domestique infanticide), qui n'est pas sans rappeler son roman "Propre". Couverture du livre Assassines de Alia Trabucco Zeran

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🇵🇱 Sur les ossements des morts, d'Olga Tokarczukz, éditions Libretto (2020)

Dans une contrée isolée de la Pologne, pas loin de la frontière avec la République Tchèque, le voisin de Janina Doucheyko est retrouvé assassiné. Très vite elle soupçonne les animaux, en réparation de la soif de sang qui animait cet ancien chasseur.

Je me suis perdue et bien ennuyée dans les divagations de la narratrice, Janina Doucheyko, femme âgée à la retraite, adoratrice de Blake, passionnée d'astrologie, végétarienne, qui jusqu'à il y a peu vivait entourée de ses chiennes, au milieu de la forêt. Et dorénavant écrit des lettres pour dénoncer les actes violents que ses comparses commettent sur la nature et les animaux environnants.

L'atmosphère humide de la forêt et la bancalité des personnages nourrissaient pourtant une atmosphère réalisme magique. Mais écriture trop lente. Des crimes qui se succèdent sans que ça n'accélère un peu ce roman épais comme un marais.
Et que faire des pensées de Janina? Très lentes. Qui ressassent souvent. Qui parfois portent juste (violente diatribe contre l'asservissement du règne animal par les humains - j'avais envie d'écrire par l'homme). Qui souvent relèvent de considérations qui m'indiffèrent sur l'astrologie, la science du proverbe... Qui parfois sont teintées de validisme ou de sexisme (voire dans un souvenir vague carrément queerphobes). Mais on lui pardonne tout à cette petite vieille un peu fofolle et bien inoffensive (du moins est-ce comme ça qu'elle est écrite pour les lecteur'ices et perçue par les autres personnages à leurs risques et périls).

📚 Là où vivent les livres #LaOuViventLesLivres, challenge littéraire de @bleuepiebleue et @restons_sous_la_couette qui me fait bien voyager.

📚 #translatedgemsreadingchallenge de @translatedgems : une œuvre littéraire écrite par une écrivaine polonaise

#tgreadingchallenge2026

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📚 2025 Reading Wrap Up 📚

Did I join too many challenges or set too high of a reading goal this year? Possibly. I failed most of the ones I joined BUT they helped me to find some books I likely would not have read if I hadn’t tried, such as Ilya Kaminsky’s poetry, Ann-Helén Laestadius’s duology, June Jordan’s collections and more.

My top reads tended towards Palestinian authors, nonfiction and translated works.

While I failed a few challenges and didn’t meet my reading goal, I continued to try to learn and unlearn, and raise attention to diverse voices and some lesser-known books. I always challenged myself in a new way hosting a few giveaways.

The campaigns that I ran still need funds, and the fundraisers (among others) can still be found in my linktree in my bio.

For 2026 I’m going to continue to read books from around the world, particularly Sudan and Palestine, as well as translated works, works with disability focus and queer books.

How did your reading go this year, any standouts??

🏷️
#ReadingWrapUp #Bookstagram #BookCommunity #Reading #ReadTheWorld

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how to say how are you in different languages
Russian girl speaking multiple languages
beautiful girl on balcony Austria
multilingual greetings video
Spanish how are you pronunciation
Russian phrase как дела meaning
Japanese お元気ですか translation
cute Russian girl Samsung Ultra 25
natural POV morning video
gorgeous eyes close up
language learning short video
cheerful girl golden hour
Austrian alpine house view
realistic AI generated video
emotional connection through language
global greetings compilation
how are you around the world
female polyglot vibes
soft spoken language tutorial
morning joy inspiration
bilingual conversation starter
engaging social media reel
ultra HD natural skin texture
sparkling blue gray eyes
Samsung Galaxy Ultra 25 camera test
cinematic POV storytelling
feel good viral video
teaching kindness across cultures
smile that lights up the screen
authentic human moments

#HowAreYouAroundTheWorld
#MultilingualMagic
#BeautifulEyes
#RussianGirlVibes
#BalconyMoments
#SayItInSpanish
#KakDela
#OgenkiDesuKa
#LanguageLove
#GoldenHourGlow
#AustriaViews
#MorningJoy
#PolyglotLife
#CuteAndSmart
#NaturalBeauty
#GalaxyUltra25
#POVVideo
#FeelGoodReel
#GlobalSmile
#CheerfulVibes
#LearnWithMe
#RealMoment
#SparkleEyes
#SoftVoice
#MountainPeace
#HumanConnection
#SmileGoals
#ViralGreetings
#TeachKindness
#15SecondJoy

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LAST - NOW - NEXT
@reads.and.reveries took us to the good old bookstagram days with the #lastnownext tag & we are delivering!

My last book was Granada by Radwa Ashour. I read that in August so it’s been a while and I’ve yet to review it. Hopefully I’ll be reviewing it soon. It’s a book I’d recommend even if there are some parts I had issues with. But nothing this wouldn’t make me recommend it.

NOW: currently reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley. I had already watched the movie so it was just a matter of time before I picked up the book. It’s safe to safe it’s beyond a classic, I’d even say Malcolm X’s autobiography is a self-help book. There is a lot to learn from his journey, his evolution and his honesty and his integrity.

NEXT: is going to be The Trinity of Fundamentals by Wisam Rafeedie. If you haven’t heard the story of the making of this book, how it came into existence go google it - it’s a story of resistance in itself!

What’s your last now next?! Consider yourself tagged if you see this post!!

#bookaddict #arabliterature #africanamericanliterature #malcolmx #radwaashour #granada #wisamrafeedie

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Where are my Bora Chung fans at?

To celebrate the release of her book Midnight Timetable in English, Bora Chung held a book talk and signing in Seoul.

I can assure you as someone hanging on to every word in the front row, she held nothing back when the questions came. (Prepare for some brutal honesty)

Q: Why did you write about ghosts in Midnight Timetable?

A: My publisher gave me a deadline, and to write anything else would’ve required time and research, while ghost stories I could just create, so ghosts it was.

Q: What was a part of your book that scared you?

A: The scene with the tunnel was something scary for me. I hate tunnels. I live in a place that’s surrounded by mountains, and to get anywhere, I have to go through tunnels, sometimes 5 in a row, and I’m a terrible driver, so tunnels have always scared me.

Q: In the short stories, bad karma coming for evil people is a recurring theme. Is this something intentional?

A: I think about how bad people can be removed from this world all the time, and when I come up blank thinking of proper legal channels, I imagine that the only way the job can get done is if ghosts showed up and gave them what they deserved.

[Q&A paraphrased from live event]

Biggest thank you to hosts @dbbooks.co.kr @seoulsilentbookclub for putting the event together and @caricanread for some quality moderation. And, of course, the star of the show @pirx_kosmopilot for existing. And writing 🌃🐑

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Thank you #translatedgemsbookclub for picking #thewaythroughthewoods for your October read:)

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