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The Longest Chapter

The Longest Chapter

Literary fiction, poetry, first editions, classics…

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Category: Books in Translation

Book award winners announced this week

November 20, 2020 ~ The Longest Chapter

Some of the finest books published this year won the Booker Prize and the National Book Awards. Fiction includes stories about a ghost haunting a train station, an Asian actor aspiring to be Kung Fu Guy, and a boy in 1980's Glasgow. Here are the titles.

An old man contemplates his life with music: “Self-Portrait With Russian Piano”

September 30, 2020 ~ The Longest Chapter

Wolf Wondratshek's new novel evocatively explores the life and emotions of a concert pianist. Profoundly enjoyable, especially for classical music enthusiasts.

Three new story collections you want to ignore, but I recommend you don’t.

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 ~ The Longest Chapter

It's unheard of for me to read not just one but three short story collections in less than a month. I'm typically more into novels, but I couldn't put these down.

My impossible list of wants. Then three.

May 19, 2020 ~ The Longest Chapter ~ 7 Comments

The International Dublin Literary Award is parked indefinitely at its 2020 Longlist due to the pandemic. But wait ‘til you see the nominees, happy hunting ground for readers in search of a good novel. There are many, but I provide a tip to help your search.

The books I’m reading now

April 30, 2020April 30, 2020 ~ The Longest Chapter ~ 2 Comments

Readers looking for new stories, here's a list of five books, all new this year, a mix of fascinating JFK fact/fiction, WWII non-fiction, an "engrossing" biography, and a dark novel that's one of the six finalists for the International Booker Prize. Also, an update about delayed spring releases.

“The Teacher” by Michal Ben-Naftali

February 28, 2020 ~ The Longest Chapter

An unnamed narrator imagines the life of her austere high school English teacher, compelled to understand what the Kolozsvár native experienced during the Holocaust and why she took her own life. It's profound storytelling in an intense, moving novel.

My year of reading

December 26, 2019December 26, 2019 ~ The Longest Chapter

Here at The Longest Chapter, instead of calling out best books of 2019, I've gathered a more personal list.

National Book Awards 2019 Finalists

October 10, 2019 ~ The Longest Chapter ~ 3 Comments

Twenty-five nominees in five categories made it from the longlist to the shortlist of the National Book Awards. Here's a look at three of them, and also one that didn't make the cut but has an interesting scandal going on in Norway.

An orphan in the family storm

August 30, 2019 ~ The Longest Chapter ~ 2 Comments

"A Girl Returned" is the English-language debut of Italian author Donatella Di Pietrantonio. This memorable novel captivates readers with its young narrator whose identity and sense of belonging is shattered by her misguided family.

Summer prize-winning reads

June 11, 2019 ~ The Longest Chapter

This summer, fill the beach bag with 2019 award winners. From the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction to the recently awarded Women's Prize for Fiction, here are seven novels you'll be glad you read.

The 100 Best Novels in Translation

March 15, 2019 ~ The Longest Chapter ~ 6 Comments

We depend on translators to bring us the world's literature. We also depend on them to make the right decisions on how to bring a novel to life, wrestling with fidelity to the original versus comprehension for the reader. This book is not only a list, but a guide to those who do this marvelous work.

Top three novels on 2018 year-end lists

December 29, 2018 ~ The Longest Chapter

These novels appear the most times on 2018 fiction lists that announce the year's favorites, notables, and bests.

It all starts with something simple.

July 26, 2018 ~ The Longest Chapter

Victor del Arbol's new novel "A Million Drops" is an intoxicating page-turner that knits together the crimes of darkly motivated characters. Spanning 1933 to 2002, it follows the lives of Soviet Gulag survivor Elias Gil and his children.

Living the Russian language

July 18, 2018 ~ The Longest Chapter

Laura Esther Wolfson's collected essays tell the story of her life as a translator and interpreter. They are as creative and memorable as the book's title, "For Single Mothers Working as Train Conductors."

My most given books

December 8, 2017 ~ The Longest Chapter ~ 4 Comments

A comment during an interview with author Mark Helprin turned my thinking to the books I’ve given most as gifts. Here they are.

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Book Recommendations

Tune in to All Sides Weekend Books, aired on NPR member station WOSU 89.7 FM where I recommend great books to read. This includes many that don’t get enough media attention, the good stories readers struggle to find. You can stream the live show online, sign up for the podcast, or listen from the archives at  WOSU 89.7 FM. All Sides Weekend Books airs the third Friday every month with occasional exceptions.

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