I am trying to find an alternative to the ‘Top 10 Reads’ of the year, mainly because I find it difficult to stick to such a small number. So this year I will be listing some of my favourites by categories (although not giving them awards, like Fiction Fan does so wittily) – and I won’t even stick to numbers divisible by five. I am not counting any of the books I read in the original languages – those will form a separate category. Interesting sidenote (and perhaps not coincidental): only one of the books below was on my Kindle rather than in paper format. Perhaps those read electronically don’t stick as well to my mind?
Miklos Banffy: They Were Counted (transl. Katalin Bánffy-Jelen & Patrick Thursfield)
The last book in translation but one of the most memorable of the whole year. It took me a while to get going with it. I had a number of false starts, i.e. I’d pick it up, put it down after a few pages and then not read it for a couple of weeks, by which point I had forgotten all the complicated names. But if you give it your full attention, it is the beginning of a wonderful historical saga that gives you a real insight into a certain place and time.
Ariana Harwicz: Die, My Love (transl. Sarah Moses & Carolina Orloff)
Short and punchy, knocking you out with its breathless verve and barely concealed fury, this story of a woman feeling completely out-of-place in her life and suffering from some kind of trauma or depression will leave you reeling.
Fernando Pessoa: The Book of Disquiet (transl. Richard Zenith)
A diary or essay with so much to say about the human condition in general and the creative artist in particular that I know I will be reading it for the rest of my life.
Svetlana Alexievich: The Unwomanly Face of War (transl. Pevear & Volokhonsky)
Possibly my favourite non-fiction book of the year and one that I have been recommending to everyone, including my Russian friends. It also makes an appearance on Shiny New Books on my behalf.
Antti Tuomainen: The Man Who Died (transl. David Hackston)
My favourite translated crime fiction read of the year, it has almost slapstick situations, a lot of black comedy but also a sad inner core about a dying man losing all his illusions about the people around him.
Bohumil Hrabal: Closely Observed Trains (transl. Edith Pargeter)
Another example of broad farce interspersed with real depth and tragedy, with surreal flights of fancy.
Ricarda Huch: The Last Summer (transl. Jamie Bulloch)
I loved the naive ideology of the privileged vs. the uncompromising voices of the oppressed who are resorting to violence – an endless debate even nowadays.
Seven favourites out of the 36 books in translation that I read over the course of 2017 (a total of 130 books read so far). So less than a third in translation (although this number would go up to about 60, so nearly half, if I added the books in other languages). What is a bit shameful is that my reading is so Eurocentric, although this might have something to do with my #EU27Project, which I have been engaged in somewhat haphazardly this year. My only consolation is that I seem to have done a better job of it and been slightly more prepared than those negotiating Brexit…
However, in 2018, I hope that my translated fiction horizons will be broadened by my subscription to the Asymptote Book Club, about which many of you will have heard me chirruping, tweeting and even shouting! The very first title is still a top secret and I will keep my mouth firmly zipped up, but I will give you small clue: it is not European.
A good quartet [or a good book] is like a good conversation among friends interacting to each other’s ideas. (Stan Getz)
findingtimetowrite 
I’m so delighted to see Banffy’s They Were Counted in your list. It really is a wonderful book, a sweeping epic covering politics, romance, history and the natural world. Have you read the whole trilogy yet or just the first part?
Just the first part. I bought it specifically for the #EU27Project, but now I am very eager to get my hands on the rest of the trilogy.
What a great idea to spotlight translated fiction. Wish I could copy your idea but sadly I didn’t read enough this year to make a list meaningful.
I really admire bloggers like Tony Malone or Stu Jallen who read almost exclusively books in translation. I want to have a higher proportion next year – and lots of books on my shelf to get through which are in other languages too.
I still have a fair number of Pereine titles to read that I bought in a so,urge a few years ago.
I really like your idea of thinking of different categories of books, Marina Sofia. I think that’s a great way to keep a record of the books you’ve loved, and acknowledge the variety in them.
Great list I’ll be doing mine later in the month still thinking of the books to be on it that said it will be all translated as ever
You are a constant source of inspiration to me, Stu! I really plan to improve my proportion of translated books, although I always end up with others as well.
A nice list – several of which I have read or want to read. And I definitely think ebooks don’t stay in the brain the same way tree ones do!
Oh, good, not just me then! Mind you, the one I did read in electronic format was Svetlana Alexievich, so that couldn’t help but stick in mind!
A very good approach, Marina Sofia. I haven’t been in the mood to list top books this year, or try to narrow them down.
I always enjoy looking back a little and noticing the difference between intentions and actual results…
Hehe! You’ve spotted the joy of doing it in categories then! It lets me highlight nearly a quarter of the books I read each year – I could never whittle it down to a top ten! One of the things I like about these posts is seeing who’s responsible for the state of my TBR – this year you added Closely Observed Trains from this batch (not yet read). I’m looking forward to seeing what else you’ve been guilty of from your other categories… 😀
The Last Summer was one of my books of the year, and I also loved Die, My Love. I’m ashamed to say that I read the first part of Banffy’s trilogy years ago but never progressed to part two despite thoroughly enjoying it.
I might steal your idea, I like the thought of promoting books in translation.
The Asymptote Book Club seems great, you’ll have a lot of fun.
I’ve almost finished the first volume of the Transylvanian trilogy. Phew! That was long. I imagine the places and topics talk to you more than to me. I’m not sure I’ll read the two other volumes. Still thinking about it.