Post

Robin Berjon
@robin.berjon.com

The 17yo has decided to read a book from every country. Any suggestions from you fine people on the internet? This sounds like a @globalvoices.org shaped thing 🩷

12 reposts25 likes

Marcelo Soares
@msoares.bsky.social

From Brazil, you don't get more classic than this. Just dead, wealthy man Brás Cubas casts a mordacious eye over his life, relationships and the Brazilian society in the 19th century. Look for this acclaimed recent translation into English.

Robin Berjon
@robin.berjon.com

I had found the old GV/UNESCO challenge if that's what you mean, but it's structured around a Twitter hashtag from back when, so it's tricky finding good content (or I haven't succeeded). The 17yo has the list on paper, because that's how things roll nowadays, so I'm unsure what's missing :)

Felix de Natris
@flippo.eurosky.social

Sofie's world by Jostein Gaarder, from Norway. Fantastic story and fun way to learn about European history and philosophy. And from the Netherlands either Crusade in Jeans or The Letter for The King and from Germany, Krabat, other name is master of the black mill.

Mary Branscombe
@marypcbuk.bsky.social

If you don’t have Australia covered, I really like Adrian Hyland’s Jesse Redpath procedurals; Canticle Creek is a fascinating look at multiculturalism although the first book in the series is a harder read with more aboriginal worldview

JP Ahonen 🇪🇺
@jpahonen.eurosky.social

Finland 🇫🇮 Sinuhe - The Egyptian, is a historical novel by Mika Waltari. It was first published in Finnish in 1945. So far only Finnish book ever to be converted to a Hollywood movie, in 1954.

Juan Incognito
@juanincognito.bsky.social

New Zealand. The Pagan Game. It's quite old, written long before I was born but still one of the most insightful novels I've read about small town NZ The pagan game by Gordon Slatter – Book Express share.google/VkIocE5VPoRW...

share.googleThe pagan game by Gordon SlatterBook Express is your gateway to affordable reading pleasures. Browse our wide selection of fiction & non-fiction second-hand books. Shop online worldwide. With a focus on making reading more accessibl...
Ivan Towlson
@ppog-penguin.eurosky.social

Not heard of this one - thanks! Other NZ suggestions for OP: The Bone People by Keri Hulme (her collection Te Kaihau is also astounding); Hicksville by Dylan Horrocks; The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton; The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox.

Juan Incognito
@juanincognito.bsky.social

He's one of those authors who was well known in his day but seems to have quickly passed out of popular reading. A cousin found one of his books on the shelf of an elderly relative and then told us about it - so several of us tracked down his novels. Quite difficult unless on Abe Books

naarna (she/they)
@naarna.eurosky.social

For Switzerland: Friedrich Dürrenmatt and Max Frisch are some of the most well-known authors that also likely have works translated. A more recent Swiss author worth checking out is Kim De L'horizon, who is non-binary and whose debut work won awards.

naarna (she/they)
@naarna.eurosky.social

Among Swiss women authors, I guess the most well-known is Johanna Spyri (she wrote the original Heidi stories) Another known author is Federica de Cesco, who has written both children & adult books. And Eveline Hasler, who focused on Swiss historical figures, such as Anna Göldin.