August is Women in Translation Month and to join in the celebration the Mainstreet staff have been travelling the world through literature.

With less than a third of all literary translation in the UK and US originally written by women, this month is dedicated to trying to rectify this imbalance. It is about celebrating the women who have been translated, as well as their translators who help bring their work to wider audiences. Our recommendations are just a start and you can find more recommendations from last year’s selection here.  You can also visit the Women in Translation website to find an extensive reading list and learn more about the project.

Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri, transl. by the author & Todd Portnowitz – Reviewed by Vicky

A collection of stories written with honest precision and ruthless observation. Throughout, a main character emerges – Rome itself. The rest must live here as outsiders, never truly belonging. Lahari is a master of the form, bringing depth to a mere handful of pages.

Canoes by Maylis de Kerangal, transl. by Jessica Moore – Reviewed by Sarah 

This collection of short stories is a beautiful exploration of how we use our voices, the simple nuances we each have when we speak and the power our voice can hold. As expected, Kerangal’s writing is beautiful and poetic. Her words entice you but do not demand much from you, letting you flow along with the stories and thoughts at your own pace.

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jaqueline Harpman, transl. by Ros Schwartz – Reviewed by Nina

40 women are trapped, locked in a cage and watched over by guards. How did they get there? Why are they imprisoned? Though the answers are unclear, you feel compelled to continue. An unsettling read about humanity in a post-apocalyptic world.

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19 Claws and a Black Bird by Augustina Bazterrica, transl. by Sarah Moses – Reviewed by Isobel 

A series of short stories. A body landing on the patio, an examination of fingernails, a rivalry between funeral crashers, a torturous break-up. A study of humanity within the grisly and the mundane. Vicious, gruesome, coruscatingly funny. An intoxicating read.

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, transl. by Ginny Tapley Takemori – Reviewed by Jen 

Keiko Furukura, the convenience store worker, narrates her life in this immersive novella. Deadpan and quirky, Keiko ends up making the reader question their own ideas of normality and happiness. Compelling and relatable, you’ll read this in one sitting and think on it for much longer.

(Photographed with the new product Honest Umami that has just arrived in the Deli)

Notes from an Island by Tove Jansson & Tuulikki Pietilä, transl. by Thomas Teal – Reviewed by Sarah

Tove Jannson (creator of the beloved Moomin characters) and her partner Tuulikki Pietilä spent 26 summers on an island off the coast of Finland. This short book is a beautifully produced collection of their matter-of-fact notes, drawings and nostalgic vignettes of their time there. Although only 96 pages, it is a glorious celebration of solitude, nature, partnership and island life.

The Bookshop Woman by Nanako Hanada, transl. by Cat Anderson – Reviewed by Vicky

When Nanako hits a crossroad in her life, she takes a slightly unusual route. Her path reminds us that when life is uncertain, you can always take comfort in reading. An uplifting story of self-discovery, this one is for book lovers everywhere.

Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, transl. by Michael Hoffman – Reviewed by Grace

Erpenbeck’s writing speaks deeply to the kind of lives led by those in East Germany in the lead up to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Set in an intense affair between two people intertwined in interests and attraction that becomes fuelled by distrust and punishment, Kairos is an important take on the GDR through the lens of losing an early love. 

Our booksellers love to recommend books and share their favourite reads with other booklovers (it is their job but also their hobby). Our blog is a good place to start to find some recommendations but if you still need some help, simply pop into the shop, give us a call or shoot us an email.

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