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Welcome to our first Quadrimester - or four month challenge, running from January through April. Please use this thread to track your Quadrimester goals and reads. Remember to come back and update your progress! These can be both Fiction or Non-Fiction.

1 - Read Around the World (RatW)- Europe and/or Translated Works
Remember, we don’t set hard rules for reading and these challenges are meant to be a fun way to encourage your reading journeys. If you think it counts, it counts. Translated just means translated from the original language. It does not mean translated TO any specific language. If you read a book that was originally written and published in a language other than the one you are reading it in, it counts.

I plan to read 6 books for this challenge.

One of them will be Norwegian author, Hanne Ørstavik's, Love. It won the 2019 PEN Translation prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Translated Literature and it's only 180 pages which suits my desire to flit amongst the shiny book objects in my vicinity. Shout out to the Europe through Literature GR group, through which I learned of it.

Another is First Love by Rio Shimamoto, translated from Japanese to English by Louise Heal Kawai. It's marketed as " part psychological drama, part legal thriller." It won the Naoki Prize, so I have high hopes, but I'd not heard of her before receiving a Honford Star email, so fingers are crossed.

Here's a link to the challenge widget if you want to use it.

/challenges/...

I will aim for 8 and will count both European and translated works :) These are in my plans (editing this message as plans change and as I finish books):

✔️ Orlando by Virginia Woolf (English)
✔️ A Very Easy Death by Simone de Beauvoir (French)
✔️ Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ (Mandarin / Taiwan)
�� The Boy from Clearwater: Book 1 by Yu Pei-Yun (multiple Asian languages, Taiwan)
✔️ Granada: The Complete Trilogy by Radwa Ashour (Arabic / Egyptian author / Medieval Spain setting and history)
✔️ Handiwork by Sara Baume (Irish)
✔️ The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington (English / British author / Mexico and Europe setting)
✔️ Forbidden Notebook by Alba de Céspedes (Italian / Cuban-Italian author)
✔️ All Your Children, Scattered by Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse (French, Rwanda/France)
�� Hair Everywhere by Tea Tulić (Croatian)
-Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire (Somalian/England)
-The Little Virtues by Natalia Ginzburg (Italian)

Nonbinary author
�� Body Music by Jul Maroh (French author & language / Montreal, Canada setting, graphic novel)

Jen wrote: "I will aim for 8 and will count both European and translated works :) These are in my plans:

- Orlando by Virginia Woolf (England)
- A Very Easy Death b..."

Ope! Thanks for the shoutout that our two January group reads both count towards this Quadrimester!

Oh fun! I have no specific goals, but I love RATW, and I am trying to get more translated books into my reading. I will count everything set in Europe whether it is a European author or not. I have The Door by Magda Szabó that I plan on reading soon. I'm not sure what else... yet! :) I read Black Rainbow by Barbara Michaels which is set in the UK - well, Great Britain since the time period was before it was the UK!

This seems like fun! I'll initially go for 3 books for this challenge -- The Houseguest and Other Stories by Amparo Dávila, The Iliac Crest by Cristina Rivera Garza, and Heaven by Mieko Kawakami.

(Hopefully will have time for more!)

Seashelly wrote: "This seems like fun! I'll initially go for 3 books for this challenge -- The Houseguest and Other Stories by Amparo Dávila, The Iliac Crest by [a..."

Would love to hear updates on how you find these. The Dávila was one of our group reads last month and I like hearing different POVs on it. And the other two also sound interesting.

Gail W wrote: "I have a total of 25 RatW books, written by women, slotted for this year. 11 of those are translated. Unfortunately, most are already set up for later in the year and most are related to the contin..."

If/when you decide to tackle Butter, you might want to check out the audiobook. The narrator is great, although depending on the speed at which you read your audiobooks, it may take an already somewhat long book longer. Also, if you don't read a lot of Japanese lit, you may want to look at the character names in writing so you can connect the pronunciation to the written name and avoid confusion as characters appear and then disappear for awhile.

The further I get into Orlando, the more I think you'll like the humor if you take another run at it.

Jen wrote: "I will aim for 8 and will count both European and translated works :) These are in my plans:

- Orlando by Virginia Woolf (English)
- A Very Easy Death b..."

I just ordered the 3-volume Granada and am so excited! I've owned volume 1 without reading it for a few years (always the book bridesmaid), but knew that I couldn't get volumes 2 or 3 which was somewhat depressing. Finally, 2025 is the year for Granada.

I just finished The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan - it is a mystery set in Ireland - and it was so good.

Misty wrote: "I just finished The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan - it is a mystery set in Ireland - and it was so good."

Time for me to give McTiernan a shot, then!

Misty wrote: "Oh fun! I have no specific goals, but I love RATW, and I am trying to get more translated books into my reading. I will count everything set in Europe whether it is a European author or not. I have..."

I saw a couple comments on The Door, and think that if you’d like to, you may get a buddy read going for this one in Feb or March (anytime through April will contribute to this Quadrimester). Just a thought, if you’re inclined you can put it in the Buddy Read thread to see if anyone would join you.

My first WIT is I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. I didn’t know it was a translation until I opened the audiobook, so it’s a bonus contributor.

Carol wrote: "Time for me to give McTiernan a shot, then!"

I have read several books and novellas in this series, but this one was definitely the best. I really enjoyed it.

Anita wrote: "Just a thought, if you’re inclined you can put it in the Buddy Read thread to see if anyone would join you."

Huh - I have never done a buddy read. Thanks for the suggestion.

I don't have a solid plan (yet) but I started with "Human acts" by Han Kang (translated obviously, not European 😜)

Fun! I have such a backlog of owned WIT that I will read only translated European books for this challenge. I have some other reading priorities right now, but will aim to read these:

The Years
Bad Handwriting
The Fawn
A House in Norway
Emily L.
The Little Liar - 2.5* - The subject is timely and important, but I did not connect at all with the writing style, which felt clunky and inconsistent in tone. I wish I could read it in French to know whether it's the translation I'm taking issue with.
The Ravishing of Lol Stein - 4* - I love Duras and this one did not disappoint. Atmosphic, tightly written with lots of meaning between the lines. Lol is a fascinating character, too.

Jen wrote: "Fun! I have such a backlog of owned WIT that I will read only translated European books for this challenge. I have some other reading priorities right now, but will aim to read these:

[book:The Ye..."

I love it! Clever way to combine the challenge prompts!

So far this year, I have read three translated works:

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa - a beautiful book that I loved
The Premonition by Banana Yoshimoto - not my favorite work of hers
The Loving and the Dead: Tales of the Supernatural by Catherine Lim - a book of short stories with a supernatural element

So far, I have finished one book for this. It was translated from Japanese.


I thought it was cute in some regards, and a little sad in others. I loved the magical element that came with the cat prescriptions and how the characters reacted to the cats and how the cats changed their lives in one way or another.

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "So far, I have finished one book for this. It was translated from Japanese.


I thought it was cute in some regards, and a little sad in others. I lov..."

Omg funny title. This sounds cute. I'm a cat person...

As for my reading so far, it's a fun coincidence that three books that I either just read or am now reading celebrate and play with the theme of writing, storytelling, and books themselves.
Orlando by Virginia Woolf and Granada: The Complete Trilogy by Radwa Ashour both give vivid descriptions of medieval manuscripts, how they're made, and center the importance of writers and writing. Ashour also centers oral storytelling and Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ is very playfully telling it's story as a book within a book with fictional foreword and fictional and real afterwords...

Did you finish the trilogy, Jen?

I am halfway through Taiwan Travelogue and loving it. I also started Penelope Lively’s fourth book (my third of hers), Judgment Day when I was unanticipatedly the beneficiary of a 45 minute wait and thought to redirect my annoyance into reading an ebook whilst waiting. It’s so good! I hate that I have to choose between them.

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "So far, I have finished one book for this. It was translated from Japanese.


I thought it was cute in some regards, and a little sad in others. I lov..."

That’s really cute cover art, too. No one does cat books like the Japanese.

Carol wrote: "Did you finish the trilogy, Jen?

I am halfway through Taiwan Travelogue and loving it. I also started Penelope Lively’s fourth book (my third of hers), Judgment Day wh..."

No, re: trilogy. Just started part 2, which means I'm a bit past halfway through. I think it's wonderful. Devastating though, but Ashour gives moments of lightness which balance it so it's bearable. So far anyway! I have thought to myself, fans of Mahfouz's Palace Walk (I haven't read the other parts of that trilogy)- like you- would probably like this one too. Endearing family, Arabic world, different era, very different characters, especially the women.

I just finished Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata - translated from Japanese. I wish I had something good to say about it. A couple of the stories weren't terrible. I think I am done with her work. I don't think holding back vomit over and over and over while reading a book is a good thing.

Misty wrote: "I just finished Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata - translated from Japanese. I wish I had something good to say about it. ..."

That's too bad especially when I think how delightful Convenience Store Woman was. I have Earthlings on my shelf but I haven't heard great things about that either.

Gail W wrote: "That's too bad especially when I think how delightful Convenience Store Woman was. I have Earthlings on my shelf but I haven't heard great things about that either."

Honestly, I thought Earthlings was pretty terrible as well. It was so gross and disgusting. I also really enjoyed Convenience Story Woman. Go figure.

Misty wrote: "Gail W wrote: "That's too bad especially when I think how delightful Convenience Store Woman was. I have Earthlings on my shelf but I haven't heard great things about that either." Honestly, I tho..."

Ah, thanks for that. That will likely become a DNR library donation. (DNR - did not read. Just realized what the more known meaning is!)

I finished Apartment Women by Gu Byeong-mo, a super quick read if you’re a good match for it. (Or it for you.) Translated from Korean by Chi Young Kim. I think the marketing has confused a lot of readers. It’s nothing like The Old Woman with the Knife, except the author’s ability to put you into her world and context effortlessly and to make several similar characters real and differentiated from one another. She details the pressures and difficulties of 4 moms with young children and challenging marriages moving into a new government-operated complex out in the countryside, eg isolated. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes the tension of Korean novels plus a focus on “trapped�� women’s�� interior lives.

Just a PSA that our nonfiction group read, In Defense of Witches: The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still on Trial by Mona Chollet qualifies for this challenge and it’s a very accessible read. Light on history, strong on feminism.

Anita wrote: "I saw a couple comments on The Door, and think that if you’d like to, you may get a buddy read going for this one in Feb or March (anytime through April will contribute to this Quadrimester)."

Well, I totally forgot about this suggestion. To be honest, I am a substitute teacher. I finished an audio book during the planning period (during a day where I had particularly trying classes), and I wanted to start another one right away, so I picked The Door. I loved Abigail so much that I was really looking forward to this one. I finished it last night, and I am still not sure what I think about it. I gave it four stars because her writing is just so good. As for the story, it was..... different. I'm still sitting with it. My daughter asked me last night if I liked the book. I said, "Um..... maybe?" LOL.

Hmmmm. I think I won’t start there, Misty. 🤣

I started Rio Shimamoto’s First Love, translated from Japanese to English by Louise Heal Kawai, and am trying to get as far as I can by 5 pm, in order to join Japan Foundation Toronto’s combination in-person/online book club discussion of it. A college student (woman) has just murdered her dad, and the mystery is her motive. It is a Honford Star release with the most lovely quality paper. Delightful.

Carol wrote: "I finished Apartment Women by Gu Byeong-mo, a super quick read if you’re a good match for it. "

This one looks really good Carol.
Thanks for sharing!

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "So far, I have finished one book for this. It was translated from Japanese.


I thought it was cute in some regards, and a little sad in others. I lov..."

This looks adorable. I love quirky Japanese novels like this.

It seems similar to the series Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Cute easy to read series with magical elements and gives the reader a lot to think about.

Lindsey wrote: "Carol wrote: "I finished Apartment Women by Gu Byeong-mo, a super quick read if you’re a good match for it. "

This one looks really good Carol.
Thanks for sharing!"

I enjoyed it a lot; it’s always challenging to know to whom and how to recommend Korean fiction. There’s just nothing else like it, what with the lack of cheery, resilience-speak and quiet desperation. This novel has a somewhat more conventional focus (thoughtful feminism) than her last (translated into English).

Carol wrote: "...If/when you decide to tackle Butter, you might want to check out the audiobook..."

This was our February book for the mystery/thriller group I belong to. My nomination. I'm not sure what my problem is this year but I dnf'd it at 120 pages for about 6 different reasons.

Carol wrote: "it’s always challenging to know to whom and how to recommend Korean fiction. There’s just nothing else like it, what with the lack of cheery, resilience-speak and quiet desperation. "

It is definitely a specific style, and I've enjoyed the few books I've read so far by Korean authors.

Have you read Almond by Sohn Won-Pyung? You might appreciate it.

Gail W wrote: "Carol wrote: "...If/when you decide to tackle Butter, you might want to check out the audiobook..."

This was our February book for the mystery/thriller group I belong to. My nomination. I'm not su..."

Yeah, I think the marketing campaign created expectations that the book wasn’t going to meet. It’s not a mystery/thriller book. I bet I can list all 6, even though I was okay with it :)

Lindsey wrote: "Carol wrote: "it’s always challenging to know to whom and how to recommend Korean fiction. There’s just nothing else like it, what with the lack of cheery, resilience-speak and quiet desperation. "..."

Does checking it out and returning it count? JK

I will give it another shot. Thanks

Carol wrote: "Does checking it out and returning it count? JK

I will give it another shot. Thanks"

lol. It's an odd little book. But I enjoyed it.

Carol wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "Carol wrote: "I finished Apartment Women by Gu Byeong-mo, a super quick read if you’re a good match for it. "

I've only read 2 South Korean books so far: The Old Woman with the Knife and a memoir written in graphic novel Banned Book Club. I really liked both of them. I'll have to look into Apartment Women.

Carol wrote: "I finished Apartment Women by Gu Byeong-mo, a super quick read if you’re a good match for it. (Or it for you.) Translated from Korean by [author:Chi Young Kim|1817..."

I have The Apartment Women on my radar for this year.

Carol wrote: "Hmmmm. I think I won’t start there, Misty. 🤣

I started Rio Shimamoto’s First Love, translated from Japanese to English by Louise Heal Kawai, and ..."

Sounds good, added to my TBR!

I hope you finish in time to join the discussion.

Lindsey wrote: "This looks adorable. I love quirky Japanese novels like this.

It seems similar to the series Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Cute easy to read series with magical elements and gives the reader a lot to think about."

A friend of mine is currently reading that series and she loves it, said it is very comforting and like you said, gives the reader a lot to think about. I've been planning to read it and I've been in the mood for that type of books, so probably soon.

I was just telling my friend that right now my reading mood is either comforting Japanese cat/cafe books or murder thrillers, plus just about any Nora Roberts/JD Robb. She's my comfort author.

It's been a crappy year already, plus I've experienced the recent death of my beloved 19-year-old cat and a good friend so yeah...

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "I was just telling my friend that right now my reading mood is either comforting Japanese cat/cafe books or murder thrillers, plus just about any Nora Roberts/JD Robb. She's my comfort author."

I'm so sorry about your beloved cat and friend.

I've been reaching for more comforting books as well. The political climate has me avoiding anything too heavy (which I usually enjoy).

Lindsey wrote: "ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "I was just telling my friend that right now my reading mood is either comforting Japanese cat/cafe books or murder thrillers, plus just about any Nora Roberts/JD Ro..."

Thanks, Lindsey! <3

Ugh, I can't even go there with the political climate. *Insert that head exploding emoji*

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "It's been a crappy year already, plus I've experienced the recent death of my beloved 19-year-old cat and a good friend so yeah..."

I am so sorry. I'm glad she lived such a long and loved life, but damn it's heartbreaking to say goodbye. :'( Sending you lots of cyber hugs from a fellow cat lover.

I've read two books that can count for this challenge so far, both brilliant!
The first one, translated from Korean, writen by the (amazing) Han Kang, was Human Acts.
The second, an ARC, the publication date is 22/4, translated from Armenian, writen by Narine Abgaryan, was To Go on Living: Stories

Crazytourists_books wrote: "I've read two books that can count for this challenge so far, both brilliant!
The first one, translated from Korean, writen by the (amazing) Han Kang, was [book:Human Acts|3193796..."

I always remember you as a big Han Kang fan and love hearing your comments on her books. I really want to read Human Acts, but I was recently gifted The Vegetarian so that'll likely be my next by her. So far, I've only read Greek Lessons... and thanks for reminding me of Narine Abgaryan!