Welcome to Litsy!

…and let‘s see if we can start the year as we mean to go on, by actually writing the odd review!

Set in rural 1980s Poland, these vignettes of a young girl growing up are beautifully evocative and well-written. There‘s humour, there are several dark episodes, and there‘s wonderful detail of time and place.

But they are very much vignettes. I don‘t mind not-

3⭐️ A collection of short stories about Wioletta‘s childhood in 1980s Poland. It‘s dark and quirky, with a dash of sexual tension. Totally different from my childhood, I must say.

Just ok. Interesting look at 1980‘s Poland. I think that there may be some translation issues. The writing didn‘t flow smoothly for me. And lack of plot didn‘t make this a particularly good pick for #24in48 but it is a short one!!! #MountTBR

Coming of age stories. Nice writing but it lacked an emotional punch for me.

Hey, it's Women in Translation Month! A lot of great indie presses have discounts on great books. If you don't see it on their sites, sign up for their email list. Here is one of my favorite publishers, Transit Books. Also be sure to check out Restless Books. #WITmonth

Poland in the 1980s

From the cover - translated from Polish.

When you say to yourself “I want to read harder books and more novels in translation,” and you place a book depository order and it all comes at once even though it was 3 separate orders. Ever so grateful my mailman is a nice guy 😂 #bookhaul

#gettingold

I‘m such a good girl 😐 These are the only books I bought today

More #bookmail today! The tagged book I bought, but the other is a GoodReads win. I have to read the first one in the series first, though.

I've had this on my radar since it was long listed for the Man Booker International Prize last year. I was charged by the stories in the communist, rural environment. Many unique details bring the stories to life. #womenintranslation
I also love this Booktuber's review, since he read it in Polish and English. https://youtu.be/MYINH0XJXLw

#day28 #junebookbugs #aplanetinthetitle One from my TBR...

From the Booker International Longlist. Lovely, evocative writing. It almost felt like a collection of interconnected short stories. 🙌

Many readers I typically agree with enjoyed this one, but I didn't really care for it. It certainly had some beautiful passages, but overall I found it disjointed. I think the translation may have been to blame. The phrase "had had" showed up several times! That said if you want a glimpse into 1980s Poland, give it a read.

4/5🌟. I would recommend this book, however, there is a little history section in the back that I wish I would have read prior to the book. I was born in 1984, so historically I was a little lost. Nice, quick, and entertaining 😁

One more is on the way from the Bailey's longlist!

The story takes place in the Polish village during the 70s to the early 80s- the fall of communism. The narrator is girl Wiola and the story is built in the form of fragments/vignettes which covers the everyday life in the village. Political situation is merely in the background and it is implicated in the storyline only when it has direct impact on Wiola. It's a nice, lovely story with beautiful, crisp prose.

#ManBookerInternationalPrize2017

Book three from #ManBookerInternationalPrize2017 longlist.

Wioletta Greg - #Poland 🇵🇱

#readingtheworld #readaroundtheworld

Congrats! - Booker International prize long list

Deceptively simple vignettes from a childhood in communist Poland. The fragmentary structure is an clever reflection of early memories, like remembered dreams. The shadow of the state appears as a child would see it, peripheral, glancing, uncertain and confused, represented in brief collisions with authority and the remarks of adults. The folkloric element adds dash of otherworldliness that I loved. A deft and assured debut novella #TacklingTheTBR

Wonderfully quirky little gems of stories about growing up in the Polish countryside at the end of the Communist era. While I did think on occasion that the quirkiness of these characters was emphasized at the expense of relatability, at no point was I anything other than riveted. Incredible writing. An audacious debut.

My (as ever) very provisional #MarchTBR for #MarchintoReading. I know I CAN get through them all but I'm too fickle to make definite plans!

The word of the day, people - the next chapter in this wonderful, quirky novella is 'The Phillumenist.'

It does sound a tad nauseating translated into English but 'kaszanka' actually sounds delish without its English name!

http://wholesome-cook.com/2012/04/23/polish-black-pudding-kaszanka-with-carameli...

OK, I'm hungry now!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sour_rye_soup

OMG I am in love! ❤❤❤

Can you say "gobsmacked," boys and girls? ?

Let's see if I can sneak this gorgeous little one in before the end of the month now that I've abandoned a mammoth novel that I wasn't particularly caring for… :-)

Finished this earlier today... a quirky, funny but also cleverly poignant and unnerving coming of age tale in 1980's Poland with little sprinklings of folklore. I liked it very much. More from this author please.

Isn't it gorgeous? I can't wait to read it!

Got this through in the post this morning 😀😀

Jeepers, this review makes my mouth water. I know I have bought dozens of books in the past couple of weeks but I really need this one too!

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/06/swallowing-mercury-by-wioletta-gre...

Heard a lot about this book so picked up a copy this afternoon, and thanks to a long bus journey I'm already over halfway through. It's a strange, compelling little volume.

This translation coming out next month reminds me I've never read any Polish fiction. Have you?