While I love the ability that literature has to transport you to a different world, there is also certainly something to be said for actual travels. I was very fortunate to spend this past weekend up north visiting my family. Even just a few hours of driving provides such a delightful change in scenery and in mind. An opportunity to breathe, to reset, and to move forward.
Having spent the past days going for long walks in the already autumn-tinged woods, I am even more earnestly looking forward to exploring the world. It has been almost exactly one year since I have flown on a plane, a stark contrast from the past years spent flying cross-country to visit family. Though it may be awhile before I next visit somewhere new, I am grateful to at least have the health and resources to take a couple days for myself to visit with loved ones. I hope that any readers who are seeing this have been similarly lucky–please surround yourself with love, be grateful for your fortunes, and join me in continuing to travel by book.
Review
My interest in international literature began when I read A Man by Keiichiro Hirano this past May. I received a digital copy of the book as an Amazon Prime First Read, selecting it from the month’s options because of its description as a psychological thriller. When I happened to read (and fall in love with) The Heart by Maylis de Kerangel and then Norwegian Woods by Haruki Murakami in the following weeks, I knew that it was time for me to delve further into the world of translated literature.
While I originally read A Man back in May, I knew from this blog’s inception that I would review it. Officially published in June 2020, I believe it to be a riveting, and largely overlooked, English-debut that is absolutely worth reading. Read my full review to find out why!