Sunday Suggestions

 

Today's theme for Women in Translation reading suggestions is Mothers & Daughters. There are so many books that explore this connection, in so many different ways. Here are a few that I suggest as options. 

Mothers & Daughters 

Elena Knows / Claudia Pineiro
trans. from the Spanish by Frances Riddle

Elena Knows is the story of a woman struggling against her own physical limitations to find out the truth of what happened to her adult daughter, who has been found dead in a church. Powerful read. Full review here. 

Slow Emergencies / Nancy Huston
translated from the French by Nancy Huston.

Slow Emergencies is the story of Lin Lhomond, a dancer/choreographer who marries a professor, has two small girls, then is offered a great opportunity to direct a dance company in Mexico. She takes it and doesn't come back. This novel interrogates the question of motherhood itself.  Full review here.  

Inheritance From Mother / Minae Mizumura
translated from the Japanese by Juliet Winters Carpenter.

Two sisters are awaiting the death of their narcissistic mother; but only one is taking the responsibility for caring for her, despite her own life struggles. Really interesting look at mothers and daughters without a sentimental gloss. Full review here. 

Please Look After Mom / Kyung-Sook Shin
 translated by Chi-Young Kim.

This one looks at the disappearance of a Korean mother who has been inadvertently left behind on a train platform, from four perspectives: the eldest daughter, eldest son, husband and the mother herself. Touching and a good look at women's roles in Korea. Full review here.

Three Summers / Margarita Liberaki
trans. from the Greek by Karen Van Dyck

This one focuses mostly on three sisters, over three summers -- but their futures are being shaped by their mother, and one aunt as well. The way that expectations of women are passed down through families is part of this story. Full review here.