Since it began in 2013, Women in Translation Month has been celebrated every August as a time to honour incredible women writers from around the world who write in languages other than English. Looking back over the month or so, we’ve put together a list of 10 essential books to add to your TBR pile – each offering a window into diverse cultures, politics, lives, beliefs, and the delightful strangeness of the world.
The Dry Heart – Natalia Ginzburg
A novel that doesn’t get nearly the recognition it deserves – The Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg. Originally published in Italian and later translated into English by Frances Frenaye, the book opens with an unforgettable scene: a woman shoots her husband between the eyes, then goes out for a coffee.
From there, the novel retraces the story of how the couple met, everything in between, and ultimately how their relationship unraveled to the point of murder. It’s a fast-paced, underrated gem – one you could devour in a single day. Ginzburg, often praised for her wit and distinctive style, showcases those qualities brilliantly here.
At times, the book almost reads like a romance novel. Through Ginzburg’s writing, you find yourself feeling such empathy for the narrator that you almost forget you’re reading the story of a wife driven to the edge, until her despair culminates in murder.
The Vegetarian – Han Kang
The Vegetarian by Han Kang is a staple when it comes to celebrating Women in Translation. Originally a Korean novel and translated to English by Deborah Smith, The Vegetarian follows the story of Yeong-hye, who one day, suddenly decides to stop eating meat after a series of dreams involving images of animal slaughter. This abstention leads her to become distanced from her family, her husband, and society.
Earthlings – Sayaka Murata
What would an article on Women in Translation month be without Sayaka Murata? Meaningless. Earthlings is arguably one of her best novels, if not the best. Murata has published over ten novels in Japanese, but only four in English. Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori, Earthlings follows Natsuki, who, as a child, felt like an alien longing to be taken by a spaceship, but now pretends to be a ‘normal’ adult. After a traumatic childhood and an asexual marriage, she flees to the mountains to reunite with her cousin Yuu and reclaim their shared dream of escaping Earth.
I Who Have Never Known Men – Jacqueline Harpman
For fans of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale series, Jacqueline Harpman’s I Who Have Never Known Men is the book for you. Slow-paced and deliberate, it forces you to linger on every word and really read between the lines. The novel follows forty women locked in an underground bunker – until one day, a key is accidentally left in the gate. Varying in age, ability, and experience, the women share one thing: none of them know how they got there. The story traces their journey beyond the bunker, and what they do, or do not, find. I Who Have Never Known Men was initially published in French, then later translated to English by Ros Schwartz.
A Sunny Place for Shady People – Mariana Enríquez
If you are new to the horror genre, A Sunny Place for Shady People by Mariana Enríquez is a great place to start, especially since it’s a collection of short stories. The book brings together twelve of Enríquez’s tales, focusing on social ills and real-life horror mixed with touches of the supernatural. Set in Buenos Aires, the collection explores the city’s gothic atmosphere, the paranormal, and the strangeness of the people who live there. There are genuinely creepy moments throughout the novel, which is impressive, since reading horror rarely scares me as much as watching it. But because Enríquez’s writing is so cinematic, the fear comes across incredibly on the page. Originally published in Spanish, the English version is a translation by Megan McDowell, published by Granta Books.
Kairos – Jenny Erpenbeck
Jenny Erpenbeck’s Kairos is a story of love entwined with loss, unfolding during the collapse of East Germany. The novel was initially published in German, then later translated to English by Michael Hofmann. It follows Katharina, 19, and Hans, a married, successful writer with a son, 34 years her senior. What begins as an intense romance inevitably shifts into an unequal relationship – Hans acts more like a teacher than a partner, becoming controlling and violent after betrayal. Katharina and Hans reflect the politics around them: once the Berlin Wall falls, the relationship begins to change, and the inertia that held them together loosens. Gradually, Katharina moves on, though this doesn’t mean that the book has a happy ending.
Heaven – Mieko Kawakami
If you’re searching for a book that will move you to tears, Heaven by Mieko Kawakami is a stunning work of translated fiction that’ll do just that. The novel was translated from Japanese to English by Sam Bett and David Boyd. Kawakami paints a harrowing, clear-cut portrait of bullying. Set in Japan in the early 1990s, Heaven unfolds as a coming-of-age story about two isolated teenagers who find solace in each other’s company. But this is not a tale of first love; it’s an exploration of survival, connection, and the unbearable weight of cruelty. Together, the characters grapple with a question at the core of human existence: why do we suffer?
When the Museum is Closed – Emi Yagi
Blending surreal imagery, workplace satire, and quiet existential dread, When the Museum Is Closed by Emi Yagi is a sharp meditation on alienation and the never-ending search for meaning. The novel follows a young woman who works at a Tokyo museum and, after it closes for the evening, the statue of Venus comes to life – literally. Yagi, known for her incisive portrayals of women navigating rigid social structures, layers the narrative with both humour and melancholy. Many readers have compared the book to Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata for its similar take on modern isolation. Originally published in Japanese, the book was later translated into English by Yuki Tejima.
The Houseguest: And Other Stories – Amparo Dávila
Another short story collection worth highlighting is The Houseguest: And Other Stories by Amparo Dávila. Originally published in Spanish, the novel was then translated to English in 2018 by Audrey Harris and Matthew Gleeson. Reading Dávila is like accepting an invitation to tea in a haunted house; what begins as mundane and familiar soon slips into the uncanny – the door locks behind you and you’re trapped. This collection of short stories deserves far more attention than it gets. Dávila explores themes of paranoia, isolation, and mental illness, constructing tales that are as unsettling as they are compelling.
Tender Is the Flesh – Agustina Bazterrica
Another must-read for fans of body horror, Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica is a profoundly unsettling novel. Tender Is the Flesh is a dystopian novel where a virus makes animal meat deadly, leading to legalised cannibalism – the perfect autumn read. The novel was originally published in Spanish in 2017 and translated into English by Sarah Moses in 2020. To me, the novel demonstrates humanity’s capacity for cruelty. Bazterrica doesn’t hold back on the cannibalism – at all – yet, ironically, the book is written beautifully.
Words by Emily Fletcher
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