In addition to this list, check out books by Henning Mankell (Kurt Wallander), Elena Ferrante (My Brilliant Friend) and Fredrik Backman (A Man Called Ove), among others. Many classics of the Western Canon are translated from Russian, French or Italian, and if you browse your library’s graphic novel section, you’ll find lots of manga titles from Japan.
Poso Wells by Gabriela Alemán, translated from the Spanish by Dick Cluster – Celebrated Ecuadorian author Gabriela Alemán’s first work to appear in English: a noir, feminist eco-thriller in which venally corrupt politicians and greedy land speculators finally get their just comeuppance!
Weeping Waters by Karin Brynard, translated from the Afrikaans by Maya Fowler and Isobel Dixon – Working at a post on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, traumatized cop Inspector Albertus Beeslaar, after an artist and her 4-year-old adopted daughter are murdered on a local farm, is plunged into the intrigue and racial tensions of the community and soon discovers that violence knows no geographical or ethnic boundaries.
Never Grow Up by Jackie Chan with Zhu Mo, translated by Jeremy Tiang – The martial artist, actor, director and stuntman from Rush Hour and The Karate Kid reflects on his life, including his childhood at the China Drama Academy, his lucky breaks, setbacks and near death experiences both on and off movie sets.
The Baghdad Clock by Shaahad Al Rawi, translated from the Arabic by Luke Leafgren – A heart-rending tale of two girls growing up in war-torn Baghdad.
The Waiter by Matias Faldbakken, translated from the Norwegian by Alice Menzies – The finely tuned balance of a grand European restaurant The Hills (which has seen better days) is irrevocably upset by a beautiful and well-groomed, yet unexpected, female guest.
Small Country by Gaël Faye, translated from the French by Sarah Ardizzone – In Burundi in 1992, ten-year-old Gabriel enjoys carefree days with his friends, but his idyllic existence and his innocence come to a brutal end when Burundi and neighboring Rwanda are hit by civil war and genocide.
I Hear the Sunspot written and illustrated by Yuki Fumino, translated from the Japanese – Because of a hearing disability, Kohei is often misunderstood and has trouble integrating into life on campus, so he learns to keep his distance. That is until he meets the outspoken and cheerful Taichi. He tells Kohei that his hearing loss is not his fault. Taichi’s words cut through Kohei’s usual defense mechanisms and open his heart. More than friends, less than lovers, their relationship changes Kohei forever.
Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano, translated from the Italian by John Brownjohn – Retiring to Sicily in the hopes of spending her final years enjoying the ocean view, the wine and the company of friends, 60-year-old Auntie Poldi discovers that her new home is not quite as tranquil as anticipated when her handsome young handyman is found murdered.
Newcomer by Keigo Higashino, translated from the Japanese by Giles Murray – Newly transferred to a precinct in the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo, Detective Kyochiro Kaga, while investigating the puzzling murder of a woman, soon discovers that nearly all the people living and working in the business district of Nihonbashi are suspects.
In Dust and Ashes by Anne Holt, translated from the Norwegian by Anne Bruce – Detective Henrik Holme and his mentor Hanne Wilhelmsen, while trying to prove the innocence of a man they believe has been wrongly convicted for the murder of his wife, discover that this cold case could be connected to a recent suicide and kidnapping.
The Odyssey by Homer, translated from the Greek by Emily Wilson – The first great adventure story in the Western canon, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty, and power; about marriage and family; about travelers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. In this fresh, authoritative version―the first English translation of The Odyssey by a woman―this stirring tale of shipwrecks, monsters, and magic comes alive in an entirely new way. Written in iambic pentameter verse and a vivid, contemporary idiom, this engrossing translation matches the number of lines in the Greek original, thus striding at Homer’s sprightly pace and singing with a voice that echoes Homer’s music.
The Beekeeper: Rescuing the Stolen Women of Iraq by Dunya Mikhail, translated from the Arabic by Dunya Mikhail and Max Weiss – Describes the harrowing stories of women who escaped the Islamic State, all of whom said their hero was a beekeeper who used his knowledge of local terrain and a wide network of helpers and smugglers to get them to safety.
Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami; translated from the Japanese by Philip Gabriel & Ted Gooseen – An epic novel of love, war and art stands as an imaginative homage to The Great Gatsby.
Flights by Olga Tokarczuk, translated from the Polish by Jennifer Croft – A meditative collection from Poland explores themes of travel, movement and existentialism in stories that feature protagonists who question their shifting perspectives in time and space as they tackle extreme agendas. Winner of the Man Booker International Prize.
All This I Will Give to You by Dolores Redondo, translated from the Spanish by Michael Meigs – When novelist Manuel Ortigosa learns that his husband, Álvaro, has been killed in a car crash, it comes as a devastating shock, but it won’t be the last. He discovers Álvaro kept many secrets, and the trail leads Manuel deep into one of Spain’s most powerful and guarded families.
Love in a Time of Hate: The Story of Magda and André Trocmé and the Village That Said No to the Nazis by Hanna Schott; translated from the German by John D. Roth – One young couple. One small village. Thousands of Jews on the run from the Nazis. An intimate portrait of Magda ans Andre Trocme, who transformed a small town in France into a place of safety during the Holocaust.
The Court Dancer by Kyung-Sook Shin, translated from the Korean by Anton Hur – Presents the story of an enigmatic orphan-turned-dancer who is caught up in the dizzying sweep of court life in the dramatic final years of the Korean Empire.
Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection by Haemin Sunim, translated from the Korean by Deborah Smith and Haemin Sunim – A Zen Buddhist monk turns his spiritual wisdom to the art of self-care and the importance of learning to love ourselves.
An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good: Stories by Helene Tursten, translated from the Swedish by Marlaine Delargy – Maud is an irascible 88-year-old Swedish woman with no family, no friends, and… no qualms about a little murder. A funny, irreverent story collection.
The Neighborhood by Mario Vargas Llosa, translated from the Spanish by Edith Grossman – A politically charged detective novel set against a backdrop of the 1990s Peruvian underworld and the corrupt years of Alberto Fujimori’s presidency, following two high-society couples as they become embroiled in a disturbing vortex of erotic adventures and politically driven blackmail.
The Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, translated from the Spanish by Lucia Graves – In late 1950s Barcelona, Bea, the wife of Daniel Sempere, and his friend Fermâin are trying to help him recover from the mysterious death of his mother when a woman offers to lead him to the secret of his family’s past. Finale to the series that began with The Shadow of the Wind.