Latest news with #UndertheEyeoftheBigBird
Yomiuri Shimbun
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan Literature Advances Overseas: Styles that Gaze Deeply into Society Gaining International Popularity
Contemporary Japanese literature is gaining popularity overseas. To ensure that this does not end up as a passing fad, it is necessary to map out a long-term overseas strategy and also to help cultivate new readers in Japan. Hiromi Kawakami's novel 'Under the Eye of the Big Bird' was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, the translation category of a prestigious British literary award. The novel depicts humanity on the verge of extinction and its fusion with artificial intelligence, among other themes. The winner will be announced on May 20. A work by Han Kang of South Korea, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature last year, was previously selected for the International Booker Prize. If Kawakami wins it this time, it will be a first for a Japanese author. Writers from Japan have been highly evaluated abroad in recent years. Works by Yoko Tawada and Yu Miri won the U.S. National Book Award for translated literature. In Britain, Japanese novels have enjoyed a boom following hits such as Sayaka Murata's 'Convenience Store Woman.' Asako Yuzuki's 'Butter' has reportedly sold more than 300,000 copies there. Works by Yasunari Kawabata and Junichiro Tanizaki are said to have been read abroad due to their perceived exoticism. Since the late 1980s, the more accessible works of Haruki Murakami, Banana Yoshimoto and other novelists have been loved beyond borders, laying the groundwork for the present boom. Looking at the international situation, economic disparities and divisions are widening in many countries. Against this backdrop, the style of Japanese novels, which do not easily judge right from wrong and sometimes look deeply into society with a sense of humor, seems to have achieved resonance. Especially, the boom is characterized by the high popularity of female writers. The Japan Foundation has long subsidized translation and other expenses for foreign publishers to promote Japanese literature overseas. Tawada's work, which won the National Book Award in the United States, also received support from the foundation. The Cultural Affairs Agency is also promoting a project to help Japanese publishers and others write English-language proposals to market their novels overseas. These efforts should be further strengthened to introduce many attractive works overseas. It is also important to devise ways to link the popularity of Japanese literature overseas to the acquisition of readers in Japan. It is hoped that publishers will communicate more than they do now about the evaluations and reactions of overseas readers. It may be that more people here will gain new perspectives and awareness different from those of Japanese readers, and will want to read the works themselves. Translation not only into English but also into other languages needs to be strengthened. The government should focus on cultivating translators in cooperation with overseas universities and other entities. Increased interest in Japanese literature will lead to a deeper understanding of Japan. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 14, 2025)
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
World Book Day 2025: 5 unmissable reads that cross borders and stay with you
Books don't just tell stories; they build bridges across time, cultures and perspectives. This World Book Day, celebrate the power of storytelling and literature to challenge how we see the world and our place in it. Whether you're curled up at home or listening on the go, the right story can transport you across borders – no passport required. With a collection of over 16,000 books and more than 2,500 audio and e-books spanning different genres, the British Council's Digital Library offers readers a treasure trove of thought-provoking titles from around the world that inspire and prompt conversation. This year, the British Council spotlights five remarkable works in translation that speak to our most pressing emotions and complexities – displacement, digital burnout, memory, resilience and care. These stories, though rooted in specific cultures, transcend borders to offer universal truths. 1. Under the Eye of the Big Bird – by Hiromi Kawakami, translated by Asa Yoneda From one of Japan's most acclaimed contemporary novelists, Under the Eye of the Big Bird is a speculative masterpiece that reimagines life on Earth after humans have nearly gone extinct. In this distant future, scattered tribes live under the care of mysterious 'Mothers.' Told through fourteen interconnected episodes spanning geological ages, this quietly profound novel is both mournful and hopeful. Blending science and myth, it offers a poetic and unsettling vision of the end of humanity – and what might emerge in its place. 2. Heart Lamp: Selected Stories – by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi In Heart Lamp, Banu Mushtaq vividly captures the everyday lives of women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India. Originally published in Kannada, these twelve stories reflect her background as a journalist and lawyer, with a sharp focus on women's rights and resistance to caste and religious injustice. Praised for their dry humour and vivid style, the stories are filled with unforgettable characters – spirited children, outspoken grandmothers, and resilient mothers navigating complex emotions. Mushtaq's writing showcases her as a keen observer of human nature and a powerful storyteller. 3. Perfection – by Vincenzo Latronico, translated by Sophie Hughes Anna and Tom – a millennial expat couple – seem to be living an idyllic life surrounded by plants, parties, and filtered social media moments in Vincenzo Latronico's Perfection. As digital creatives, their world is curated to appear flawless, yet beneath the surface lies a growing sense of dissatisfaction and disconnection. Their relationships, careers, and political efforts all begin to feel hollow, as they search for meaning in a life built on appearances. Translated by Sophie Hughes, the novel exposes the emptiness at the heart of curated modern living. Blending sharp social commentary with a stylish, minimalist narrative, Perfection is a striking exploration of identity, authenticity, and the subtle despair of a generation caught in the glow of its own image. 4. Small Boat – by Vincent Delecroix, translated by Helen Stevenson Small Boat is a poetic and haunting novella from France that reflects on grief, guilt, and moral responsibility. Blending fiction with real events, it is inspired by the 2021 tragedy in the English Channel, where 27 migrants died after their calls for help were mishandled. The narrator – a call handler accused of failing in her duty – offers a quiet yet powerful meditation on blame, asking why one person should carry the weight of a crisis shaped by war, politics, and indifference. Vincent Delecroix crafts a deeply philosophical tale, adrift in memory, sorrow, and unanswered questions. Through Helen Stevenson's delicate translation, Small Boat becomes both a voice of protest and a lament. 5. A Leopard-Skin Hat – by Anne Serre, translated by Mark Hutchinson Anne Serre's A Leopard-Skin Hat is a poignant, dreamlike novella centred on an intense childhood friendship between the narrator and Fanny, a young woman grappling with deep psychological struggles. Through a series of short, elegant scenes, Serre explores the narrator's unwavering devotion and emotional turmoil, capturing the delicate dance between hope and despair that defines their bond. Moving and subtly surreal, the story blurs the line between reality and imagination, infused with Serre's trademark wit and stylistic grace. Beautifully translated by Mark Hutchinson, the novella is both a tribute to a life cut short and a quiet meditation on grief, love, and the complexities of care. These five books demonstrate how stories can be deeply personal yet universally resonant. Perfect for World Book Day, each title is a small gem of cross-cultural imagination, offering a portal to the strange and sublime. Whether you're seeking stories that challenge, comfort, or connect, these voices from around the world invite you to read beyond the familiar – and rediscover the transformative power of literature.
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Mind-expanding books': International Booker prize shortlist announced
Hiromi Kawakami and Solvej Balle have made this year's International Booker prize shortlist, which for the first time is comprised entirely of books published by independent presses. British translator Sophie Hughes has been shortlisted for her translation of Perfection, originally written in Italian by Vincenzo Latronico. This marks the fifth time Hughes has been shortlisted for the prize, making her the award's record holder for the most times shortlisted and longlisted. On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle, translated by Barbara J Haveland (Faber) Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated by Helen Stevenson (Small Axes) Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami, translated by Asa Yoneda (Granta) Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, translated by Sophie Hughes (Fitzcarraldo) Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi (And Other Stories) A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre, translated by Mark Hutchinson (Lolli) Six author-translator teams are now in contention for the £50,000 prize, the winner of which will be announced on 20 May, with the prize money divided equally between author and translator. Japanese writer Kawakami, best known for her novel Strange Weather in Tokyo, has been shortlisted for her novel-in-stories Under the Eye of the Big Bird, translated by Asa Yoneda. Danish writer Balle and Scottish translator Barbara J Haveland have been chosen for On the Calculation of Volume I, the first of a planned septology in which the protagonist Tara is stuck in a time loop. 'These mind-expanding books ask what might be in store for us, or how we might mourn, worship or survive', said author and judging chair Max Porter. 'They offer knotty, sometimes pessimistic, sometimes radically hopeful answers to these questions. Taken together they build a miraculous lens through which to view human experience, both the truly disturbing and the achingly beautiful.' The shortlisted titles are slim, with four coming in at under 200 pages, including Latronico's Perfection. The novel, about a millennial expat couple living in Berlin, 'transcends its satire of 2010s hipsterdom through the depth of Latronico's sociological observations', writes Thomas McMullan in the Guardian. 'This chronicle of contemporary Berlin is strongest in its articulation of how a certain kind of globalisation dislocates us from our surroundings.' Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated from French by Helen Stevenson, was also selected. The book was written in three weeks, and is based on recordings from a real event in November 2021, when a dinghy carrying migrants from France to the UK capsized in the Channel, causing the death of 27 people on board. Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion A book translated from Kannada – a language spoken by tens of millions of people, primarily in the state of Karnataka in southwest India – features on the shortlist for the first time in the prize's history this year: Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi. It contains 12 stories originally published between 1990 and 2023, which capture the daily lives of women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India. Completing the shortlist is A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre, translated from French by Mark Hutchinson. Serre wrote the book, about a woman with severe psychological disorders, in six months after the suicide of her sister. 'I wanted to create a memorial to her', said Serre. The other titles longlisted for this year's prize were The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem, translated by Sinan Antoon; There's a Monster Behind the Door by Gaëlle Bélem, translated by Karen Fleetwood and Laëtitia Saint-Loubert; Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu, translated by Sean Cotter; Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia de la Cerda, translated by Julia Sanches and Heather Cleary; Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa, translated by Polly Barton; Eurotrash by Christian Kracht, translated by Daniel Bowles; and On a Woman's Madness by Astrid Roemer, translated by Lucy Scott. Alongside Porter on this year's judging panel are the poet Caleb Femi, writer and Guardian critic Sana Goyal, author and translator Anton Hur, and musician Beth Orton. Authors who have previously won the award include Han Kang, Olga Tokarczuk and Lucas Rijneveld. Last year, Jenny Erpenbeck and translator Michael Hofmann won the prize for Kairos. To explore all of the books on the shortlist for the International Booker prize 2025 visit Delivery charges may apply.
The Guardian
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
All 13 writers on International Booker longlist are first-time nominees
Mircea Cărtărescu, Hiromi Kawakami and Christian Kracht are among the writers to have made this year's 'unconventional' International Booker longlist. All 13 writers on the list are nominated for the first time, while one translator, Sophie Hughes, appears for a record-breaking fifth time with her rendering of Vincenzo Latronico's Perfection. They are now in contention for the £50,000 prize for the best book translated to English, which will be divided equally between the winning author and translators. The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem, translated by Sinan Antoon (And Other Stories) On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle, translated by Barbara J Haveland (Faber) There's a Monster Behind the Door by Gaëlle Bélem, translated by Karen Fleetwood and Laëtitia Saint-Loubert (Bullaun Press) Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu, translated by Sean Cotter (Pushkin) Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia de la Cerda, translated by Julia Sanches and Heather Cleary (Scribe) Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated by Helen Stevenson (Small Axes) Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa, translated by Polly Barton (Viking) Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami, translated by Asa Yoneda (Granta) Eurotrash by Christian Kracht, translated by Daniel Bowles (Serpent's Tail) Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, translated by Sophie Hughes (Fitzcarraldo) Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi (And Other Stories) On a Woman's Madness by Astrid Roemer, translated by Lucy Scott (Tilted Axis) A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre, translated by Mark Hutchinson (Lolli) The 2025 list features the highest-ever number of independent publishers, with 12 of 13 titles coming from indie presses. Though the most recent Nobel prize in literature winner Han Kang was eligible for this year's prize with her book We Do Not Part, translated from Korean by e. yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris, she did not make the list. Kang won the International Booker in 2016 with her breakthrough novel, The Vegetarian, translated by Deborah Smith. Cărtărescu is the first Romanian author to be longlisted for the prize, with his novel Solenoid, translated by Sean Cotter. Set in late 1970s and early 1980s communist Bucharest, Solenoid begins with the diaristic reflections of a teacher before expanding into an existential, surrealist account of the narrator's journey through alternate realities. Last May, it won the €100,000 Dublin literary award. Along with Romanian, a second language, Kannada – spoken by approximately 38 million people, primarily in the state of Karnataka in southwest India – also features for the first time in the prize's history with Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi. Japanese writer Kawakami, best known for her novel Strange Weather in Tokyo, was chosen for her novel-in-stories Under the Eye of the Big Bird. Set in a future in which humans are on the verge of extinction, its voice is 'marvellously captured by translator Asa Yoneda', writes James Bradley in a Guardian review. At 288 pages, Kawakami's book is among the longest on the list: 11 of the 13 books come in at under 250 pages, with eight under 200. One of the slimmer titles, at 192 pages, is Kracht's Eurotrash, translated from German by Daniel Bowles. The novel follows a middle-aged writer on a road trip through Switzerland with his terminally ill mother. 'Their journey takes them through a number of blackly comic set pieces at a vegetarian commune, a private airstrip and inside a broken-down ski lift,' writes Marcel Theroux in the Guardian. This year's longlist sees an Iraqi translator nominated for the first time, with The Book of Disappearance by Palestinian author Ibtisam Azem, translated by Sinan Antoon. When Palestinians suddenly disappear, a friend of one of the vanished begins searching for clues in what John Self described as a 'rich, potent novel'. This year brings a record for the longest period between an original-language publication and International Booker prize longlisting. On a Woman's Madness by Astrid Roemer was first published in Dutch 43 years ago, and is now translated into English by Lucy Scott. Also on the longlist are On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle, translated by Barbara J Haveland; There's a Monster Behind the Door by Gaëlle Bélem, translated by Karen Fleetwood and Laëtitia Saint-Loubert; Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia de la Cerda, translated by Julia Sanches and Heather Cleary; Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated by Helen Stevenson; Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa, translated by Polly Barton; and A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre, translated by Mark Hutchinson. Author and judging chair Max Porter said that he hopes the 'unconventional' longlist will 'exhilarate' readers. 'These books bring us into the agony of family, workplace or nation-state politics, the near-spiritual secrecy of friendship, the inner architecture of erotic feeling, the banality of capitalism and the agitations of faith,' he said. The shortlist of six books will be announced on 8 April, with the winner revealed at a ceremony at London's Tate Modern on 20 May. Alongside Porter on this year's judging panel are poet Caleb Femi, writer Sana Goyal, author and translator Anton Hur, and musician Beth Orton. The judges selected the longlist from 154 books submitted by publishers. The 2025 prize was open to works of long-form fiction and collections of short stories translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland between 1 May 2024 and 30 April 2025. Along with Kang, previous writers to have won the award include Olga Tokarczuk and Lucas Rijneveld. Last year, Jenny Erpenbeck and translator Michael Hofmann won the prize for Kairos.
