Sam Bett’s translation of Akira Otani’s queer-coded yakuza thriller “The Night of Baba Yaga” will be released on July 2, the novel's English-language debut. “It’s not a safe book,” he says, “but I mean that in the most complimentary way.” https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2024/06/27/books/bett-otani-night-baba-yaga-book/ #culture #books #akiraotani #sambett #thenightofbabayaga #thriller #translation
‘The Night of Baba Yaga’ weaves a yakuza thriller into a meditation on queerness

Translator Sam Bett gravitated to the Akira Otani novel for its refusal to adhere to established genre conventions.

The Japan Times
A wish list of hidden gems for Japanese literature lovers

Eight translators reveal their top Japanese books that English readers have yet to enjoy.

The Japan Times
The Stories of Eva Luna—#IsabelAllende tr. #MargaretSayersPeden
Liebe ist gewaltig—#ClaudiaSchumacher
All the Lovers in the Night—#MiekoKawakami tr. #SamBett and #DavidBoyd
Sibir—#SabrinaJanesch
Sodom and Gomorrah—#MarcelProust, tr. #JohnSturrock
Madgermanes—#BirgitWeyhe
May Ayim: Radikale Dichterin, sanfte Rebellin—#IkaHügelMarshall et al.
The cult literary figure's new collection of 11 stories unveil the chaos, conflict and pain of women rebelling against the desires of men and seeking messy self-actualization. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/05/07/books/book-reviews/hit-parade-of-tears/?utm_content=buffer7bbb2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #culture #reviews #davidboyd #izumisuzuki #sambett #danieljoseph #helenohoran
'Hit Parade of Tears': Izumi Suzuki attacks genre and gender with twisted precision

The cult literary figure's new collection of 11 stories unveil the chaos, conflict and pain of women rebelling against the desires of men and seeking messy self-actualization.

The Japan Times
The World Goes On—#LászlóKrasznahorkai tr. #JohnBatki et al.
Breasts and Eggs—#MiekoKawakami tr. #SamBett and #DavidBoyd
Leonard und Paul—#RónánHession tr. #AndreaOBrien