"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's pick:
“Schuyler writes with piercing intelligence and
real insight into the complex worlds of literary translation and human
relationships.” — Ellen Sussman, author of the New York Times bestselling novel, French Lessons
In silken prose and with subtle suspense, Nina Schuyler brings us a mesmerizing novel of language and translation, memory loss and heartbreak, and the search for answers in a foreign country. When renowned translator Hanne Schubert falls down a flight of stairs, her injury is an unusual but real condition — the loss of her native language. She is left speaking only Japanese, a language learned later in life. With her personal life at a crossroad, Hanne leaves for Japan. There, the Japanese novelist whose work she translated stunningly confronts her publicly for sabotaging his work. Reeling, Hanne struggles for meaning and seeks out the inspiration for the author’s novel — a tortured, chimerical actor, once a master in the art of Noh theater. Through their passionate and intriguing relationship, Hanne begins to understand the masks she has worn in her life, just as the actor dons the masks that have made him a legend of Noh. The demons from her past and present begin to unfold and Hanne sets out to make amends in this searing and engrossing novel.
In silken prose and with subtle suspense, Nina Schuyler brings us a mesmerizing novel of language and translation, memory loss and heartbreak, and the search for answers in a foreign country. When renowned translator Hanne Schubert falls down a flight of stairs, her injury is an unusual but real condition — the loss of her native language. She is left speaking only Japanese, a language learned later in life. With her personal life at a crossroad, Hanne leaves for Japan. There, the Japanese novelist whose work she translated stunningly confronts her publicly for sabotaging his work. Reeling, Hanne struggles for meaning and seeks out the inspiration for the author’s novel — a tortured, chimerical actor, once a master in the art of Noh theater. Through their passionate and intriguing relationship, Hanne begins to understand the masks she has worn in her life, just as the actor dons the masks that have made him a legend of Noh. The demons from her past and present begin to unfold and Hanne sets out to make amends in this searing and engrossing novel.
You had me at "silken prose." This one sounds unique and captivating.
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Sounds like a winner to me!
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds like a good read to me! I must devour on this one! Awesome pick!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my Wating on Wednesday pick!
~Jay
We Fancy Books
I'm sucked in...going on my list. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an amazing book, Diane! I'll be on the look-out for it too.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of another book, that I read long ago, but it sounds better! I am intrigued by how she loses her native language and only holds on to a foreign tongue. This is one that I need to read. Thanks for sharing it!!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very good, Diane, worth waiting for!
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds really interesting to me!
ReplyDeleteOhhh...this one sounds like it could be very good!!!
ReplyDeleteYep, everyone is right, sounds darn good!
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ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a novel I read a couple of years ago called The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai. It too involves the intriguing concept of the loss of native language ability after injury.
ReplyDeleteA new author for me.
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