Belletrista

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"The Four Hundred Pleats" by Greek author Amanda Michalopoulou	"The Wig Maker" by Welsh author Vanessa Gebbie	The Women of Nordic Crime: A Dozen Mavens of Murder

Welcome readers to our latest issue, filled, as always, with great writing by women from around the world. We are delighted to present two short stories for your reading pleasure. Additionally, we've put together an overview of twelve Nordic crime writers, and feature an intriguing discussion of Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto's short novel, Kitchen. Seventeen reviews by our global readers grace this issue, as do over sixty New & Notable books (we've given Canada their own New & Notable section). We are pleased to note that thirteen of the twenty 2011 Orange Prize longlisted books were featured on these pages during the course of the last year! We always aim to provide excellent reading and find interesting books for all of our devoted readers!

Reviews
Click on 'Reviews' to see the full list of this issue's reviews...

A RIOT OF GOLDFISH

Kanoko Okamoto

Translated from the Japanese by J. Keith Vincent

The story "A Riot of Goldfish," traces Mataichi, the son of a goldfish breeder, through his lifelong struggles with his unrequited love for the daughter of the family's patron. He loves Masako, but she loves goldfish.
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Reviewed by Joyce Nickel

THE CALLIGRAPHER'S NIGHT

Yasmine Ghata

Translated from the French by Andrew Brown

In language at times reminiscent of the intricacy of calligraphic script, The Calligrapher's Night tells the story of Rikkat Kunt, the author's grandmother. Beginning with her death in 1986 and going back to the years of her youth, Rikkat narrates her life through much of Turkey's eventful 20th century history.
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Reviewed by Paola Sergi

HOT CHOCOLATE AT HANSELMANN'S

Rosetta Loy

Translated from the Italian by Gregory Conti

Rosetta Foy's enrapturing Hot Chocolate at Hanselmann's opens in Rome, in the comfortable home of Enrico and Isabella, on the threshold of the Second World War. Arturo is a family friend; he teaches at the university, and just so happens to be Jewish.
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Reviewed by Ceri Evans

VISITATION

Jenny Erpenbeck

Translated from the German by Susan Bernofsky

Home—a place where dreams are dreamt, lives are lived, and families grow. Homes are filled with joy, but also house tragedy. They are the places most integral to our existence, and yet …
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Reviewed by Caitlin Fehir

THE SEINE WAS RED: PARIS, OCTOBER 1961

Leila Sebbar

Translated from the French by Mildred Mortimer

Paris, 17 October 1961: Tens of thousands of French Algerians descended upon Paris to engage in a peaceful protest against a curfew imposed upon them by Maurice Papon, the infamous Prefect of Police. The curfew was a response to a bombing campaign against …
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Reviewed by Darryl Morris

CONVERSATIONS:

Three readers discuss Banana Yoshimoto's Kitchen

If Written By a Woman

Visit our new Belletrista blog!

The Caine Prize for African Writing 2011 – shortlist announced

The shortlist for this year’s Caine Prize has just been announced and three women are in the running for the prestigious award. This is always an exciting time of year – the Prize is a great way to discover short stories by excellent writers. Lucky for us, the Prize’s website links to a copy of …Read the Rest

Belletrista - Issue 10
March/April 2011

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