Rónán Hession

Contributor

Rónán Hession, a contributor to The Irish Times, is the author of Panenka and of Leonard and Hungry Paul.

Fiction in translation: novels from Bulgaria, Japan, Brazil, Spain and a Franco-Korean author

Rónán Hession reviews a selection that includes an impressive work by International Booker Prize winner Georgi Gospidinov

Nobel prize-winning author Jon Fosse on giving up alcohol and converting to Catholicism

The Nobel laureate is a master of the short novel – but none of them rivals Septology, an 800-page, single-sentence masterpiece

Translated fiction roundup: A Shining by Nobel winner Jon Fosse a perfect example of his gift for portraying porous psychological states

At just 40 pages, A Shining by Jon Fosse is closer to a long story than a short novel

The End of August by Yu Miri: A monumental work of real importance

A compelling account of Korean and Japanese history, masterfully translated by Morgan Giles

Let Me Go On by Paul Griffiths: Ophelia has more to say

Dazzling follow-up to Let Me Tell You raises questions about the nature of self

Collected Works by Lydia Sandgren: Captivating and enjoyably digressive

Translated by Agnes Broomé, this debut novel has familiar themes but the writing is immersive

Mater 2-10 by Hwang Sok-yong: A novel of epic ambition about life in Korea before and after partition

The veteran writer has panoramic range on societal issues and a compassionate touch with more intimate human stories

July’s best fiction in translation, chosen by Rónán Hession

Brief reviews of What You Are Looking for Is in the Library; The Love of Singular Men; Hostages of Memory; You, Bleeding Childhood; A Little Luck; and Mild Vertigo

Melancholy I-II by Jon Fosse: A difficult but deep book about ‘the Norwegian Van Gogh’

Perhaps not the best place to start for someone new to Fosse, but essential to understanding his evolution

Greek Lessons by Han Kang: a writer in transition

A woman has lost her ability to speak in this latest novel from the author of The Vegetarian

Fiction in translation: Jokha Alharthi’s Bitter Orange Tree; a 90-year-old’s debut and ‘slow prose’ from Norway

Bitter Orange Tree; Triumph Street, Bucharest; She and Her Cat; Weasels in the Attic; Aliss at the Fire

There’s Been a Little Incident: A focus on the tidal pull and release of grief

Alice Ryan’s debut novel is an exploration of the binding force of shared grief and personal history

Fiction in translation: New work from Germany, Japan, Sweden, China and Cameroon

Reviews: Rónán Hession on a diverse selection of new works including an odd but delightful novel by Japanese author Yoko Tawada

Translated books round-up: Mieko Kawakami’s irresistible sweet melancholy

Plus new books from Daša Drndic, Ariana Harwicz, Yukio Mishima and Hamdi Abu Golayyel

Books in translation: A New Name closes Jon Fosse’s Septology series, one of the supreme literary achievements of our time

Masterful translations of works by Angélique Villeneuve, Ana Schnabl and poet Norman Erikson Pasaribu