Page-Turners for Women in Translation Month

Tower is a series of interconnected stories set in Beanstalk, a 674-story skyscraper and sovereign nation. Each story deals with how citizens living in the hypermodern high-rise deal with various influences of power in their lives: a group of researchers have to tell their boss that a major powerbroker is a dog, a woman uses the power of the internet to rescue a downed fighter pilot abandoned by the government, and an out-of-towner finds himself in charge of training a gentle elephant to break up protests. 

Bae explores the forces that shape modern life with wit and a sly wink at the reader.

Written by Bae Myung-hoon; Translated by Sung Ryu

A captivating story of food, intimacy, and colonial power dynamics in 1930s Taiwan.

Set in May 1938, a young Japanese novelist Aoyama Chizuko arrives in Japanese-ruled Taiwan with an appetite for authentic local cuisine rather than imperial politics. She hires Chizuru, a brilliant young Taiwanese interpreter, to guide her through the island. As they share scenic train rides, winter melon tea, and braised pork rice, Chizuko grows deeply infatuated with her companion, unaware of the subtle boundaries and complex power dynamics that keep them apart.

Written by Yáng Shuāng- zǐ; Translated by Lin King

Set against the glittering backdrop of 1990s Tokyo, Sisters in Yellow is a haunting and atmospheric journey of survival, capturing the fragile warmth of a teenage girl’s newfound sanctuary, along with four women, before it is slowly dismantled by the quiet cruelties of betrayal and inequality. 

Hana has nothing but she’s hopeful. She’s fifteen years old. She lives in a tiny apartment in a suburb of Tokyo with her young mother, a hostess at a local dive bar. They have no money, no security. Then Kimiko appears. Kimiko is older, a bright light in Hana’s dark world. Together they set up Lemon, a bar that, despite its shabby setting and seedy clientele, becomes a haven for Hana. Suddenly Hana has a job she loves, friends to share her days with, and the glittering promise of money. She feels like a normal girl. She feels invincible. But in the narrow alleys of Sangenjaya, nothing is as it seems. Soon all of Hana’s hope, her optimism, and her drive, will be tested to the limit . . .

Written by Mieko Kawakami; Translated by Hitomi Yoshio & Laurel Taylor

A psychological terror that will rewire your brain!

Amanda knows she has to answer the questions. Lying feverish and unseeing in her hospital bed, she tries her best to account for how she came to be there. She remembers the lake, the house and the strange woman next door with her unthinkable confession. She remembers the fear of losing her young daughter, Nina. Now she is alone and Nina is gone. At what moment did everything go dark? 

Writen by Samanta Schweblin; Translated by Megan Mcdowell

Amid a literal fog of war on a disputed planet, a woman is thrust into battle, forced to fight in her captors' war. With an empire at her back, ready to kill her at the slightest hesitation, this slave turned reluctant hero must battle through an unknown enemy, scientific abominations, and truly alien terrain to uncover the truth about her identity and that of her enslaved companions.

Red Sword draws on the real history of Korean soldiers who fought and died in a war against Russia on behalf of the Qing Dynasty.

Written by Bora Chung; Translated by Anton Hur

One world-famous K-pop idol. Four obsessed fans. A secluded mansion. Worship has never been bloodier.

For four devoted women, owning a poster of superstar Yosep just isn't enough. They hatch a "foolproof" plan to kidnap their idol and keep him all to themselves. But trapped in an isolated estate, paranoia takes over, reality unravels, and their dark act of devotion spirals into a desperate fight to keep their horrific secret buried.

Written by Lee Heejoo; Translated by Joheun Lee

A powerful family saga about the ties that heal us, and the traditions that hold us back.

Set in a small town in Tamil Nadu, The Binding follows Rasangam, a man forced to trade his dreams for duty to safeguard his conservative family. As tragedy strikes, it is the quiet, overlooked strength of the family’s women and Rasangam’s devout faith that hold them together. Decades later, history repeats itself through his son Imran, whose own chance at love is threatened by rising political tensions. In this sparkling narrative, the author, Salma grapples with the many forces that shape our lives: faith, family, tradition and the complicated bonds that link us to one another.

Written by Salma; Translated by Janani Kannan