The Importance of Contemporary World Literature

Hello everyone! Today I wanted to discuss something a little different from my regular content but still significant. As many of you know, I'm an English major (alongside Communication) and one of the required classes is Contemporary World Literature. One of the big things that my professor wanted to do, was to find modern books written in other languages and translated into English for us to read. So far the reading list has included the following:

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

Fever Dream by Samantha Schweblin

Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky

Of these, I've read all of them through except The White Tiger, mainly because I didn't get the book in time and therefore, I will exclude it from my discussion. Below are brief reviews of each book and why I think it's important to read books from other cultures.

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi -- 8/10

Source: Goodreads

First up is the retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. While I haven't read the original, I was very much inspired to after finishing this novel. It takes place during the U.S. invasion of Iraq. It follows several characters focusing on Hadi, a junk dealer who decides to stitch together the victims' body parts into a being named "Whatsitsname". With a goal to avenge the parts of himself, the Whatsitsname eventually loses control and the lines surrounding innocence and justice are blurred.

This book gives a unique perspective on the Iraq war that I think many tend to overlook. It focuses on a string of interconnected characters in Baghdad facing the imminent destruction of their homes with a mix of the supernatural. The use of "the monster" to deliver his own sense of justice added an extra layer of violence to the already action-packed novel. It moves at a fast pace with a good buildup of suspense. I'm very unfamiliar with the Iraq war and learning about the intricacies and history of the war while reading the novel was fascinating as well.

All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami -- 8/10

Source: Goodreads

Next is a very different type of story from the Frankenstein retelling. Originally written in Japanese, the author makes very little reference to the specific setting of the novel (Japan). It instead focuses on the characters, specifically its main character Fuyuko Irie. Fuyuko is a very introverted character who longs to revive her life. Her friend and boss Hijiri works as a foil for the character, as do several of the other female characters. On her journey, she begins to spend time with a mysterious stranger, becomes an alcoholic, and eventually realizes that she must confront her past if she ever wants to truly move forward with her life.

One of the greatest parts of this novel aside from the quiet, introspective tone that lets the reader stew in the world, is the importance of female friendships that are so rarely depicted in favor of romance. At the climax of the novel, it is the connection and relationship Fuyuko has with Hijiri that's in jeopardy. The discussions of light and color in the novel are especially important as well. Overall, the storytelling is graceful and poignant to any reader who feels like their life has reached a standstill.

Fever Dream by Samantha Schweblin -- 8/10

Source: Goodreads

I read Fever Dream two weeks ago all in one sitting and it took me days to process. It was written in Spanish and originally titled Distancia de Rescate. It reads almost as a one-act. The main character Amanda lies dying and a young neighbor boy sits by, listening to the story of how they ended up where they are. Its themes of motherhood and environmentalism mixed with the magical realism that the author has chosen to include is the reason it stays with you for so long.

This is another book I never would have thought to pick up but I'm very glad was assigned because again, it covered topics I wasn't familiar with. Ultimately, the book is about chemicals seeping into the water supply and causing mass death or deformation of children. The biggest thing aside from how fast-paced the book is, is the creepiness and suspense that allows you to read it in one sitting.

Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky -- 9/10

Source: Goodreads

The most recent book I read was actually a book of poems written in a story format. Each poem, while it could be read on its own, told an overall story about a town surrounded by soldiers. A deaf boy is shot and the city chooses to rebel by pretending to be deaf. Act I follows a young couple and Act II follows a puppet theater owner. It was released in 2019 and was a response to the history of Russian author Ilya Kaminsky as well as the BLM movement against police brutality.

One of the surprising parts about this read is that you don't expect the thesis of the story to end where it does but when you get to the end, it makes complete sense. Ultimately, it speaks to silence and willful ignorance being the worst ways to protest. The author also reads his poems aloud and hearing his perspective and his voice tell the story was also a wonderful experience that I'd recommend as well. It speaks to the way experiences across continents can be eerily similar. The comparisons being made between this fake town, the author's history, and the United States make this a very complex but necessary read.

Why you should consider reading books from other cultures...

The biggest thing the books I've read had in common are the untraditional format and thematic elements. In each book, themes of identity and social expectations remain front and center. In each book, individuality and identity are explored through either supernatural elements such as in Frankenstein in Baghdad or Fever Dream. Fears of identity and what it means to live such as in All the Lovers in the Night. Also, the ways these stories have been told give a new meaning to what we call novels. Same with the collection of poems. These stories are written by an audience that is already aware of the cultural conflicts going on and by authors who have lived in the world they're writing about. An American author would have a difficult time touching on the complexities of a book like Fever Dream because the use of magical realism is far more accepted in Spanish culture. Furthermore, the idea of community, motherhood, and the chemicals that are impacting all of it could not be so expertly woven together by someone without true experience of the situation. Similarly, the Iraqi perspective of the war is much different from the American perspective like in Frankenstein in Bagdad.

To wrap up, consider checking out these books and others from cultures that are not strictly your own. They've expanded my perspective and started conversations that I believe are so important to living a fulfilled life.

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