![the [blank] garden](https://theblankgarden.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/cropped-lucas-cranach-the-younger-6.png)
Dear Tove, In Childhood (2019, tr. Tiina Nunnally. Original: Barndom, 1967), your portrait of the artist as a working-class girl is no rosy picture. Born in an…… Read more “Childhood is dark and it’s always moaning”
Author: juliana
Poeira de água sobre água. Water dust over water.
Tove Ditlevsen
Tove Ditlevsen (Tove Irma Margit Ditlevsen, 14 December 1917 – 7 March 1976) was a Danish writer. She grew up in an impoverished working-class family in Copenhagen. Her father…… Read more “Tove Ditlevsen”
What fun she would have as a ghost
Dear Elspeth, Who can resist an awkward, introverted misfit with a wild imagination and a tragic fate? Janet, your protagonist in O Caledonia (1991), is a girl…… Read more “What fun she would have as a ghost”
Elspeth Barker
Elspeth Barker (1940) is a Scottish writer. She attended Somerville College, Oxford, and, in the late 1960’s, married the poet George Barker, with whom she had five children.…… Read more “Elspeth Barker”
And the flower is still up on the hillside
Dear Marita, As The Purple Flower (1928) opens, we are told that we are in “The Middle-of-Things-as-They-are”, in an unusual setting: “Might be here, there or anywhere—or…… Read more “And the flower is still up on the hillside”
Marita Bonner
Marita Bonner (née Marita Odette Bonner; married name Marita Odette Bonner Occomy. June 16, 1899 – December 7, 1971) was an African-American writer. She attended Brookline High School in…… Read more “Marita Bonner”
I felt that laughter could be the dawn of a word
Dear Sara, The short stories and vignettes in your Land of Smoke (2018, tr. Jessica Sequeira. Original: El país del humo, 1977) walk us through the mist…… Read more “I felt that laughter could be the dawn of a word”
Sara Gallardo
Sara Gallardo (Sara Gallardo Drago Miter; December 23, 1931 – June 14, 1988) was an Argentine author. Born to a wealthy family of landowners, politicians and intellectuals,…… Read more “Sara Gallardo”
At least we learned that war is madness
Dear Fumiko, Everyone is drifting in your Floating Clouds (2006, tr. Lane Dunlop. Original: 浮雲, 1951). When the novel opens, WWII has ended and Yukiko is returning…… Read more “At least we learned that war is madness”
Fumiko Hayashi
Fumiko Hayashi (林芙 美 子; December 31, 1903, some sources say 1904 – June 28, 1951) was a Japanese writer. Born out of wedlock to a family…… Read more “Fumiko Hayashi”
Madness has turned to logic
Dear Gine, In Zero (2018, tr. Rosie Hedger. Original: Null, 2013), we follow a middle-class Norwegian girl from age ten to twenty-one, as she comes full circle…… Read more “Madness has turned to logic”
The Booktube Spin #1
Hi, folks! I first saw this on Simon’s blog, and decided to jump in. This spin is hosted by Rick, and he was inspired by our beloved…… Read more “The Booktube Spin #1”
My mother never held my hand
Dear Violette, At one point in Asphyxia (2020, tr. Derek Coltman. Original: L’Asphyxie, 1946), the unnamed narrator is standing on the sidewalk, peeking through a window at…… Read more “My mother never held my hand”
Violette Leduc
Violette Leduc (7 April 1907 – 28 May 1972) was a French author. Born out of wedlock to the son of a wealthy family for whom her…… Read more “Violette Leduc”
Even after her head was struck off she behaved so beautifully
Hi, folks! This is post 3 of Deal me In. For more about this project & my previous posts on it, go here: Reading Plans | Weeks 1 | 2 | 3…… Read more “Even after her head was struck off she behaved so beautifully”
Mary de Morgan
Mary de Morgan (Mary Auguste De Morgan, 24 February 1850 – 18 May 1907) was an English writer. She was born to a family of intellectuals: her…… Read more “Mary de Morgan”
But leave me the machine of blue colors
Four poems by Alfonsina Storni: one from the anthology Nine Latin American Poets, ed. and tr. Rachel Benson (1968); two from the collection Alfonsina Storni: Selected Poems,…… Read more “But leave me the machine of blue colors”
Alfonsina Storni
Alfonsina Storni (29 May 1892 – 25 October 1938) was an Argentine author. She was born in Switzerland to an Italian-Swiss family. When she was four years…… Read more “Alfonsina Storni”
