This is an archived issue of Belletrista. If you are looking for the current issue, you can find it here
Belletrista - A site promoting translated women authored literature from around the world
Image of Beirut39 logo photo of Asa Larsson photo of open book

Thirty-nine Arab writers under the age of 39. Akeela Gaibie-Dawood looks at the award and the women who were honored.

Carolyn Kelly in praise of Swedish author Åsa Larsson

SPECIAL FEATURE: More reviews! In keeping with our short fiction theme this month, we review anthologies.

Happy New Year, and welcome to Belletrista's exciting third issue!

In this issue we have chosen to emphasize short fiction. Author Tania Hershman has written a wonderful piece on the subject (click on "Stopping to Smell the Miniature Roses" below), and we have put together a special section of anthology reviews. We were very pleased to discover that The Guardian has recently published an article on women and short fiction, too (once again proving that great minds think alike)! Here's a link to their article; perhaps you will enjoy reading it as much as we have here at Belletrista.

We like to think we have something for every fiction reader in this issue, and we hope you will explore all the magazine has to offer—from our regular reviews and new & notable offerings, to our engaging feature pieces which explore the work of Åsa Larsson, Annie Ernaux, and the very welcome Beirut39 project.We hope you will enjoy Belletrista 3, and will be interested in reading some of the excellent books highlighted here. Please let us know what you think—your comments are always welcome!

Reviews
Below is a tantalizingly small selection of this month's reviews....
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AMERICAN SALVAGE: STORIES
Bonnie Jo Campbell

The stories of Bonnie Jo Campbell go deep into America, past the stereotypes the world is familiar with, past the romance of ideals we have with our own culture, to a place that is raw and rough, where hope is an impermanent thing and dreams require courage to have.
READ MORE

Reviewed by Jana Herlander
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THE SEAMSTRESS
Frances de Ponte Peebles

A tale of two sisters, The Seamstress may not be the 'perfect' debut novel but it certainly heralds an exciting new voice from South America. Set in Brazil in the period 1928 to 1935, this novel follows the lives of orphaned sisters....
READ MORE

Reviewed by Dorothy Dudek Vinicombe
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THE GIRL WHO FELL FROM THE SKY
Heidi W. Durrow

The Girl Who Fell From The Sky, the haunting and beautifully written debut novel from Heidi W. Durrow, is much more than a simple coming of age story. It delves into a host of serious issues including race, class, love, loss and acceptance.
READ MORE

Reviewed by Barbara Steeg
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MY DRIVER
Maggie Gee

A comedy set against the backdrop of war might not seem viable, but Maggie Gee makes it work.
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Reviewed by Amanda Meale
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THERE A PETAL SILENTLY FALLS
Ch'oe Yun
Translated from the Korean by Bruce Fulton and Ju‒Chan

This collection of short works carries a title that is gentle and lyrical. Petals are delicate and beautiful and soft to the touch. They are silent when they fall.
READ MORE

Reviewed by Carolyn Kelly


Stopping to Smell the Miniature Roses
Picture of Tania Hershman
Author Tania Hershman on the wonders of short fiction.
TRIO:
Three Books by Annie Ernaux

Photo of Annie Ernaux
Darryl Morris introduces us to three novels by French author Annie Ernaux in Belletrista's first "TRIO" feature.
New and Notable Books
Photo of a pile of books
And with the New Year comes more interesting books for the Belletrista reader!