BookBrowse Highlights

Hello Readers!

In Editor's Choice this week, we present the delightful adult debut of children's and YA author M.T. Anderson: Nicked is a humorous and fantastical medieval romp following a good-natured Italian monk who goes on the adventure of a lifetime.

We hope you enjoy the "beyond the book" article accompanying our review of Ondjaki's Our Beautiful Darkness, translated from Portuguese by Lyn Miller-Lachmann, about graphic novels in translation, with more examples to explore.

You can also check out our category of 1980s and '90s books, with 500+ recommended titles spanning fiction and nonfiction.

Plus, get fully into the Olympics spirit with books about the history of the games, and test your reading personality with our fun quiz!

Nicked

by M.T. Anderson

It's the year 1087, and the Adriatic port city of Bari, Italy—like much of the rest of Europe—has been overrun by a pox outbreak. In the absence of medical knowledge, the people, fearful and helpless, look to God for deliverance from suffering and death. The Benedictine monks are instructed by the archbishop to keep vigil and to pray to Nicholas, the saint known for so many miracles that he is called Nicholas the Wonderworker. One in particular, a monk named Nicephorus—possessed of "an irritatingly pure and generous heart"—has a dream in which the saint himself exhorts the monk not to wait, instead to "leave our nest." And so Nicephorus, a lowly monastery clerk, sets sail on the quest of a lifetime.

M.T. Anderson is an award-winning author of numerous books for children and young adults, and here he seamlessly applies his storytelling skills to his first novel for adults. ... continued

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Beyond the Book

Graphic Novels in Translation

Our Beautiful Darkness by Ondjaki has been translated into English from the original Portuguese by Lyn Miller-Lachmann. The process of translating a graphic novel differs somewhat from that of a more traditional prose novel. This is due to the importance of the interaction between the text and images, with each component needing to work in harmony with and enhance the other to establish a fully-formed narrative.

Hannah Chute, who has translated several graphic novels from French into English, has discussed the challenges and trade-offs of working with a visual form. ... continued

1980s and '90s

Ondjaki's Our Beautiful Darkness, which takes place in 1990s Angola, is just one of more than 500 books in our 1980s and '90s category. Enjoy these recommended titles set during the last decades of the last millennium, both fiction and nonfiction.

This is one of 100+ themed categories you can explore on BookBrowse to find the perfect read for your book club or yourself. Members can access all categories and filters to narrow their browsing, while non-members have limited access.

While we may watch the Olympics for the seemingly superhuman feats of strength and dexterity on display, we are also frequently captivated by the very human drama and personal stories of the athletes competing. Here are a few books that capture some of these stories along with some of the most pivotal moments in the history of the games. Pick up a title or two on this list to get a glimpse of Olympians’ experiences — their hopes, dreams, and journeys — as well as a better understanding of the complex (and sometimes fraught) past of the Olympics. ... continued

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