Stories Without Borders: Celebrate Women in Translation Audiobooks
Some of my favorite books (and audiobooks) are the ones I would’ve never discovered without translation, thanks to the incredible work translators do to bring these stories to readers around the world.
But the reality is that books in translation remain a rare gift, and stories by translated women are even rarer. Only a small sliver of books are translated, and of that already tiny pool, barely a third are written by women—with the vast majority originating from Europe.
Started by Meytal Radzinski in 2014 to address this gender imbalance, Women in Translation Month (WIT Month) has grown into the perfect opportunity to celebrate women authors who cross languages and borders every August.
Keep reading for translated audiobooks recommended by our bookselling partners!
Award-winning books in translation
We Do Not Part
“This story is lyrical, and poignant. It begins with musings about what things in our lives continue to motivate us; but that’s only the beginning. It is an exploration of friendship, loyalty, determination, and memory. It shows how trauma affects multiple generations. It also displays the courage to look unblinking at the trauma, and to use it as a source for growth. In the end, I still feel the softness of the snow when I think of this book.”
— Cheryl, Last Chance Bookstore
Heart Lamp
“If you like short stories of family drama in a lean, exact fashion, this book is for you. Set in Muslim Indian families, these tales are about marriage, parenthood, religion, law and the small, real laughter of how all human lives rub along. The characters feel like real people instead of means to make the plot move. They cry, laugh and lose their tempers. Husbands covet fancy shoes, grandmas gain a taste for Pepsi. And prayer time is never missed! You might even learn some new words along the way.”
— Claudia, Scorpio Books
Liliana’s Invincible Summer
“Liliana of the title has been thirty years dead at the writing of this book but Cristina Rivera Garza brings her sister into her full three-dimensional view with this book. Written as only a poet can write, Liliana’s Invincible Summer is the story of a vivacious college student murdered at the hands of her ex-boyfriend. […] By focusing on Liliana, Cristina Rivera Garza brings into sharp focus femicide, domestic violence, patriarchy—and how toxic masculinity and a system that dismisses murder as a ‘crime of passion’ are responsible for so many deaths. Beautiful, angry, reflective prose that I cannot recommend enough.”
— Julie, Honest Dog Books
Historical fiction in translation
The Postcard
“Wrapped around the mystery of a postcard sent in the mail, this is the story of three generations of a French Jewish family impacted by the Holocaust. Heartbreaking, beautiful, mysterious, and informative. Based on archival research, interviews, and family documents, the author tells this factual story using the tools of fiction for dialogue, an interior life of the characters, and to protect the descendants of people who committed crimes against humanity and her family during World War II. I loved it.”
— Julie Buckles, Honest Dog Books
Minor Detail
“Minor Detail is a Palestinian story in two parts. The first part takes place in 1949 and follows a woman who is being held captive by the military. The second part is set years in the future and follows a woman who is investigating the disappearance of the woman in part one. Shibli’s writing is brutal at times, but the beauty of her prose shines through even the darkest moments.”
— Brittany, Ruby’s Books
Celestial Bodies
“In this gripping family saga, author Jokha Alharthi—the first female Omani writer to be translated into English—involves you deeply in the personal drama of her characters and in the extended family system, which includes former servants and masters, while also somehow telling the modern history of the country of Oman. I was immediately enthralled by the power and clarity of Alharthi’s book, which won the 2019 Man Booker International Prize and is the first book written in Arabic to win it. Don’t miss the opportunity to let this important book sweep you away!”
— Arlo Klahr, Skylight Books
Our Lady of the Nile
French-Rwandan author Scholastique Mukasonga turned to writing to process her family’s tragic loss after surviving ethnic displacement and the 1994 genocide. Her debut novel, Our Lady of the Nile, is set in an elite Catholic girls’ boarding school fifteen years before the genocide. The book won the Prix Renaudot and was adapted into an award-winning 2019 film by Atiq Rahimi.
Audiobooks featuring unhinged women
Make Me Famous
“To what lengths would you go for fame? Cleo is willing to do anything to claim the stardom she believes she’s destined for. Hilariously unlikeable and outrageously narcissistic, she somehow manages to pull you into her chaotic world. Seeking an escape from the madness of her life, Cleo heads to a secluded island to work on her next album in peace—but as she unravels her past, she starts to reflect on the wild rise and fall of her fame. With a jaw-dropping twist, Ventura’s sophomore novel is an unforgettable knockout!”
— Anna, The Underground Bookshop
Vanishing World
“If you’re looking to read something weird, look no further. I
— Ashley H, Quail Ridge Books
Discontent
“If you love the darkly funny musings of Anna Dorn and/or Emily Austin, I think you’ll definitely love this funny but deeply personal book on the horrors of losing yourself while you attempt to fake who you are for your BS corporate job. If you love a good drunk cigarette and indulging in YouTube, I’m sure you’ll love this book.”
— Bee, Tomorrow Bookstore
Thriller/mysteries in translation
Holy Boy
“This takes an experimental and critical approach to the K-pop industry and how idolizing someone can lead to the demise of sanity and the loss of reality. It’s not supposed to be easy to digest but rather make one rethink and evaluate the dangers of idolization. Fandoms are great, but it’s the extremity which makes it utterly dangerous and terrifying.”
— Itzy M., M. Judson Booksellers
Thirst
“Marina Yuszczuk’s Thirst is the perfect gothic vampire story with a compelling sapphic twist. Spanning from the 17th century to modern-day Buenos Aires, we are introduced to the lives of two women, both grieving losses they fear will destroy them and running from the choices that have shaped their unhappiness and isolation. Bloody but somehow touching, concise but somehow intimate, this novel is the perfect escape, similar to the quiet solitude of a gloomy graveyard.”
— Josh L., The Underground Bookshop
Dystopian/post-apocalyptic audiobooks in translation
I Who Have Never Known Men
“What does it mean to be ‘human’—what is ‘humanity’ when all we’ve used to define it is stripped away or was never there at all? Maybe that sounds trite, but no! This was a beautiful, isolating, and unexpectedly tender story that will stay with me for a long time and has become a new personal favorite. I’d especially recommend this to fans of Margaret Atwood or Octavia Butler! (Also, come on, what an incredible title)”
— Sydni, More Than Words
The Unworthy
“Augustina Bazterrica continues to write some of the most horrifying and thought provoking literature of our generation. Drawing from a unique premise she is able to build the world and mindset of the religious cult the narrator finds herself in. Bazterrica is able to put the reader in that same frame of mind that leaves you feeling uneasy, restless, and in constant fear for your wellbeing. The body horror and the cruelty depicted will leave you reeling and gasping for any signs of humanity still inside these characters.”
— Tori, The Bottom Knox
Pink Slime
“A hypnotic story about systems of care and relationships amidst an ever-encroaching poisonous algae bloom. While disorienting at times, the resiliency and tongue-in-cheek humour of the main character place this as one of the finest examples of Crip Futurism literature I’ve read.”
— df, Iron Dog Books
Translated sci-fi/fantasy audiobooks
Strange Beasts of China
“Though this book starts as a list of not-quite-human beasts (nestled in a hilariously film-noir frame story), this book is not really about these invented creatures’ strange and specific purposes. This is a catalogue of the feelings that feel out of place in our hectic, harsh modern lives, but that we turn to by instinct when grief, joy, age, failure, or success surprise us. The narrator looks for herself among these beasts/feelings. She lives in a constant state of revision, so she doesn’t give you a spelled-out, loose-ends-tied conclusion, but she winds up seeing her past and future much more clearly and compassionately. May you also look in this mirror and see—if only for a little while—the face of a beast!”
— Nialle, The Haunted Bookshop
Your Utopia
“In these stories, Chung’s brilliant imagination brings us futures filled with advanced AI, transformed nature, plague, and questions about humanity. I loved every moment of these stories and each unexpected turn. We don’t know what the future holds, but Chung gives us possibilities that are sometimes frightening, sometimes heartwarming, always compelling. Some brought tears.”
— Nancy, Raven Book Store
A Magical Girl Retires
“This audiobook was incredibly easy to listen to and entertaining the entire time. Typically when you hear of magical girls, you imagine a fantasy-like world, but this story had such a refreshing take. A Magical Girl Retires is the first book I’ve read that so perfectly executed magical realism, mixing the two aspects together so seamlessly that I found myself transported into the story itself.”
— Eden, Cavalier House Books
Cozy audiobooks in translation
The Bear Hunter’s Daughters
“Need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday mundane and anxiety of life? Do you feel like you need to gain a new perspective but without the cost of a trip or another guru help therapy book? Then come adventure to the Finnish mountains with their magical realism, setting the backdrop scenes for meeting these tenacious, brash, brazen, and resilient sisters. As you join them in navigating their wild ways amongst each other, towns folk and mother nature.It’ll make you happy to be listening from your cozy soft warm bed.”
— Krystle, Bailey Books
The Dallergut Dream Department Store
“The Dallergut Dream Department Store is the perfect cozy listen. Shannon Tyo brings a great level of curiosity and compassion into each chapter she narrates. Miye Lee brought together a wholesome story about an original world that shows what dreams can mean to people. Truly loved this, a great start for first time audiobook listeners! ”
— Kat, Bookish Modesto
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
“Man… I love cozy contemporary Japanese fiction. What sets What You Are Looking For Is in the Library apart, though, is how each featured character really takes it upon themself to better their own life. The catalyst might be the (almost supernaturally) accurate book recommendations from their local librarian, Komachi, but each protagonist reflects and takes action in very different ways. And the story resolutions are so grounded, it’s easy to see yourself in the characters’ shoes. The audiobook goes above and beyond with a full cast; each chapter has its own voice talent, which is great because you get to hear so many different approaches to the one consistent character, Komachi.”
— Holly, Kew & Willow Books
Ready to discover more women in translation audiobooks?
Whether you’re looking for a story that transports you to another country, lets you explore new cultures, or simply your next great listen, these audiobooks are a wonderful place to start. Keep exploring more global women voices through our women in translation playlist!
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