Why read literature? Why read works in translation? Why read books written by women? Why continue to participate in a medium that might not have a future?

That's what we tackle on today's episode of the Life on Books podcast, as we chat with Chad Post, the director of Open Letter Publishing, which is a project from the University of Rochester.

Specializing in works in translation, Open Letter is one of the most important publishers in the US today. Chad himself has immense experience in the world of literature, and in particular works in translation, having started his journey at the famed Dalkey Archives, working side by side with its notorious founder Jon O'Brien.

Open Letter Publishing is currently running a special for the month of August, where all of their books either written by women or translated by women are 40%.

Click here to see the deal:
https://linktw.in/pDTpZN

Books mentioned in this podcast

Zone Mathias Ernard
https://amzn.to/3LZfX6W

Winter in Sokcho Elisa Shua Dusapin
https://amzn.to/4dccXA8

Garden by the Sea Merce Rodoreda
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781948...

The Pachinko Parlor Elisa Shua Dusapin
https://amzn.to/3WVKYPt

Flowers of Mold Ha Seong-Nan
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781940...

Death in Spring Merce Rodoreda
https://amzn.to/4cd2LpO

Spiral Meander Explode Jane Alison
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781948...

The Bridge at No Gun Ri Charles J. Hanley, Sang-hun Choe, Martha Mendoza
https://amzn.to/3SL5eRp


Hard Rain Falling Don Carpenter
https://amzn.to/3SL5eRp

Stoner John Williams
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590...

Melville Rodrigo Fresan
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781960...

A Muzzle for Witches Dubravka Ugreisc
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781960...

Of Beasts and Fowls Pilar Adon
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781960...

Last Words on Earth Javier Serena
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781948...

The Savage Detectives Roberto Bolaño
https://amzn.to/4dfj2f4

The Vegetarian Han Kang
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781101...

The Museum of Eternas novel (the first good novel) Macedonio Fernandez
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781934...

Thank you for not Reading Dubravka Ugresic
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781948...

The Physics of sorrow Georgi Gospodinov
https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781324...

Cigarettes Harry Matthews