Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme that was started by @Lauren’s Page Turners but is now currently being hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog. This meme is quite easy to follow – just randomly pick a book from your to-be-read list and give the reasons why you want to read it. It is that simple.

This week’s book:

Traveler of the Century by Andrés Neuman

Blurb from Goodreads

Searching for an inn, the enigmatic traveler Hans stops in a small city on the border between Saxony and Prussia. The next morning, Hans meets an old organ-grinder in the market square and immediately finds himself enmeshed in an intense debate—on identity and what it is that defines us—from which he cannot break free.

Indefinitely stuck in Wandernburg until his debate with the organ-grinder is concluded, he begins to meet the various characters who populate the town, including a young freethinker named Sophie. Though she is engaged to be married, Sophie and Hans begin a relationship that defies contemporary mores about female sexuality and what can and cannot be said about it.

Traveler of the Century is a deeply intellectual novel, chock-full of discussions about philosophy, history, literature, love, and translation. It is a book that looks to the past in order to have us reconsider the conflicts of our present. The winner of Spain’s prestigious Alfaguara Prize and the National Critics Prize, Traveler of the Century marks the English-language debut of Andrés Neuman, a writer described by Roberto Bolaño as being “touched by grace.”

Why I Want To Read It

Happy Monday everyone! I know that Monday is the least favorite day of the week by most of us – and yes, that includes me. We all feel sluggish after a brief two-day respite from our adult responsibilities. Nevertheless, I hope that everyone had a great start to the week. After all, the first day of the week means a new opportunity to learn, grow, and develop, not only as a professional but also as an individual. I hope that everyone will have a great week. With the year slowly drawing to a close, I hope that the coming months will be filled with nothing but good news and positive vibes. I hope everyone will end the year with a bang. More importantly, I hope everyone is doing well, in mind, body, and spirit.

With the first day of the week also comes a fresh Goodreads Monday update. The previous month was spent traveling across the African continent for the best of its literature. But the journey felt too short. It didn’t help that I have several more works of African literature I am raring to read. With this, I decided to extend the journey to September if only to cover the books that are part of my reading challenges. I am about to read the last book for my venture in African literature. After this book, I will be embarking on a new literary journey across South America. With this, I will be featuring works of South American literature in my Goodreads Monday updates this month.

For this Goodreads Monday update, I am featuring Andrés Neuman’s Traveler of the Century. It was during the pandemic that I first encountered the Argentinian writer through an online bookseller. I obtained a copy of Talking to Ourselves even though I had no iota of what the book was about now have I read any of Neuman’s works before. Unfortunately, I am yet to read the book. Earlier this year, I once again encountered Neuman when, through another online bookseller, I came across Traveler of the Century. It was originally published in Spanish in 2009 with the title El viajero del siglo.

Traveler of the Century is Neuman’s fourth novel. In 2012, it became Neuman’s first novel to be translated into English. It earned him several accolades and was selected among the best books of the year by The Guardian, The Independent, and Financial Times. The Spanish title won the Alfaguara Prize and the  National Critics Prize: Premio de la Crítica Española. The English translation was shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, achieving a Special Commendation from the jury. It was also shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award and was even dubbed as one of the frontrunners. These are more than enough reasons for me to include the book in my growing reading list.

I also just learned that Traveler of the Century is quite an expansive novel that grapples with a plethora of subjects and themes. This only makes me look forward to the book even more. How about you fellow reader? How was your Monday? What books have you added to your reading list? Do drop it in the comment box. For now, happy Monday and, as always, happy reading!