Kicking off 2024 we welcome Tara Cheesman to the podcast with her recommendation, Being Here Is Everything: The Life and Times of Paula Modersohn-Becker by Marie Darriussecq, translated by Penny Hueston. Tara is a freelance critic, former judge of the Best Translated Book Award, and she brings us our first work of nonfiction. We have an absolutely fascinating conversation on art, motherhood, representations of women, and a lot more. And recommend a small syllabus of titles to dig into. Titles/authors mentioned: Imperium by Christian Kracht, translated by Daniel Bowles Nathalie Léger: Suite for Barbara Loden, Exposition, The White Dress Éric Plamondon: Apple S and Mayonnaise Jean Echenoz's biographical novels: Running, Lightning, Ravel Sharks, Death, Surfers by Melissa McCarthy Kate Zambreno: Book of Mutter and To Write As If Already Dead Margaret the First by Danielle Dutton Jazmina Barrera: On Lighthouses and Linea Nigra Georges Perec: Ellis Island, I Remember, An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris To hear more from Tara follow her on Instagram: @taracheesman [https://www.instagram.com/taracheesman/] or subscribe (and you should!) to her Substack: Ex Libris [https://exlibris.substack.com/]. Click here [https://lostinredonda.substack.com/] to subscribe to our Substack and find us on the socials: @lostinredonda just about everywhere. Music: "The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys" by Traffic Logo design: Flynn Kidz Designs