Misinterpretation

One of the best novels I have ever read.I have never seen a writer before write a character that seems so restrainedand cool on the surface while being so compassionate, humane and through her compassion, reaching deeply into intimacy and connection.Thrilled to see Misinterpretation on the Booker Longlist 2025! This is an outstanding masterpiece.

Highly recommended! “Misinterpretation” by Ledia Xhoga is a beautifully written depiction of duality and misperception in modern life, from the point of view of an Albanian immigrant living “the American life” in New York (which is, in itself, quite a duality).The narrator is a young woman working as a translator/interpreter for an Albanian organization in New York. In a seemingly strong marriage to an American film professor at NYU, her life appears idyllic from the outside. But her origins keep her unsettled, prompting her to help other recent arrivals to the country, sometimes in less that “accepted” ways. Her not-quite-appropriate choices lead to unexpected, and often unacceptable, consequences.This is one of the best-written novels I’ve read in a while. I’m always stunned by a really brilliant writer who is not a native English speaker, and Xhoga’s prose is flawless, evocative, and on occasion, sublimely poetic. There’s a complexity to all the characters as they navigate their own myriad dualities (culture, language, relationships, class, among many). At the forefront of it all are the many variations of the immigrant experience, which are depicted in a straightforward manner that can’t help but engender a true visceral empathetic response in the reader. The story takes place not long into the first Trump administration and we get to see first-hand the unsettling effects of that on the immigrant population.There’s also a thriller aspect to the novel which was at times nail-biting, but far from the main point of the novel. Still, it fit well into the theme of human duality, how it leaves a feeling of unease, especially from the point-of-view of the immigrant.This is a stunning read and highly recommended.

It’s been some time since I finished reading this, and it made a lasting impression on me, yet still haven’t figured out how to describe the narrative. The main character is an Albanian interpreter who has tensions and secrets in her marriage, and a reckless compassion toward other people, which leads to her getting caught up in more than one complicated situation. The writing style immediately drew me in, and was captivating and compelling all the way through, but also haunting, and at times disturbing. It is so descriptive in the way presents the characters’ thoughts and experiences that it reveals depths of the human psyche, and the complexity of interpersonal and family relationships. I related to so much of this, and would like to read more from Ledia Xhoga as I found her writing beautiful and alive.

In “Misinterpretation”, written in the first person narrative, we follow the life of an Albanian interpreter, the people she works with and her struggle, and failure to, just be an interpreter. In exposing herself to the lives of, what should be her clients, she becomes emotionally involved with them, their struggles and the demons they live from their past lives of torture and abuse, some of which continues. She knows she should stay uninvolved in their lives bu she is drawn in and tries to help which alters her life. Married to an American, Billy, who is not able to relate to the lives of refugees and immigrants who are fleeing lives filled with trauma, he is unable to connect and understand, which draws a wedge in his marriage. He himself leaves to, ironically, take a job protecting a bridge between Hungary and Slovakia where he is tasked with documenting the happenings in the area, more of a symbolistic thing described by Billie. I feel like this is a look at the imperfect humans and how our decisions influence our lives, effect others along with ourselves.Following the Interpreter, this novel looks at the lives of those in transition, trying to find a better life, still fleeing abuse. It is a look a the culture of a big city, different cultures and the lives of many. This is a great book, a heavier read, thought-provoking.I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future!!!⭐️ 1 star - I don't recommend it at all.⭐️⭐️ 2 stars - I don't recommend it, poorly written or bad information.⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars - Good Book. Not for me. Not the most well written.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars - Very good book quite, I would recommend and well written.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars - Book that I totally recommend and could not put down. Well written and a book I would read again

Overall, I really enjoyed reading the “Misinterpretation” by Ledia Xhoga. This is her debut novel and I am eager to read her next novel. This book is about an Albanian interpreter who by nature and cultural attributes is an empath, who by attempting to help others suffers unwanted consequences in her own personal life.This is a wonderful novel about trauma, the immigrant experience and wanting to belong and building a better life in a foreign land. The book is addictive with a good pace that you wouldn’t want to put it down. I also thought that the writing was witty with a subtle humor reflecting the Albanian culture.