Misinterpretation
Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga, published by Tin House in 2024, is a 304-page novel that explores complex emotional landscapes in present-day New York City. The story follows an Albanian interpreter who reluctantly takes on the role of assisting Alfred, a Kosovar torture survivor, during his therapy sessions. As she navigates her clients’ struggles, she finds herself drawn into their traumas, which awaken her own buried memories and lead to impulsive decisions that threaten her marriage and mental well-being.
Readers will find a narrative that delves into themes of family life, psychological challenges, and the intricacies of marriage and divorce. The protagonist’s journey takes her from the bustling streets of New York to her homeland of Albania, where she confronts the realities of her life and the consequences of her actions. Misinterpretation interrogates the delicate balance between compassion and self-preservation, offering a thought-provoking examination of personal and familial legacies.
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In present-day New York City, an Albanian interpreter reluctantly agrees to work with Alfred, a Kosovar torture survivor, during his therapy sessions. Despite her husband’s cautions, she soon becomes entangled in her clients’ struggles: Alfred’s nightmares stir up her own buried memories, and an impulsive attempt to help a Kurdish poet leads to a risky encounter and a reckless plan.
As ill-fated decisions stack up, jeopardizing the nameless narrator’s marriage and mental health, she takes a spontaneous trip to reunite with her mother in Albania, where her life in the United States is put into stark relief. When she returns to face the consequences of her actions, she must question what is real and what is not. Ruminative and propulsive, Ledia Xhoga’s debut novel, Misinterpretation, interrogates the darker legacies of family and country, and the boundary between compassion and self-preservation.
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