tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post550669309204639464..comments2023-11-09T07:51:21.497-05:00Comments on The Boston Bibliophile: Small Presses and Translated FictionMarie Cloutierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14938166831865436287noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-25337978291755770822014-01-31T03:47:20.307-05:002014-01-31T03:47:20.307-05:00I grew up reading books translated from English an...I grew up reading books translated from English and eventually I started mostly reading them in original language.<br /><br />Unfortunately this means I have mostly stopped reading in my native language. <br /><br />The English language is winning and soon for writers of my nation the problem would be irrelevant, as they will write their books in English anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-4538422983968978422014-01-28T00:56:29.836-05:002014-01-28T00:56:29.836-05:00The desire to read a translated work, European or ...The desire to read a translated work, European or otherwise, results from a cultural tradition, which creates an audience that grows up valuing things which are foreign. It is a complicated problem, made worse by our business model which suggests easier and efficient ways to make maximized profit - thus the nudge and encouragement to the writer to write what is marketable. Market will manipulate the reader who has grown up without a tradition that values cultures of the many Others.moazzam sheikhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04667465930413071388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-29109045129241825362014-01-28T00:53:32.480-05:002014-01-28T00:53:32.480-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Moazzam Sheikhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18007273183962131633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-59002101468512300352014-01-26T12:28:20.238-05:002014-01-26T12:28:20.238-05:00I realize how lucky I am to have had parents who i...I realize how lucky I am to have had parents who insisted my brothers and I learn the language of whatever country we happened to live in as children. As an adult it allows me to extend my reading experience. What I noticed, the translations often do not match well the emotion the foreign language is expressing ( especially French and Italian which are expressive, emotion filled languages ) in other words I found stories in those 2 languages which where wonderful, but translated felt flat, one dimensional.<br />My personal advice would be, research how the book is received in English, not in it's original language version. Good reviews will save money and frustration. I like Europa editions, their translations are superior, perhaps they choose books wich can be translated and keep the writer's story intact.<br /><br />I haven't been blogging in a couple of years and am thinking of starting again :) My blog used to be "Madeleine's Book and Photo blog.blogspot.com<br /><br />Happy Sunday and reading to everyone!sylviehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04826631216818773029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-12082014466639319762014-01-25T20:24:41.917-05:002014-01-25T20:24:41.917-05:00I don't often read translated work anymore tho...I don't often read translated work anymore though I should. One thing I've noticed in the past few months is how my library is cataloging books in translation. You're more likely to find a translated work by its original title and not the translated version. :-( I don't know if it has to do with new cataloging rules but it is one more obstacle for small presses.Vasillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08463689838763126048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-75098047016736774992014-01-23T23:08:47.556-05:002014-01-23T23:08:47.556-05:00as much as I would like to subscribe to such a ser...as much as I would like to subscribe to such a service, I am not fond of surprises either. yet, to build confidence with someone who could curate w/ an appreciable aesthetic... If Europa did this, I could get on board. otherwise, I do like your idea to peruse a catalog, have access to a site like NetGalley that trades only in translations.<br /><br />I need to return to a fluency in another language (used to be fair in German) to read in original language, because translations can be difficult, sometimes diminishing the work of the original--which depends upon the reputation of the presses.<br /><br /><br />~L (omphaloskepsis)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-84390266493202413522014-01-23T10:09:39.661-05:002014-01-23T10:09:39.661-05:00Well, when I read comments like Lahiri's, I re...Well, when I read comments like Lahiri's, I respond with a post! (biblibio.blogspot.com/2014/01/is-american-literature-overrated.html)<br /><br />As a not-strictly-American reader myself, I try to place a greater emphasis on international literature just because I <i>know</i> how many wonderful books can slip through the cracks. I try to encourage people to read my favorite books (whatever language they might have originated from) and I <i>do</i> make an effort to check out books published by the smaller publishing houses...Meytal Radzinskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15805413335735169073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-55472848687768764602014-01-23T09:52:28.790-05:002014-01-23T09:52:28.790-05:00This is a wonderful article. I'm glad that sma...This is a wonderful article. I'm glad that small presses are publishing more translated fiction and giving it more accessibility to English speaking audiences. I would love to have more access to fiction in the original Spanish or Portuguese since I'm fluent in both and would love to read the original text too!<br /><br />RE: subscription services. I like the idea of the NYBR one but I'm not big on surprises either. Persephone Books has a 6 month and 12 month subscription service and they allow you to chose your books. http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/book-subscription.html I'm very tempted to sign up for that one!Quelle Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15768935035911368954noreply@blogger.com