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Books in translation
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From: Karen Breen <KarenBreen>
Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 10:06:44 -0500
Our conversation has moved along since I first wrote this, but I still want to participate. Posting has been a challenge which I hope has been resolved, so bear with me. This is what I said two days ago.
I think it is time that one more "Karen" weighs in here. I reviewed this lovely book for School Library Journal and was immediately taken by the universal theme of conflict between this child's need for a secure place and the knowledge that if he were to challenge adults who seemed to have everything under control, he might lose that place again. I was also charmed by the wide-eyed observations which he made with such innocence only to be revealing the sad state of adult behavior from the school master, (especially the school master), to the village fathers who are more than willing to keep things under control in their own way. It wasn't so much the friendships Boniface was beginning to make, but that tiny little struggle, the stress of all that he knew or wanted to know. It was the kind of struggle that creates a knot in your stomach and keeps you reading to be sure everything works out for your hero. And, as to the translation, as a layman, with only one language under my belt, I want to be able to sit down and read a book like this, without being jerked around by awkward sentence structure and an unfamiliar style. I know that is chauvinistic, but, it's important for the audience we serve. What was important to me was that I could read this from beginning to end without _thinking_ about the translation, just the characters, the setting and the story. One more thing, and I hope all will understand. We do not get enough in translation. Period. And when we do, it is more often war literature than anything else. This is not a bad thing; children need to read these books.
It is just important to have something so fresh and original as this book to offer to children. More please, Mr. Publisher.
Now, in response to Marc's question, I will add that I have seldom booktalked a book as a work in translation. I usually try to sell the book by its story and characters, that's why the fluidity of the writing/translation is so important to me.
Received on Sat 07 Mar 1998 09:06:44 AM CST
Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 10:06:44 -0500
Our conversation has moved along since I first wrote this, but I still want to participate. Posting has been a challenge which I hope has been resolved, so bear with me. This is what I said two days ago.
I think it is time that one more "Karen" weighs in here. I reviewed this lovely book for School Library Journal and was immediately taken by the universal theme of conflict between this child's need for a secure place and the knowledge that if he were to challenge adults who seemed to have everything under control, he might lose that place again. I was also charmed by the wide-eyed observations which he made with such innocence only to be revealing the sad state of adult behavior from the school master, (especially the school master), to the village fathers who are more than willing to keep things under control in their own way. It wasn't so much the friendships Boniface was beginning to make, but that tiny little struggle, the stress of all that he knew or wanted to know. It was the kind of struggle that creates a knot in your stomach and keeps you reading to be sure everything works out for your hero. And, as to the translation, as a layman, with only one language under my belt, I want to be able to sit down and read a book like this, without being jerked around by awkward sentence structure and an unfamiliar style. I know that is chauvinistic, but, it's important for the audience we serve. What was important to me was that I could read this from beginning to end without _thinking_ about the translation, just the characters, the setting and the story. One more thing, and I hope all will understand. We do not get enough in translation. Period. And when we do, it is more often war literature than anything else. This is not a bad thing; children need to read these books.
It is just important to have something so fresh and original as this book to offer to children. More please, Mr. Publisher.
Now, in response to Marc's question, I will add that I have seldom booktalked a book as a work in translation. I usually try to sell the book by its story and characters, that's why the fluidity of the writing/translation is so important to me.
Received on Sat 07 Mar 1998 09:06:44 AM CST
