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noadifferentchad's review against another edition
2.0
I find no meaningful difference between this book and any other that might select a hundred non-translated novels. By which I mean Tonkin wastes two or three pages of space per selection on recounting the plots and characters and sharing a few sentences on what he appreciates about the novel. But there is hardly any commentary about the actual translations.
What makes each one worth reading? What makes some clunky or smooth compared to others? Why might some translators seek to capture the spirit of the original prose while others take a more literal approach?
Why not compare some translations? Maybe talk about one translator approaching two texts differently, or the same text treated differently by two translators? Even a broader discussion of how translators pick their battles, or improve upon older translations, or scrap them altogether and begin anew, would be welcome here.
I realize I'm critiquing what it is not, rather than what it is, but for a book focusing on novels translated into english, there is remarkably little discussion of what its title suggests. And what a missed opportunity! Anyone picking this up would have treasured such an effort.
What makes each one worth reading? What makes some clunky or smooth compared to others? Why might some translators seek to capture the spirit of the original prose while others take a more literal approach?
Why not compare some translations? Maybe talk about one translator approaching two texts differently, or the same text treated differently by two translators? Even a broader discussion of how translators pick their battles, or improve upon older translations, or scrap them altogether and begin anew, would be welcome here.
I realize I'm critiquing what it is not, rather than what it is, but for a book focusing on novels translated into english, there is remarkably little discussion of what its title suggests. And what a missed opportunity! Anyone picking this up would have treasured such an effort.
bmip666's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
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