What is one of your literary pet peeves? Is there something that writers do that really sets your teeth on edge? Be specific, and give examples if you can.?
WELL that is this weeks Literary Blog Hop question as hosted by the girls at the blue bookcase .
This is my bug bear it is the high-minded attitude of certain People ,Publishers and bloggers to the world of translation ,The people I talking about are what I call the its mine not yours brigade ,the ones that moan at the three percent translated in english from other Languages ,In other global markets the translation of english books account for 50% of the market , in Serbia it is as high as 70% .We should hold our collected heads in shame books in translation aren’t some gold level of book they are just the same as every other book but just from another place ,we need to start think reading a book from here there and everywhere is normal not some form of high thinking !! .It ain’t I m just a normal guy with a basic education ,but a passion for reading ideal target market for publishers really ,only difference is my father is a bookworm and my gran taught english and ran a school ,so I ve had that as my background but hated school when young .anyway drifted of topic when in a recent twitter chat told by a publicist at a large publishers they don’t really bother with translation probably due to the stick it on a pedestal brigade .MY reviews are simple personnel and hopefully make people want to try a work in translation as there not like other that can make it seem like a task to read them ! sorry to go on it really makes my blood boil .and was my main reason to start #translationthurs on twitter to get people talking simply about book in translation lifting the veil and getting people interest for the books not the prestige of reading them .
Winstonsdad's Blog 
Dec 09, 2010 @ 22:25:07
I am in total agreement with you stu, a book is a book regardless of where it originated.
Dec 09, 2010 @ 22:27:21
exactly ,thanks ,all the best stu
Dec 09, 2010 @ 23:11:19
Well said!
Dec 09, 2010 @ 23:14:01
thanks becky
Dec 09, 2010 @ 23:27:57
Now there’s a man talking from his heart. Nicely said, Stu!
And as for your #TranslationThurs feature? It DOES get people talkimg translation fiction on Twitter, so bravo again on creating such a valuable feature (and that comes from a lifelong supporter).
Warmest
Rob
Dec 09, 2010 @ 23:29:44
Thanks rob ,think you know the publishers I mean ,yes was very good today on twitter ,all the best stu
Dec 10, 2010 @ 00:15:23
I confess I sometimes view translated books as being more difficult, simply because I may be more ignorant of the culture that produced it, and wonder what I’m missing because of that ignorance. But in general, I would have to agree–more translations!
Dec 10, 2010 @ 00:17:55
sometimes there a wonderful window on that culture ,recently was discussing the lack of arabic to hebrew and vice versa ,wonder if they read books from each place how much more they’d know ? ,all the best stu
Dec 10, 2010 @ 02:11:13
I can’t believe how insular people can be. How can you not read any books not originally written in English? It’s like not eating any recipes invented after the Norman conquest!
Dec 10, 2010 @ 13:00:29
We are very insular in the english speaking world ,we all should read more from other countries ,all the best stu
Dec 10, 2010 @ 04:06:27
I love world literature and am thankful for tranlsators because without them, I would be missing out on so much good literature. Good point 🙂
Dec 10, 2010 @ 13:00:49
many thanks rachel all the best stu
Dec 10, 2010 @ 06:32:48
I didn’t know that people have a problem with translations. Where I am we get them all the time! If people do have a problem with translations, it would be because the translator did a terrible job!
Dec 10, 2010 @ 12:59:30
I have no problem with translations just people that make them seem like hard work ,all the best stu
Dec 10, 2010 @ 15:29:59
One of my favourite books is a translation: If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller by Calvino. Imagine what I would have missed if it hadn’t been translated?!
Dec 10, 2010 @ 15:41:22
I loved the calvino I read last year and have if on.. down for jan to read ,they are both done by william weaver and I think he is considered the best translator from Italian ,all the best stu
Dec 10, 2010 @ 15:43:14
I agree- it’s a shame when English speakers (publishers, etc.) aren’t willing to step outside their comfort zones and try translated works, especially since readers outside the English reading world are so much more likely to have an open mind about translation. Case in point: I taught English in Kazakhstan for a while, and I was amazed at how many English-language writers my students were familiar with! Students who were just starting to learn English had already read Shakespeare, Austen, Jack London, etc. in translation. But could I name a single Kazakh writer when I arrived in the country? Nope. I was pretty ashamed when I realized the English-centric nature of my literary education.
Thanks for bringing this up!
Dec 10, 2010 @ 15:46:33
so true Christine ,I lived in germany and got to know lot more about there writers when I lived there ,I think it needs some more big publisherss to take a chance ,the sucess of steig larsson and some of the recent nobel winners have shown there is a market out there for books in translation ,all the best stu