I just brought boxes of books from my English lit degree in 2007, including "A Portrait" to Half Price Books. I figured if I've had them all this many years and haven't reread them, I shouldn't keep taking up space on my bookshelf with them. Graham Greene, Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence... all gone. I'm having pretty deep regrets. I would have chosen them at some point, right? I tried rereading "To the Lighthouse" recently as it was one of my favorites back then, and I just couldn't get into it.
Speaking of books about writers writing, have you ready Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott? It's one of my favorites but it's been a while so I probably need to re-read it soon.
Oooh love these recaps! Adding Greek Lessons to my list! I’m sure your tbr is long, but I read “Long Live the Post Horn!” recently and loved it—a kind of strange and weirdly hopeful Nordic novel. It’s one of those books that sticks with you after you’ve read it (or did for me).
I never purchase a book faster than when Ali Hazelwood writes a new book. Deep End was one of the sexiest books I've ever read and personally??? I loved it.
On 'the joy of translating', what an incredible find, thank you for sharing it! I find myself thinking about translating so much. The materials I'm researching for my PhD are in Chinese and so I have to translate them first for myself and then for my thesis, but I don't consider myself a "translator" by any stretch. I can interpret and prosaically tell you what the material says, but I struggle to find the heart and lyricism of it. Nothing has depressed me more than the active encouragement from senior academic people to "just use chatgpt" to translate, as though the mechanics of it is enough!
I find that just like working on book reports as a child or having to teach a concept to someone, translating supporting material yourself is so helpful in deepening your understanding of it!! Agreed that the genAIification of translation is a road to hell.
I have nervously avoided Lispector for a while after reading (extensive) negative reviews about her work, but I have also seen the most 'positive' comments for Água Viva and you are adding to that!! Maybe that is where I will start with her.
I agree with your comments about You Dreamed of Empires - at one moment I'd be so enthralled and engaged and practically laughing and others I would think what on earth is going on I have had enough of this. Wearisome is how I would describe it too, which initially after reading I think I felt too scared to say because, as you say, it is sooooo loved. But the more time that I put between myself and the book, the more I stand on two feed about it being wearisome.
Love the Foster love, I'm planning to read that in the summer because I love to match a book to a season when I can - no shame.
Re Fosse - very interested in your enjoyment of Morning and Evening. I read 'A Shining' last year, again consumed in one sitting, that was just wild in the sense of Fosse's writing, imagination and structure of the book. I really struggled to review it because I felt that so much of Fosse's writing is based on atmosphere and emotion that feels so indescribable only he can do it? I want to read him again though, and how can I resit a little slim blue number?! (answer: I never can)
Oooh I haven't read too many negative reviews on Lispector, I should broaden my horizons! I need to read more of her fiction to come up with a sturdier opinion, but 'Água Viva' really was gorgeous (I think I'll try something from earlier in her catalogue next).
Re 'Empires,' I'm so glad you're of a similar mind! It just ended up feeling a bit too gimmicky at points (the music thing, for instance), and it distracted me from the actual story.
Totally agreed on Fosse's atmospheric/moody writing -- not very plot- or character-driven at all, really, so it's hard to describe! Will look for 'A Shining' soon! x
I had similar feelings about You Dreamed of Empires. Saying it preened hits it. A good read but a touch precious with itself.
I am thrilled to find you read I Who Have Never Known Men. I read it last year and it haunted me. The way she sustained tension… thank you for your review.
I want to read Greek Lessons, and now you’ve convinced me to tackle it sooner rather than later.
I thought about your recent comments on the joys of re-reading and am currently re-reading The Pillow Book for a slow, calm, non-linear plot experience. If you haven't read it, I think you might enjoy it! It's a memoir of an 11th century Japanese court lady. She has a lot of thoughts about scents, colors, fabric textures, and the like; and loves an amusing little anecdote.
Based on my own Romance language knowledge and work experience at a translation company: it’s very common for a Romance noun to be translated as a verb in English. My hypothesis is that it’s tied to the English use of gerunds as noun. For me it does change the meaning as well! But it’s more understandable when thinking about it going from English verb > Romance verb, which IME often sounds stilted.
(Sharing this because I think it’s Interesting, not to negate your point.)
This *is* super interesting, thank you for sharing!! I hadn't thought about the English gerunds-as-nouns being tricky in translation, but you're right.
I also find the English translations often lose some of the nuance of idioms and it is SO hard to figure out how to do the lines justice. I wish I kept up with Spanish because reading Neruda in Spanish vs. English is so different. I was BIG into magical realism in HS/college and read snippets of Allende and Garcia Marquez in Spanish in classes and wow, totally different feeling to the prose.
Clara, as a brasilian girly i think you would like this very much: https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/articles/c0jne696zwno
você estava certa, amei!
I just brought boxes of books from my English lit degree in 2007, including "A Portrait" to Half Price Books. I figured if I've had them all this many years and haven't reread them, I shouldn't keep taking up space on my bookshelf with them. Graham Greene, Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence... all gone. I'm having pretty deep regrets. I would have chosen them at some point, right? I tried rereading "To the Lighthouse" recently as it was one of my favorites back then, and I just couldn't get into it.
The good news is someone will get to read your old copies soon!
Speaking of books about writers writing, have you ready Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott? It's one of my favorites but it's been a while so I probably need to re-read it soon.
I have not! Will be on the lookout for it!
Some good ideas for my next read. It would be interesting to see what you think of the film version of Foster, called The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin)
I still need to watch it, a few people have recommended it!
Oooh love these recaps! Adding Greek Lessons to my list! I’m sure your tbr is long, but I read “Long Live the Post Horn!” recently and loved it—a kind of strange and weirdly hopeful Nordic novel. It’s one of those books that sticks with you after you’ve read it (or did for me).
i owe myself a trip to the bookstore so will look for Long Live! strange and weirdly hopeful sounds right up my alley.
If I recall correctly, it’s less than 200 pages so it could also be a good pocket book
Oof, “I who have never known man” still haunts me
I love your comments and the fact you shared about Clarice Lispector (Brazilian here :) )
I read You Dreamed of Empires earlier this year and liked it a lot but I acknowledge the humor and how vivid everything felt really hit for me.
I never purchase a book faster than when Ali Hazelwood writes a new book. Deep End was one of the sexiest books I've ever read and personally??? I loved it.
On 'the joy of translating', what an incredible find, thank you for sharing it! I find myself thinking about translating so much. The materials I'm researching for my PhD are in Chinese and so I have to translate them first for myself and then for my thesis, but I don't consider myself a "translator" by any stretch. I can interpret and prosaically tell you what the material says, but I struggle to find the heart and lyricism of it. Nothing has depressed me more than the active encouragement from senior academic people to "just use chatgpt" to translate, as though the mechanics of it is enough!
I find that just like working on book reports as a child or having to teach a concept to someone, translating supporting material yourself is so helpful in deepening your understanding of it!! Agreed that the genAIification of translation is a road to hell.
Have read Foster and Greek Lessons and loved both of them. Two very talented writers.
I have nervously avoided Lispector for a while after reading (extensive) negative reviews about her work, but I have also seen the most 'positive' comments for Água Viva and you are adding to that!! Maybe that is where I will start with her.
I agree with your comments about You Dreamed of Empires - at one moment I'd be so enthralled and engaged and practically laughing and others I would think what on earth is going on I have had enough of this. Wearisome is how I would describe it too, which initially after reading I think I felt too scared to say because, as you say, it is sooooo loved. But the more time that I put between myself and the book, the more I stand on two feed about it being wearisome.
Love the Foster love, I'm planning to read that in the summer because I love to match a book to a season when I can - no shame.
Re Fosse - very interested in your enjoyment of Morning and Evening. I read 'A Shining' last year, again consumed in one sitting, that was just wild in the sense of Fosse's writing, imagination and structure of the book. I really struggled to review it because I felt that so much of Fosse's writing is based on atmosphere and emotion that feels so indescribable only he can do it? I want to read him again though, and how can I resit a little slim blue number?! (answer: I never can)
Oooh I haven't read too many negative reviews on Lispector, I should broaden my horizons! I need to read more of her fiction to come up with a sturdier opinion, but 'Água Viva' really was gorgeous (I think I'll try something from earlier in her catalogue next).
Re 'Empires,' I'm so glad you're of a similar mind! It just ended up feeling a bit too gimmicky at points (the music thing, for instance), and it distracted me from the actual story.
Totally agreed on Fosse's atmospheric/moody writing -- not very plot- or character-driven at all, really, so it's hard to describe! Will look for 'A Shining' soon! x
I had similar feelings about You Dreamed of Empires. Saying it preened hits it. A good read but a touch precious with itself.
I am thrilled to find you read I Who Have Never Known Men. I read it last year and it haunted me. The way she sustained tension… thank you for your review.
I want to read Greek Lessons, and now you’ve convinced me to tackle it sooner rather than later.
Precious with itself is a great way to put it! And yes, you'll really love Greek Lessons, I think!
I thought about your recent comments on the joys of re-reading and am currently re-reading The Pillow Book for a slow, calm, non-linear plot experience. If you haven't read it, I think you might enjoy it! It's a memoir of an 11th century Japanese court lady. She has a lot of thoughts about scents, colors, fabric textures, and the like; and loves an amusing little anecdote.
Foster is a perfect afternoon read at a coffee shop or curled up under a blanket on a dreary day.
Based on my own Romance language knowledge and work experience at a translation company: it’s very common for a Romance noun to be translated as a verb in English. My hypothesis is that it’s tied to the English use of gerunds as noun. For me it does change the meaning as well! But it’s more understandable when thinking about it going from English verb > Romance verb, which IME often sounds stilted.
(Sharing this because I think it’s Interesting, not to negate your point.)
This *is* super interesting, thank you for sharing!! I hadn't thought about the English gerunds-as-nouns being tricky in translation, but you're right.
I also find the English translations often lose some of the nuance of idioms and it is SO hard to figure out how to do the lines justice. I wish I kept up with Spanish because reading Neruda in Spanish vs. English is so different. I was BIG into magical realism in HS/college and read snippets of Allende and Garcia Marquez in Spanish in classes and wow, totally different feeling to the prose.