LoT Book CLub - Book 2 - Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

[Alex]

That's a very bad site. You tricked me.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Really? This is the second Murakami book I've read, and I've found them to be very well translated*. Perhaps it's my subtitled anime training, but I think the translation reads very easily while still maintaining a lot of the uniquely Japanese style.



*Edited to add: Well, I suppose without learning Japanese and reading the originals, I can't vouch for them being truly well translated...but I have found them eminently readable.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Really? This is the second Murakami book I've read, and I've found them to be very well translated*. Perhaps it's my subtitled anime training, but I think the translation reads very easily while still maintaining a lot of the uniquely Japanese style.

*Edited to add: Well, I suppose without learning Japanese and reading the originals, I can't vouch for them being truly well translated...but I have found them eminently readable.

It's a matter of taste, I guess. I finsished The Wind Up Bird Chronicle loving it, but I slogged through the first 100 pages because I thought the writing style (or, rather, the English translation) sounded amateurish. That abated as I became more used to it, and became more interested/invested in the storytelling. But it took a lot of time. I had a similar problem with Battle Royale. Prefer the Manga to the book's prose, and again I think it's the translation. I wouldn't say the translations are poor, so much as Japanese-to-English translations may frustrate me on whole.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

I wouldn't say the translations are poor, so much as Japanese-to-English translations may frustrate me on whole.

I can understand that. It took me a while after I started watching anime in earnest to get over that feeling with the subtitles. English translated from Japanese almost seems like its own language sometimes. I guess I really am just fluent in it, 'cause these translations seem very natural to me.

[blueerica]

I should remind everyone that if there ever a woman fluent in Japanese translated to English, it's me. I'm living in the House of Japanese Translated To English. /cough

I am still slightly uncomfortable with the translation, mainly because the situations, the acts are not always plausible to me. I am not far enough into the book to say either way, though. I'll just have to plug forward.

[SacTown Chronic]

Wait, ya'll started a new book while I was away? Guess I'd better get humping.

[Alex]

I've tried a couple times to go ahead and join in on this one but haven't found a bookstore yet that has it in stock and I'm too lazy to deal with ordering it.

[SacTown Chronic]

I'll check my local used book store and my even local'er B&N. If I strike out in those two places, I promise to cut and run.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I've tried a couple times to go ahead and join in on this one but haven't found a bookstore yet that has it in stock and I'm too lazy to deal with ordering it.

Have you checked libraries? They'll even transfer it to your closest branch if they have it at one of the other branches.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Have you checked libraries? They'll even transfer it to your closest branch if they have it at one of the other branches.

If I'm reading a book to discuss it I prefer to be at liberty to maul and spindle it. But I did look. All five copies in the possession of the Alamade County Library are well-over due and there is a queue. The Oakland Public Library does not have it in English, though they do seem to have pretty complete collections of his books in Japanese, Russian, Korean, and Chinese.