A Word Before I Disappear

My new Book at Breakfast as of this morning: Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami.

I was a Murakami virgin. Have now read one chapter and like it. Well, I don't hate it anyway. And I want to go on reading. I do wonder though ... if it's good it's as much to do with the translator doing a great job as Murakami being a brilliant novelist. Obviously. I just wish I could read books that I've liked in translation in the original, like the Moomins and Gigi.

Won't be continuing with Dance til Monday though because BaBF only works when I have brekkie at work (at home, the kids wouldn't dream of letting me enjoy coffee+book in peace).

My current Book at Bedtime is Wedding Season, which I love and want to last much longer than it's going to. Shock! Horror! Is this the start of a chicklit addiction?

I managed to write my first non-Tots to Teens review (I'm not counting Harry Potter) in weeks today. I hope to write more next week. Hope to.

Thank goodness it's Friday. I'm going to disappear over the weekend. So, until Monday ... good bye and goodnight.

Comments

[Hsian]

Hi Daph

I have also thought about that a lot as well re: good novelist or good translator. Think it is really a combination of both elements but I also believe in essence, the original content is quite beautiful, hence even when some is lost in translation, the essence still transcends. Some friends (there is like a whole cult movement of Murakami lovers in our midsts!) who have read his stuff in Chinese and English feel that the Chinese translations tend to be richer. In English itself, some of his works have also been translated by two different authors, so that in itself is interesting to compare. In any case, am glad you have started reading his works. A Wild Sheep Chase is really a pre-quel to Dance3X and I was told recently that another two stories preceed that pre-quel even, namely:
Pinball, 1973 (1985)
Hear the Wind Sing (1987)
which you can only read in Chinese unfortunately(other than in its original language)! Oh well, some motivation to brush up on Chinese (what to do Chinese banana!). Also, maybe Japanese writing translates better as have read a lot of Chinese translated text (into English) - they are normally quite awful but being an optimist at heart I keep trying!

Everyone's favourite Murakami tends to be the first Murakami they read. Mine was Wild Sheep Chase and it used to be my favourite but now the favourite spot is occupied Hard Boiled Wonderland and The End of the World (your copy awaits you!)!

It's hard to describe Murakami books but they usually have an everyman non-descript male protaganist (often with fetishes for body parts which are not conventionally considered sensual (his description of ears in one book was so highly fascinating)), highly interesting women, noirish disappearances (missing wives, cats, etc), mish mash of the real with the surreal, like that la.

Enjoy! ;)