http://amybaker.rambleschmack.net/2009/08/books/titles-in-translation thoughts on books, films & surviving a creative writing MA Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:17:47 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://amybaker.rambleschmack.net/2009/08/books/titles-in-translation/comment-page-1#comment-2645 SQF Bartleby Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:17:47 +0000 http://amybaker.rambleschmack.net/?p=90#comment-2645 I always liked "a la recherche du temps perdue", just for the sound of it, though you'd probably agree that the English translations of it sound like shoes falling down a staircase. Although I do like to read French poetry for sort of that reason - there's a particular enjoyment, and a mystery, to be had reading English translations of Rimbaud or Mallarme. Mostly I think because they almost make sense, but intriguingly don't. Though my favorite for this (there's bound to be a German word for it) effect are the poems of St. John Perse or Henri Michaux, which end up being hallucinatory to the point of non-sequitur. I always liked “a la recherche du temps perdue”, just for the sound of it, though you’d probably agree that the English translations of it sound like shoes falling down a staircase. Although I do like to read French poetry for sort of that reason – there’s a particular enjoyment, and a mystery, to be had reading English translations of Rimbaud or Mallarme. Mostly I think because they almost make sense, but intriguingly don’t. Though my favorite for this (there’s bound to be a German word for it) effect are the poems of St. John Perse or Henri Michaux, which end up being hallucinatory to the point of non-sequitur.

]]> http://amybaker.rambleschmack.net/2009/08/books/titles-in-translation/comment-page-1#comment-2490 adrian Kinnaird Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:23:22 +0000 http://amybaker.rambleschmack.net/?p=90#comment-2490 Hmm...personally, I think you lock eyes with the cover image before the title itself (depending on how far away you are in that crowded room, and the design of the font). And yeah, French titles do look more elegant, especially if it's a bit of a lackluster title in english. Oh, and I'm kinda offended that those classics in the picture have a promo 'Twilight' wrapper around them, that's just in poor taste! (Bronte is rolling in her grave!). Hmm…personally, I think you lock eyes with the cover image before the title itself (depending on how far away you are in that crowded room, and the design of the font). And yeah, French titles do look more elegant, especially if it’s a bit of a lackluster title in english.
Oh, and I’m kinda offended that those classics in the picture have a promo ‘Twilight’ wrapper around them, that’s just in poor taste! (Bronte is rolling in her grave!).

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