Hello Gentle Reader
On Translation -
Karen Emmerich a translator of Greek literature laments the state of lacking translation. Though translated literature has made headway over the years, it is still lacking in comparative to other books being published in the English language. Karen Emmerich points out in her article for the “Huffington Post,” that, literature from other countries goes beyond the media representation in which people are spoon fed via their television screens or the computers. Literature offers the human heart to the story; it goes beyond the blue glow of the screens, and beyond the demonization or the depictions that are being quickly totted around, in a few second slots, before breaking for the weather or local news. Emmerich argues, that the lack of commentary from the individuals (Greeks in this case) in these situations, lets the stories be tossed aside as nothing more than snippets and vignettes, in regards to the larger story that is taking place. Greece itself has just gone to the polls back in January, and Europe itself held its breath waiting for the outcome, that may push Greece further into debt or, perhaps allow for stability (financial and civil) to come over the troubled country. Yet Emmerich argues that without Literature (journalism included) being translated from these countries, the human representation of such times goes by without truly being understood. I concur with Emmerich. Greece and its government is often shown as being financially irresponsible; petulant in dealing with the realization that its bail outs are credits and must be paid back; and the people have been misrepresented, as being slothful lazy and lacking ambition to get the country out of debt; and yet cry out that someone else must get them out of debt, rather than them, themselves. Emmerich salutes, the writers nominated for this year’s Greek State Book Prize. Many of the nominated authors have thought past the current crisis and show the resilience of Greeks past and present, and offer that glimmer of hope that once again they will overcome even this obstacle. The final point Emmerich makes, after lamenting the state of lack of translation, is perhaps the strongest argument for translation:
“If we want to understand the history we are living right now, the unfolding history of the present, we need to see more translation of media and genres of all sorts.”
As history doesn’t just happen here at homes – it doesn’t just happen in some far off other place; it happens everywhere, everyday all around us.
Children’s Literature Evolves –
I make no secret about sharing my often acerbic and vitriolic views of young adult fiction; which I find gloriously disappointing and a complete lack of anything intelligent worth stating. Though many argue my points are pompous, and do not take into consideration the reading habits of others compared to my own, and continue to state that some people like to read a good story, with no hassle in regards to literary merit, artistic integrity or linguistic ingenuity – perhaps not in so many words though. The greatest argument that people have made, in regards to young adult fiction – which is classified as a form of children’s literature; is it offers some of the most insightful social criticism, and observations that can be observed. The setting maybe a high school, the book maybe written in a primarily ‘young person’s,’ language, with colloquial dialogue on the verge of vernacular diarrhea – and the small melodramatic romantic notions are enough to make a harlequin romance look intriguing; they do showcase aspects of societies demands on the youth, and the media’s representation of what youth is, and what it should be, and how it should act – sixteen and pregnant anyone? This leads to a depiction of a ‘culture,’ that is at times dark, alienated, brooding and in some cases violent. “When Everything Feels Like the Movies,” the debut novel by Raziel Reid, has been criticized by many for dealing with sensitive issues, in a ‘inappropriate manner.’ A petition has urged that Reid have the Governor Generals Award for English Language Children’s Literature revoked. An appeal that has been denied. Raziel Reid shows a nihilistic teenage world, that has been taken over by a cyber world, where everything is instant gratification with no sense of intimacy, no human warmth of contact; where a click of a mouse: makes and breaks. Everything in this novel depicts the emptiness and alienation of the current teenage world, which has become increasingly connected via a cyber world, but disconnected from the real world. Raziel Reid depicts a ever evolving and changing social world. The language of the novel maybe considered violent, rude, crude and inappropriate, but it would appear to be a comprehensive representation of a world that has changed, and the social structured that has evolved with this ever connected. For this observation that shows itself to being very socially aware, I would support the decision to give the award to Raziel Reid, for his novel. It deals with very sensitive subject matter, in an honest depiction; this is what it means to be a socially aware writer.
Wanted: Biographer for Doris Lessing –
The Literary executors of Doris Lessing are in search of a biographer. The biographer will have access to all of Lessing’s archives including her journals, dairies and literary papers. Lessing originally wanted Michael Holroyd to write the biography, but the author has since declined as he is one of the literary executors for Lessing and has also admitted that the sheer size of her archives, and their displacement throughout the globe, would make the task a long process, requiring ten years (at least) of proper research. Doris Lessing’s diaries have been barred from her family to read, on suspected grounds of ‘sensitivity.’ As Holroyd points out – people write things in anger and generally at the moment on the spot. Lessing’s literary executors have offers coming from academic and non-academics – male and female; to write the extraordinary authors biography. It will be a daunting task, but hopefully insightful as well. The executor’s plan on having someone in place by spring.
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
*And Remember: Downloading Books Illegally is Thievery and Wrong.*
M. Mary
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karen-emmerich/greek-journalism-and-literature_b_6565218.html
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/critics-of-vulgar-book-for-young-adults-want-governor-generals-award-rescinded
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/04/doris-lessing-literary-estate-to-appoint-biographer
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