Rather than reply in the comments of the earlier post about the idea of a “Best Translations of 2007” list, I thought I’d post a little update and respond to the various questions people have asked about this.
First off, I think we should definitely include poetry on this list. At first I was going to list it separately, but with only two collections recommended so far, it didn’t seem right to ghettoize them.
I do want to try and restrict this to titles originally published in English in 2007 though, so I didn’t include Jasmine Isle by Ionanna Karystiani, translated from the Greek by Michael Eleftheriou on the list below, but I’ll mention it here instead. (I’ve heard a lot of great things about this book . . .)
In terms of criteria, I think the quality of the original book and the quality of the translation should go hand-in-hand. So the books on the list should be great books in great translations. A great book in a poor translation will unfortunately come off as a mediocre book to readers unable to read the original, and a great translation of a crappy book doesn’t deserve to be on the list. (I hope that’s clear.)
Listed below is what I have so far. But please keep sending in recommendations (chad.post at rochester dot edu) or posting them in the comments below.
A Voice from Elsewhere by Maurice Blanchot (not a novel — a collection of essays, but a wonderful book, utterly unique)
I love the idea of this list but (for a “serious” reader but a relative outsider), it’s a bit overwhelming—where the hell should I start? I’d hate to see great books excluded, but it’d be nice (for readers who aren’t necessarily in the publishing or translating “loop”) if there were some kind of grouping system. I mean, if I’ve decided that the 4-6 books I read this year are all going to be translations, what “should” they be?
I forget to mention earlier The Exception by Christian Jungersen, translated by Anna Patterson and Omega Minor, written and translated by Paul Verhaeghen.
I second Sunflower, by Krudy, tr. Batki — one of the most haunting books I’ve ever read. I do think it’s a republication of an earlier edition of this translation, though. (Not technically a “retranslation,” right?)
Angela, I think this is the first, gathering stage — the fine people at 3% will come up with their “Best” list later, I think?
Angela,
I’d suggest visiting the Reading the World website (www.readingtheworld.org). The past couple of years, a group of publishers that actually do works in translation, as well as a litany of independent booksellers and a smallish group of bloggers, have looked at a selection of about 20 titles. As one who had not read much (if any that I knew of) work in translation prior to the RTW 2006, I found it a great way to learn about some great titles and then spread the wings from there.
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Added to the previous post, but will do so again here, just in case:
Dark Paradise by Rosa Liksom, translated from the Finnish by David McDuff (Dalkey Archive)
Spring Tides by Jacques Poulin, translated from the French by Sheila Fischman