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E.L. James: Fifty Shades of Grey

There are many reasons for not reading the books and many more people who are reading them. Nobody's arm is being twisted either way as far as I can see.
 
Interesting:

"Mommy porn" better in translation

In the Korean version, a work of a veteran female translator who decided to coin a new pen name for these books, the British author’s messy graphic sex fantasy becomes more tolerable with metaphors replacing explicit word choices. If that improves or demeans the original is a judgment best left to individual tastes, but looking at the local popularity, it seems like a commercially-sound decision.

Virtually all the strong language has been toned down with more palatable, publicly-accepted expression. Even the sadomasochistic sex rituals feel demure in comparison. The excessive references to Anastasia’s “inner goddess,” or her libido, do not come as irritating. (Word repetition is not a grammatical crime in Korean.) Devastatingly unnatural dialogue in the original are improved somewhat, but at some point in this 780-pager, especially in the Korean publisher’s two-volume form, the reader has to feel frustrated by one too many use of “God, he’s sexy.”
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I'm not surprised that James' prose reads better after it's been through professional editing and a decent translation, though it raises an interesting question; what is a translator supposed to do when they realise that they're actually a better writer than the author? Do they have the right to improve the text, or are they expected to reproduce it, warts and all?
 
beer good said:
I'm not surprised that James' prose reads better after it's been through professional editing and a decent translation, though it raises an interesting question; what is a translator supposed to do when they realise that they're actually a better writer than the author? Do they have the right to improve the text, or are they expected to reproduce it, warts and all?
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I think a translator has to get the translation as close to the original story in the original language as possible so warts and all is an appropriate metaphor.
 
Speaking of translations, the Swedish edition of 50 Shades Of Gray was published yesterday. The earliest review date for newspapers, blogs etc? October 15th.

I know this is common practice in the movie business, but I think it's the first time I've ever seen it done for a book.
 
A novel that unites women... in a VERY different way!

I think Fifty shades does an excellent job of bringing out a dark side of women, and it unites us over something we have in common which is normally so 'tabboo.'

It is new and experimental, and so descriptive. I feel like this book isn't as respected as other massive best sellers and I guess this is justified in the sense that it started online, and the perhaps common view that it is (in some parts) not very well written, but it is addictive and its ability to unite women in such a new way is just incredible!
 
lisegriffiths86 said:
I think Fifty shades does an excellent job of bringing out a dark side of women, and it unites us over something we have in common which is normally so 'tabboo.'

It is new and experimental, and so descriptive. I feel like this book isn't as respected as other massive best sellers and I guess this is justified in the sense that it started online, and the perhaps common view that it is (in some parts) not very well written, but it is addictive and its ability to unite women in such a new way is just incredible!
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Interesting take on this popular book(s) - haven't read it. You feel that women have a dark side which is a unifying factor?
 
^ Yes, I too want to learn more of this dark side women possess. E.L. James should be celebrated for unifying us. :|
 
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