pickI've rarely heard from someone who feels about a foreign language the way I do and Jhumpa Lahiri takes that even to the next level. I am sad for her because the writing was stilted and awkward and I know how much that must frustrate her. I'm giving it a pick for the metaphors and the passion. #blameitonlitsy #blameitonbookishmarginalia
EloisaJames I was so disappointed in this book. Didn't you feel that she wrote it too fast (or something)? 7y
BookishMarginalia @EloisaJames Yes. It's not polished, though I must admit in the Italian it does sound much better! 7y
Chelsey Possibly, although it's sounds like she got it down very quickly and then went through multiple times with the assistance of others. Also she was not her own translator, so the person who translated it did so warts and all. If it were me, I know I would be tempted to polish up the English version, but then it wouldn't have been a true translation. I completely understand the juxtaposition of being able to speak a second language fluently but not 7y
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Chelsey ... so fluently that one can express oneself literarily. Knowing the she was writing in a second language my bar for fluency was low and I was pleasantly surprised. Also to find someone so excited for a language is refreshing and comforting, because it means I'm not the only odd duck out there. I've been learning Spanish for 17.5 yrs at this point. I have a good accent and can comfortably carry on a conversation, but there are still gaps. 7y
Chelsey @EloisaJames @BookishMarginalia 7y
BookishMarginalia Great points, @Chelsey 7y
EloisaJames @Chelsey I've been speaking Italian (to my inlaws) for over 20 years and still speak like crap, so I shouldn't criticize! I guess I think that she could have done/said more, but it's so easy to look for what you want, rather than what the author offers! 7y