The Literary Blog Hop is a weekly event held at The Blue Bookcase prompting book bloggers to answer a question.
What is one of your literary pet peeves? Is there something that writers do that really sets your teeth on edge?
What a difficult question! I have no idea how I am going to answer it yet. There is nothing that springs to mind immediately. Of course, there are things that might annoy me when reading, but I do not seem to find a general feature.
The first thing I can think of is bad translation. For instance, in the last book I read that was translated from English to French, there was the phrase “serviette à thé”, an obvious literal translation of “tea towel”; however, we do not have serviettes à thé in France, we have torchons. Since that day, I have avoided translations (at least, from English to French).
Another thing that annoys me is typos, when they are too numerous. I understand that these might have been errors made during the editing and publication process and are not necessarily the writer’s fault; however, if I see too many typos, I tend not to trust the writer, particularly if it is an academic text. Recently, I was getting ready to read an article by Shuli Barzilai (a scholar of Atwood) in a collection of essays; however, Shuli warned me that typos had been introduced at the copy-editing stage and offered to send me an offprint she had made of the article to read instead. It must be so frustrating to see your work messed up like that.
In her answer to the question, Christina mentions long dialogues that bear no mark of whom is speaking the line, so that you actually lose track. I also find that annoying. Actually, I am bothered when I lose track in general and have to actually go back to reread the passage. The exception is when this confusion is actually aimed for and thus becomes a literary technique. An example of this could be the conversation at the end of Carol Shields’s Larry’s Party. Virginia Woolf’s The Waves, and many other modernist works actually, would also get us lost in the dialogue and thoughts of protagonists. It might be confusing, but I believe it is part of the effect the writer wishes to create.
I am sure that as I will read other bloggers’ answers I will think how right they are, but, for now, this is all I can think of.
28 comments
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December 9, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Binnie
One-sentence paragraphs, especially if used often in the same piece (fiction, anyway).
December 9, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Em
Too long sentences in general, I suppose. I think I am actually guilty of that!
December 9, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Binnie
(Sorry, was that an example of a one-sentence paragraph?)
December 9, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Em
🙂
December 9, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Em
I have found another one: when academic authors use a different language for a quotation or a long phrase and do not offer a translation.
December 9, 2010 at 4:00 pm
LifetimeReader
I so wish I knew another language enough to be able to evaluate a translation! (I do know American Sign Language, but that is a bit different.) When I struggle with a work in translation, I never know if the translation is poor or if it is the author’s style, or something in between. Have you read about the translation debates that have arisen over the new Pevear/Ver of Doc Zhivago, by any chance? You might find this article interesting: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/nov/06/doctor-zhivago-boris-pasternak-translation
December 9, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Em
I haven’t, I’ll try to check this.
I know, it’s great to be able to read two different language, and then, I try to read latin-language books in their French translation and other books in their English translation.
A funny fact is that I actually prefer to read French theorists in English, but that’s just laziness and I try to get out of the habit as a lot is lost in translation. People like Barthes, Derrida, Genette, etc, tend to be too poetic in French…
December 9, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Risa
Em, I’d have thought their being poetic would make their theories less dry!:D
As to the last part of your post, I’m not sure how willing I would be to give those particular authors a try in order to understand their strange techniques! I usually steer clear off their works!
December 10, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Em
I personally find them more difficult to understand!
I suppose you can stay clear of their work (saying that, I would recommend Carol Shields anyway, as this particular technique is just a small part of the book and I think it is a brilliant book!), we each have our own taste regarding the style of writing. However, “strange techniques” are an integral part of a book, whatever the techniques are; they can be seen as a statement and an engagement with what went on before in the literary world or with what is going on in society. Some techniques might seem stranger than others, but they are interesting in themselves.
December 9, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Ingrid
Don’t avoid translations entirely just because you read one bad one! Translation is notoriously difficult, but experienced translators can really do a great job.
December 10, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Em
You’re right and I don’t avoid them entirely, but when I have the choice, I prefer to read the work in its original language (although sometimes I’m curious: I read The Little Prince in English a couple of years ago, for instance).
December 9, 2010 at 8:50 pm
winstonsdad
translation is a art when done right works and when done badly glares ,don’t let one bad one put you off, pick one of the big translators there big because they know how to mould a book into english making a mirror image of the original ,all the best stu
December 10, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Em
Yes, the translator can also create a work of art. I’ll get on to you when I need recommendations for translations as I wouldn’t know much about the good translators…
December 10, 2010 at 1:02 am
Melody
Translation really does seem to be such a tricky business. There are so many aspects to consider.
(Lifetime Reader–thanks for linking that article, it was pretty convincing. I’m planning on reading Dr. Zhivago next year and have been trying to decide which translation.)
December 10, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Em
When you consider what language is and how it gets its meaning, it becomes evident how difficult translation is.
December 10, 2010 at 1:02 am
Becky (Page Turners)
I found it difficult to think of something off the top of my head too and so I just went something that really bothered me in a book that I read recently.
I can’t say that bad translations bother me because I don’t speak any other language so I can’t compare.
I have never really noticed typis or grammatical errors in books either, but that is perhaps because my grammar is so terrible I wouldn’t know right from wrong anyway!
December 10, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Em
The latest I noticed was only yesterday, a syllable was repeated. I can’t remember the word, but it looked really strange!
December 10, 2010 at 4:15 am
Rachel
Translation is a hard job… there aren’t always equivilant words and translators have to make judgement calls. This doesn’t always work but sometimes, it works ok. I guess all we can do is keep reading and enjoying! 🙂 despite those annyoing faults. There are some great translated novels out there… although sometimes I do wonder how much meaning is lost in translation..
December 10, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Em
So do I…
December 10, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Em
For the second time I am trying to leave a message on your blog and don’t manage. Any idea why?
Your answer made me laugh and I wonder what you think of DH Lawrence and his views on the question?
December 10, 2010 at 11:59 pm
parrish
Half the books I read are translated & so far I’ve had no problems, whether that’s just luck or because of my vague language skills , i’ve just not noticed the translation been poor.
December 11, 2010 at 12:16 am
mywordlyobsessions
Badly translated literary novels = ‘Spring Flowers, Spring Frost’ by Ismail Kadare. I read it for the 1001 Books challenge and discovered the English was written from from the French text which was translated from the original Albanian.
It was terrible.
December 15, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Em
Hmmm, I can’t see the logic there!
December 12, 2010 at 5:05 pm
debnance at readerbuzz
I don’t like it when the author seems too sure of herself. Too fancy-smancy.
I also hate it when the author ties everything up at the end in one easy-to-digest package.
December 15, 2010 at 11:04 pm
Em
I can’t say that I hate when it’s all tied-up, but I think a bit of open-endedness makes it more interesting.
December 13, 2010 at 10:38 pm
litlove
I completely agree about poor translations! There’s a certain stiltedness that creeps in at times, too, and makes the whole reading experience awkward and uncomfortable. And I remember some of those long dialogues in Larry’s Party – perhaps I had to read them several times to get the speakers straight (I can’t remember now, but it’s possible!). So I quite agree with you on those counts.
December 18, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Orhedea
I have the same thing with translations too. Like have you tried reading Sagan in English? There isn’t a single good translation out there. Or English to Russian translations. God, how embarassed i was when i gave my mom Vampire Academy in Ruaain. The doofs missinterpreted the word hook up! The also thought it was too dry and added extra “elements” turning it into a full blown porno. Bleh!
December 19, 2010 at 4:02 am
Em
I haven’t tried reading Sagan in English and your comment does not make me want to!
Hmmm, I’m not sure about how ethto add elements to a book, but then I think the author, if s/he is still alive should not let that happen.
This reminds me of Carol Shields’s Unless in which the narrator is a translator who works very closely with the author she translates… Have you read it? Highly recommended!
Ok, I’m going off topic here. It’s a shame you cannot find good translations where you are. Have you talked to other bloggers who are interested in such issues? They might have recommendations for you. Stu, who commented above, seems to be well aware of the translations one can find.