lost in translation reading challenge

The technical and design skills I bring to the blogging world are very limited as I have commented on once or twice or dozens of times before. So when I decided I would like to offer a reading challenge, I did not even know where to begin. Content was all there in my head but how to do it? Read, read, read and bug my friend, Martin. 

The button you see in my upper right sidebar links to the page for the challenge. There is not much there yet but I have big plans and high hopes so please check in from time to time. Everything will be set to go and content rich before the new year dawns. So many challenges for 2009 already posted that I thought I should begin now so as not to miss you before you have all made your challenge choices. 

The challenge is simple – read six books in translation by the end of 2009. Comment with links to share or email me review URL to post. Check in periodically to see suggestions, reviews and what others are reading as well as articles and posts related to reading works in translation. Comment here with feedback and helpful suggestions? Would love to hear from you.

Comments

[melanie]

funny you should mention this topic, as I was just noticing i picked up my 3rd translated book in as many months. so i'm in.

[Frances]

Thanks, Melanie! It really is not difficult to find works in translation. The next two from my queue are The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Elegance of the Hedgehog - both translations. I am hoping to see some more esoteric choices from people as well. This should be interesting.

[Audrey Griffith]

I actually purchased a used copy of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and had no idea I was ahead of you for a change. Your concept is wonderful and count me in.

[Matt]

I'll consider this challenge since I read a lot of translated fiction. Just give me some time to come up with a list of tentative candidates. By the way, I notice some common books that we're reading/planning to read. Sea of Poppins is one, and so is What Happened to Anna K.

[Frances]

Matt, please join us. Can't wait to read What Happened to Anna K. as Anna Karenina is one of my favorite novels. Will keep an eye out to see what you post about it.

[3m]

I'm in!

http://1morechapter.com/2008/11/09/lost-in-translation-challenge/

[Sandra]

I'd love to join this one. I'll watch for details and work up a tbr list.

[katrina]

I'm in as well. I don't have a completed list but I have a few ideas. This will help as I'm trying to read books from around the world

[Frances]

Katrina and Sandra - You are on the participants list so many thanks. I also really enjoyed looking through your blogs just now.

[Ex Libris]

Please count me in! I've already got translated books lined up for 2009, so they will fit in nicely. I'll send you my link after I've posted about it.

[Melissa]

I like the idea of this challenge. I'll have to think about a list, though. :)

[Francesca (Scribacchina)]

Hello,
I found your blog and challenge through Melissa's (Book Nut) blog.
As a translator myself, let me say thank you for this challenge idea. The only reason why I am not signing up is that I am moving in January, I do not know whether I will have internet access in my new place for much of next year, and that would limit my blogging :(
If I were ever to host a challenge, it would be something along these lines. Only, I would ask readers to state the translator along with the author, whenever they name a book.
Also, if I may suggest it, there's one nice thing that participants could do: if you read a good translation, if you enjoy it and think it reads as natural as an English-language book, why not try and let the translator know it, and thank him/her?
Happy reading to all
Francesca

[Mae]

I'm in!

[Melissa]

I am signing up for this; even if I only have half of my reading list (suggestions please!!) up right now. :) Thanks for joining my challenge, too.

[Dayna]

This will be my first book challenge! Count me in.

[lynda]

Count me in. My books are here:
http://lyndasbookblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/lost-in-translation-reading-challenge.html

[Whitney]

I'm in! Thanks for hosting.

[Amanda]

I would love to join this challenge too! The link to my post is http://agignac.blogspot.com/2008/11/2009-reading-challenges.html, though my book reviews will all be hosted on my group book review blog, http://5-Squared.blogspot.com. I'm taking the challenge a bit further and saying my 6 translations have to be non-western, so no European or Russian translations for me. Otherwise, this would be too easy, since I have at least 6 or 7 of those already planned for next year. I only have 3 non-western books planned though, so that'll make this much funner. Thanks for hosting!

[JLS Hall]

I'm signing up, too. This sounds great - I've been looking for an excuse to read more translated works. Here's the link to my post:
http://jlshall.blogspot.com/2008/11/lost-in-translation-reading-challenge.html

[Vasilly]

I'm in!

[Rachel D.]

Grear idea! I have my list. When should I post it? (I don't have a blog)

[Vasilly]

I found this site and thought it might interest you for the challenge:

http://www.rochester.edu/College/translation/threepercent/index.php?id=1482

[Karin]

Hi,
I am in, though you have to know that for me translations are books translated into German as that is my mother tongue. I hope that is okay? I read English books in the original, but I have a bunch of books translated from Swedish, French or Russian that I would love to read for the challenge.

[Karin]

Here is my list: http://kucki68.blogspot.com/2008/12/lost-in-translation.html

[Laura]

I'm in! I've been "reading across borders" for two years now so this is a great fit for me. Here's my challenge post.