20 for 2020 Wrap up

The 20 for 2020 Wrap-Up

So another year, come and gone. 

Looking back, there is no doubt that 2020 was a challenging year for everyone. Some of us found more that we had much more free time, and some found we had much less. Without getting into all the different challenges we all faced this past year, it is suffice to say - we all suffered somewhat.  I can not think of anyone I know that came out of 2020 unscathed on some level or another.  I am thankful for the health of the people closest to me, and hope for continued luck in that.  Everything else will improve in time. 

I found myself struggling a little with reading, and a lot with finding time to review early in the year. I stopped requesting and accepting advance copies as I could not say with any degree of certainty that I would be able to offer any kind of meaningful review in a timely matter.  At the time of this writing, I have finished most of my advance copy books, but I'm so far behind on reviews, that writing them is even more time consuming because I have to constantly stop and refresh my memory. Because of this I am not even attempting to review books that were not provided in exchange of a review. Not that I don't think they deserve it - I just needed to prioritize my time more carefully for the time being. Add to that changes made to the blogging platform (not a fan) and some of the time saving tools I used to use (like hootsuite) that made them less functional to my needs, and everything just seems to take more time and effort.  I am starting to consider dropping some of my platforms and accounts to make things a little more manageable. Every time I start to think of this though, I have to wonder where to make "the cuts"?  Twitter is more time consuming than Instagram, but when I am active on both, Twitter seems to be a little more engaging.  Goodreads is all books all the time, and My Book Pledge is lots of fun, but doesn't offer a lot of interaction.  Facebook is where I am most comfortable, but to be honest, that is where I have made the least progress with building a following. Sigh....I know I want to make changes to make thinks more manageable and fun again - I just haven't figured out exactly what. I just know that I am happier when I can talk about books with other book lovers.  So I hope wherever this year takes me, I will see some familiar friends and make some new ones. 

One year ago, I posted my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge, not realizing that it might be more challenging than I thought. Thankfully, I am a huge audiobook fan, so even when my print and e-book reading slowed down, and my reviews slowed to a mere trickle, I was able to enjoy a lot of really great books.  I didn't end up reviewing many, but I did have entries on my challenge.  I would love to hear from others who took on the challenge for 2020.  How did you do?  Have you read any of these books? what did you think?

Here is my Challenge results. 

1.      The Backlist - Read a book that is at least 2 years old.- Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

2.      The Frontlist - Read a book that is a new release (less than 6 months old) Dear Edward, by Ann Napolitano

3.      The Truth - Read a Non-Fiction title that is not a biography/memoir (True Crime, Documentary, etc.)  Blood in the Water, by Silver Donald Cameron

4.      People Person Books - Read a Biography or memoir From the Ashes, by Jesse thistle.

5.      The Quick and Easy - Read a novella or short book - 250 pages or less (or the audiobook equivalent) OR read a collection of short stories. – Smile, by Roddy Doyle   

6.      The Long Haul - Read a long book - 450 pages or more (or the audiobook equivalent) Pretty Things, by Janelle Brown

7.      Indie Inclined - Read an Indie or small press published title – West Of Sin, by Wesley S. Lewis

8.      Listen Up! - Listen to an audiobook – The Other Wes Moore, by Wes Moore

9.      Long Ago - Read a book that takes place more than 25 years ago – A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles

10.   Different Worlds – Read a Science Fiction or Fantasy Book – Magic Lessons, by Alice Hoffman

11.   Reading on the Edge of Your Seat - Read a Thriller/Suspense/Mystery book – Turn of the Key, by Ruth Ware

12.   Traveler Through Books - Read a book that has been translated from another language – The Warning, by Paul Pen and translated by Simon Bruni

13.   Young at Heart - Read a YA novel Children of Virtue and Vengeance, by Tomi Adeyemi

14.   Books That Go Bump In The Night - Read a Horror or Ghost story The Invited, by Jennifer McMahon

15.   New Beginnings - Start a new (to you) series or trilogy  Master of Sorrows, book 1 of The Silent Gods, by Justin Call

16.   Meet a New Author - Read a debut novel – Sharks In The Time of Saviors, by Kawai Strong Washburn

17.   Relationship Goals ...Or Not - Read a book that centers around the beginning or the end of a relationship/marriage. (Romance, Domestic Noir, etc) - My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell

18.   Read a Movie - Read a book that is also a movie – Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (re-reading as I read the series to my son at bedtime. (starting before her now infamous comments – Please don’t @ me)

19.   The Winner is... - Read a book Short-listed for a major literary award – To The River: Losing My Brother, by Don Gillmor – Winner of the Governor General’s award for non-fiction in 2019.

20.   One World - Read a book written by, and that has a main character that is someone of a different color, culture, sexual orientation, or religion than you. The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi

So, once posted, I will be un-pinning the 20 for 2020 posts on the blog and on twitter.  I really do want to take the time to wish everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous, and bookish New Year.  May this year be kinder to us all than the last.  

Wishing you all the best for 2021.

Happy Reading, 

Christine

 

In Praise Of Translators and The Wonderful Books They Bring Us

Translators And Wonderful Books They Bring Us.

Translators play an important role in society today.  They help business succeed in a global market, they help visitors and new immigrants in foreign lands with everything from directions, to legal issues, to providing accurate translation in emergent medical situations.  

They also bring us great books!

I love the feeling of exploring distant lands and cultures, but my travel budget wont get me past the local bookstore. That's okay though, because thanks to some very skilled literary translators, I can explore those lands and cultures just by diving into a great book!

What makes a good translator?

Any book that is good in its original language has the potential to be a good book once translated, but the quality of translation is so important - both to the writer hoping for their book's continued success, and to the reader who is looking for a book to make them feel like they have been transported to another place. 

Have you ever tried to use Google translate for more than a few words?  I am able to fumble through a little German on my own, but even for me, I sometimes re-write the result from Google translate.  That is saying a lot....I mean my German is pretty limited - and rough  at that!

It is obviously not enough to simply do a word for word translation.  To do that would result in a book that feels clunky and without flow; it would lose its rhythm and prose, and in doing so its charm. That's where the art and skill of a truly good translator can really shine.

A good literary translator can maintain the beauty and prose present in the original writing and make it accessible to the reader. They can translate not only the words, but the cultural backdrop and feeling of the story as well. The reader should be able to fully immerse themselves in the story and its culture, and go on a virtual journey to the time and place the story is actually set in. In short it should feel authentic, even in its new language. 

It is my belief that literary translators have to themselves be at least part writer at heart in order to understand and preserve the art of the original writing. 

Some of my Favorite Translated Books:

The Murmur of Bees, written by Mexican author Sophia Segovia and Translated by Simon Bruni

The Light of The Fireflies, written by Spanish author Paul Pen, and also translated by Simon Bruni

Vita Nostra, Written by the Russian writing team of Marina and Sergey Dyachenko translated by Julia Meitov Hersey

The Travelling Cat Chronicles, written by Japanese author Hiro Arikawa, and translated by Philip Gabriel

A Man Called Ove, written by Swedish author Fredrik Backman and translated by Henning Koch

The classics translated:

Some classics have multiple translations to English. Books like Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of The Opera, or Victor Hugo's Les Miserables among many others. Some translations better received and become more popular over time than others. If you are looking to read a translated classic, it may be worth a few minutes of your time to compare the available versions so you can choose one right for you. 

It is not just adult content that is translated.  Many of our childhood favorites started in another language. The classic story of Pinocchio, originally written in Italian by Carlo Collodi has been translated over 300 times by some estimates! Of course not all these translations are English, but I can't imagine it would be easy to find a person who has not heard of that beloved character.

So, for all the literary translators that bring us so many wonderful stories we might otherwise miss out on, I say...

Happy Reading, 

Christine

On This Day - September 13th - Roald Dahl Day

Beloved Children's author Roald Dahl was born on this day September 13, 1916.

While Dahl also wrote stories for adults, he is best known for the numerous children's stories he wrote. Most notable titles written by Dahl include CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (which was not once, but twice made into movies - first starring the Gene wilder, and more recently starring Johnny Depp), MATILDA, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, THE WITCHES, BFG, THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX, and more.

Dahl's trademark was the using new and inventive words known as Gobblefunk.

His whimsical stories have enchanted generations of children, with worldwide sales for his books being around 250 million copies! He is known as one of the greatest children's storytellers of the 20th century.

So raise your glass of frobscottle in salute of one of the greatest children's storytellers of all time!

Happy Reading,

Christine

Happy Birthday Rohinton MIstry!

Birth date of Rohinton Mistry - July 3

Today is the birth date of Rohinton Mistry.  

Mistry is the author of well known books such as A FINE BALANCE, SUCH A LONG JOURNEY, FAMILY MATTERS, and more. 

 

 

Rohinton Mistry was born in 1952 in Bombay, India.  In 1975 he emigrated to Canada. His work has earned him numerous awards, and a loyal following. 

I have read all three of the novels mentioned above, and they have all maintained a spot on my book shelf. They are deep and poetic and moving. 

Happy birthday Rohinton Mistry!

Happy Anniversary to J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter

Happy Anniversary to J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter!

 

On this day, June 26, 1997, HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE, by J.K. Rowling was first published!  The first book in the series, these books have gone on to be best sellers and favorites of readers both young and old.

If you haven't heard of these books, you must be a muggle living under a rock. 

 

Hope you read something magical, 

Christine

Sunday Summary - May 27 to June 2, 2018

Sunday Summary - May 27 - June 2, 2018

Oops! Here it is Monday morning, and while I produced my Sunday Summary on time - I forgot to hit the publish button!

So under the heading of "Better late than never" Here is this week's Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the past week.

Books Reviewed:

The Favorite Sister, by Jessica Knoll (Audio Book):
https://thelastpageturnedbookblog.blogspot.com/2018/05/review-favorite-sister-by-jessica-knoll.html

One Way, by Jeff Lane:
https://thelastpageturnedbookblog.blogspot.com/2018/05/review-one-way-by-jeff-lane.html

The Flight Attendant, by Chris Bohjalian (Audio Book):
https://thelastpageturnedbookblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/review-flight-attendant-by-chris.html

Ramblings and Miscellany:

 

May 28, 1908 - Ian Fleming's Birthday:
https://thelastpageturnedbookblog.blogspot.com/2018/05/may-28th-calendar-eventtrivia-ian.html

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week: 

GATE 76 - by Andrew Diamond
https://thelastpageturnedbookblog.blogspot.com/2018/03/review-gate-76-by-andrew-diamond.html

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

Currently Reading:

We Are Where the Nightmares Go and Other Stories - by, C. Robert Cargill 

Currently Listening to (Audio Book):

Then She Was Gone - by Lisa Jewell 

Notable Titles on Deck:

I still have 4 ARCs currently on deck (including the book "Pieces of Her, by Karin Slaughter (which was bumped for C. Robert Cargill's We are Where the Nightmares Go and Other Stories because it has an earlier release date) and as always. more pending.  

As school and spring sports start to wind up, I hope you are able to find at least a little time to read something good!

Happy Reading,
 Christine

On returning to Blogger and "Reading" on the drive to and from work.

I used to blog about books. I used to meet local bookcrossers every month at a local coffee shop to enjoy a fancy coffee and trade and discuss books of all sorts. What they were about, where to find a good deal for them and all other aspects.  Indeed, after attending these monthly meetings over time, most of us would go to a meeting knowing who in the group would most likely enjoy whatever offerings we brought with us.  Then my relationship became serious and I moved in, and after a time, we eventually had a beautiful son.  While I still read a fair bit during the first part of all this, I didn't take the time to blog and review.  Then, after my son was born, I was too busy and too tired to read much - shocking as that seems, let alone take the time to update a blog.

When my eyesight became an issue, and surgery was required, I wondered how I would spend those first few light sensitive days afterward.  I decided the best thing to do in a darkened room, was "Read".  Audiobooks that is! I chose and downloaded a few audiobooks from the local library via the overdrive app. and was gratefully entertained while in my darkened room  Once recovered from the surgery, I realized how much I missed my bookish adventures. My son was still young enough that reading was still difficult, but "where there is a will..." they say -  so armed with my Overdrive app, and an audible subscription, I continued to get my book fix while commuting to and from work every day.  I stream an audiobook from my smartphone and rather than listening to the same music over and over again every morning, I would listen to my book.

My life is now centered more at home.  My son is old enough to allow me at least a little reading time every day again, (and I think it is important for my son to see that adults sometimes read for no other reason than to enjoy a book!) and even a little time to blog - I have been typing the occasional brief review, but sometimes on audible, and sometimes on Goodreads, etc. and a blog allows for one location where I can be sure to find my thoughts on any book.  I can always copy and paste to those other places ;-)  I have started this fresh new blog, rather than try to breathe life into the long neglected original "The Last Page Turned" - but the address is https://lastpageturned.blogspot.com/ if you really are inclined.

I still listen to audiobooks while I drive - it just means that now I more inclined to be "reading" 2 books at the same time.

I hope you are able to find time and a way to enjoy the stories that make you happy.

Happy Reading,
Teenie