tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7932429135630556215.post6708150553144634320..comments2024-02-26T13:12:10.143-05:00Comments on Lizok's Bookshelf: August Is Women in Translation Month: Translations of Russian WomenLisa C. Haydenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10139281544357167953noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7932429135630556215.post-4055229066052476172017-08-26T10:34:50.428-04:002017-08-26T10:34:50.428-04:00Thank you for this link, Languagehat, the details...Thank you for this link, Languagehat, the details in Brezhnev City are what I was enjoying most in the beginning. Before, that is, I interrupted my reading... I'm looking forward to getting back to it soon!Lisa C. Haydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10139281544357167953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7932429135630556215.post-34216897918695070142017-08-26T09:15:49.301-04:002017-08-26T09:15:49.301-04:00I thought you Brezhnev City readers might be inter...I thought you <i>Brezhnev City</i> readers might be interested in this post by Anatoly Vorobey, who grew up in the '80s; the novel resonated powerfully with him (and with commenters):<br />http://avva.livejournal.com/3043612.htmlLanguagehathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13285708503881129380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7932429135630556215.post-50746109083092172142017-08-22T08:33:44.575-04:002017-08-22T08:33:44.575-04:00Yes, the first pages are key... and they might jus...Yes, the first pages are key... and they might just draw you in for <i>Заххок</i>, too! Lisa C. Haydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10139281544357167953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7932429135630556215.post-73436042499607076282017-08-22T00:22:52.508-04:002017-08-22T00:22:52.508-04:00Yep, when it comes down to it, it's all about ...Yep, when it comes down to it, it's all about hooking the reader from the first few pages (especially when you're reading in a foreign language!), and Gigolashvili was much more successful at that than Idiatullin, for me, at least.<br /><br />Anyway, I will be adding Заххок to my ever-growing pile of Russian-novels-I-might-but-probably-won't-read-despite-my-best-intentions, so thanks for that!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854662951424834267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7932429135630556215.post-84384023200815078542017-08-21T09:34:05.338-04:002017-08-21T09:34:05.338-04:00Thank you for your comment, Philip! These are exce...Thank you for your comment, Philip! These are excellent observations about reading as a non-native speaker. <br /><br />I read about 50-60 pages of <i>Brezhnev City</i> before getting totally sucked into <i>Заххок</i> and agree about the language: it's more difficult for me than <i>Чертово колесо</i>, too. I think part of the difference for us as non-native readers is the language itself: the Idiatullin book feels slangier to me, in a more total or global way, though that may be partially because more of the slang in the Gigolashvili novel was familiar to me from other books, even back when I read it. I suspect that a difference in storytelling is at least as important, though. Gigolashvili really knows how to tell a story right from the first page but so far, even dozens of pages in, Idiatullin hasn't really started to do that for me. Other than the prologue! There's very strong atmosphere and I'm very interested, but I'm waiting for the/a story to come together. I think it will happen... and hope it's soon!<br /><br />Your choice of words, about "ploughing along," is just perfect: that's what I do, too, very happily, when a story is absorbing and vocabulary is difficult. <i>Заххок</i> is like that, though Medvedev divides the storytelling between lots of narrators, which mitigates the difficulty since he truly does create distinct voices, some of whom explain unfamiliar concepts and terms. It's still difficult but it's so suspenseful that it keeps me up at night... and it's one of the most consistently interesting books I've read in Russian (and English, too, maybe?) in a long time. I've abandoned a whole lot of books lately but that shouldn't be read as damning with faint praise! Anyway, happy reading, I'm glad you're enjoying the Gigolashvili. It's such a good book!Lisa C. Haydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10139281544357167953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7932429135630556215.post-78313264577542746022017-08-21T01:50:47.105-04:002017-08-21T01:50:47.105-04:00I'm eager to hear your views on Brezhnev City....I'm eager to hear your views on Brezhnev City. From what I read about it on here I thought it sounded great, and I managed to pick up a hard copy on a recent trip to Minsk and download a digital version which, for some reason, was free, but sadly my Russian just isn't up to it. Even with a dictionary I was completely lost by about page 20, and gave up. <br /><br />On the other hand, I'm ploughing through Gigolashvili's Чертого Колесо quite comfortably, even with all the drug slang. Go figure...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854662951424834267noreply@blogger.com