Does Larsson suck in Swedish too?

[PacoFear]

I got into a debate comma-heated-comma with a chum over a couple 'o beers at the local Applebee's. You know where all the intellectuals hang out.

We both love-hated Stieg Larsson's books, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc. Larsson has some entertaining characters and the sort of sickness Nordic folks seem best adapted to, but Lordy-Be does his prose suck. It made me shudder at points.

So I'm hoping for Larsson's sake it was a problem with the translation into English. My less optimistic friend disagrees, suspecting that it would have gotten a pretty rigorous going over by his publishing house for translation-related issues.

So anyone read his books in Swedish and care to enlighten?

 

[PennLady]

My dad didn't like the books either. He read GWTDT and the second one, and didn't finish the second. He said he didn't like the characters and he was bored. I read part of GWTDT (trying out his Kindle) and felt no regret or remorse or anything when I stopped. I haven't read them and don't really feel compelled to, although part of me wants to read what the fuss is all about. I've read in a couple of places that his prose isn't very good. So maybe it isn't, no matter the language.

 

[Handley_Page]

I got into a debate comma-heated-comma with a chum over a couple 'o beers at the local Applebee's. You know where all the intellectuals hang out.

We both love-hated Stieg Larsson's books, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc. Larsson has some entertaining characters and the sort of sickness Nordic folks seem best adapted to, but Lordy-Be does his prose suck. It made me shudder at points.

So I'm hoping for Larsson's sake it was a problem with the translation into English. My less optimistic friend disagrees, suspecting that it would have gotten a pretty rigorous going over by his publishing house for translation-related issues.

So anyone read his books in Swedish and care to enlighten?

I have to say that it is Very Very Difficult to do a translation which is both idiomatic and keeps the nature of the characteristics of the original.
And such translators are rare and very highly paid.

 

[PacoFear]

My dad didn't like the books either. He read GWTDT and the second one, and didn't finish the second. He said he didn't like the characters and he was bored. I read part of GWTDT (trying out his Kindle) and felt no regret or remorse or anything when I stopped. I haven't read them and don't really feel compelled to, although part of me wants to read what the fuss is all about. I've read in a couple of places that his prose isn't very good. So maybe it isn't, no matter the language.

I thought the first novel was silly fun. The second was definitely a struggle to read. I made it through numero tres because an in-law gave it to me as a Christmas gift and I knew it would be the subject of a conversation later. Homework in your thirties sucks.

I too saw some griping about Larsson's prose in assorted place online. No one says what language they read him in, though when the complaint is in English I presume the poster read him in English.

 

[PacoFear]

I have to say that it is Very Very Difficult to do a translation which is both idiomatic and keeps the nature of the characteristics of the original.
And such translators are rare and very highly paid.

True, and I've seen that kind of problem first hand. It took me awhile to explain to a corporate U.S. marketing team that their spiffy new "We're #1" advertising campaign was going to flop in Latin America. The #1 idiom doesn't translate.

 

[PennLady]

True, and I've seen that kind of problem first hand. It took me awhile to explain to a corporate U.S. marketing team that their spiffy new "We're #1" advertising campaign was going to flop in Latin America. The #1 idiom doesn't translate.

It may be apocryphal, but I've heard that Chevy had a terrible time marketing the Nova in Spanish-speaking countries b/c in Spanish, "No va" means "no go." True or not, it's amusing.

But yes, a good translation came make all the difference.

 

[litfan10]

I did enjoy the Larsson books partly because I did write off the prose as translation issues. I do have to admit that Henning Mankell is far superior and certainly isn't suffering from any translation issues so it does make me wonder.

 

[slave_]

FUCK! I saw the title quick and thought, "Now who would have a problem with Gary Larson?"

 

[sr71plt]

FUCK! I saw the title quick and thought, "Now who would have a problem with Gary Larson?"

Me too.

I haven't gotten around to reading those books. I'm not hurrying to either.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

No Swede in the history of Earth ever wrote anything worth reading.

 

[PennLady]

Me too.

I haven't gotten around to reading those books. I'm not hurrying to either.

Yep, that's generally how I feel. I think I could finish them, I didn't think the first one was so terrible, I just didn't think it was all that great.

 

[sr71plt]

Yep, that's generally how I feel. I think I could finish them, I didn't think the first one was so terrible, I just didn't think it was all that great.

My daughter keeps telling me I'd enjoy them--and she's usually right about that. I wouldn't be surprised if I got one or more of them for Christmas. But Swedish? I keep thinking of dreary days and long, meaningful (to someone other than me) looks and no dialogue.

 

[lovecraft68]

My wife's godfather went to see the movie. he now is a living breathing expert on S&M.

For the record, he has no idea that I lived the lifestyle for years, write erotica, and has no clue I am a satanist. I had to sit here today and listen to him tell me all about that kind of sex where "they beat each other up."

he also told me that he thought it was good, but if I wanted to see it, I should brace myself cause its pretty dark.

Much crow was eaten. The things I do for love.

 

[PennLady]

My daughter keeps telling me I'd enjoy them--and she's usually right about that. I wouldn't be surprised if I got one or more of them for Christmas. But Swedish? I keep thinking of dreary days and long, meaningful (to someone other than me) looks and no dialogue.

Hahaha. I'm usually one who hates to not finish a book, but every so often I find one that just doesn't do it for me. I also can give a book about 150 pages -- if it doesn't have me by then, or show some promise, then I'm done. I didn't get near that far in GWTDT, and still didn't care.

My wife's godfather went to see the movie. he now is a living breathing expert on S&M.

Snort. Sorry, that's quite funny. I bet he becomes a hurricane expert every year, too, doesn't he?

he also told me that he thought it was good, but if I wanted to see it, I should brace myself cause its pretty dark.

Much crow was eaten. The things I do for love.

I'm a little leery of the movie b/c it was directed by David Fincher (the US version) and I'm never sure about him, although I have enjoyed a couple of his. Also read that Daniel Craig is good, Rooney Mara is good, and the rape scene is tough to watch (as it probably should be). I can't say any of that makes me want to make an effort to go see it.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

My wife's godfather went to see the movie. he now is a living breathing expert on S&M.

My mother misused the word masochist when she was last at our house. She wasn't even close; pretty sure she meant to say sadist, but even that would have been a bit off.

I started to correct her, then stopped. As happy as I was not to have to imagine my parents having kinky sex, I didn't want to have to explain it to them, and I certainly didn't want to put any images in their minds.

 

[sr71plt]

Hahaha. I'm usually one who hates to not finish a book, but every so often I find one that just doesn't do it for me. I also can give a book about 150 pages -- if it doesn't have me by then, or show some promise, then I'm done. I didn't get near that far in GWTDT, and still didn't care.

I'm a slave to my "books read" list. Have competed with my wife in this since before we were married. (She always beats me, but she only reads them, she isn't writing them too.) If I receive it, I've got to read it all--or it can't go on the list.

 

[lovecraft68]

My mother misused the word masochist when she was last at our house. She wasn't even close; pretty sure she meant to say sadist, but even that would have been a bit off.

I started to correct her, then stopped. As happy as I was not to have to imagine my parents having kinky sex, I didn't want to have to explain it to them, and I certainly didn't want to put any images in their minds.

There are very few times in m y life where I have gone by "discretion is the better part of valor" but where my wifes family is involved I do the best I can. It is not worth it.

I have the BDSM symbol tattooed on my thigh. When we all went to the beach a couple of years ago her uncle asked if it was an astrological sign. I told him yes, it's Pisces those are little fishes in the circle. he believed me.

 

[lovecraft68]

Hahaha. I'm usually one who hates to not finish a book, but every so often I find one that just doesn't do it for me. I also can give a book about 150 pages -- if it doesn't have me by then, or show some promise, then I'm done. I didn't get near that far in GWTDT, and still didn't care.



Snort. Sorry, that's quite funny. I bet he becomes a hurricane expert every year, too, doesn't he?



I'm a little leery of the movie b/c it was directed by David Fincher (the US version) and I'm never sure about him, although I have enjoyed a couple of his. Also read that Daniel Craig is good, Rooney Mara is good, and the rape scene is tough to watch (as it probably should be). I can't say any of that makes me want to make an effort to go see it.

I have not seen it and won't, rape scenes get to me sometimes. Not all the time, but its not predictable and I don't need to get set off.

 

[jomar]

I enjoyed the books. The writing didn't bother me.

 

[Etaski]

It may be apocryphal, but I've heard that Chevy had a terrible time marketing the Nova in Spanish-speaking countries b/c in Spanish, "No va" means "no go." True or not, it's amusing.

But yes, a good translation came make all the difference.

Similar story, but from someone who at least spoke Arabic:

Why did (at least in the '90s) Adidas sneakers sell better in the Middle Eastern world than Nike Air sneakers?

Because in Latin letters, it looked like "neek air", which I was told is phonetic Arabic for "throbbing male erection" (more or less).

You'd think that would've actually sold MORE Nike Air sneakers...



Ahhh, on the topic...I haven't read the books.

 

[sr71plt]

There's always how Mandarin managed a translation of Coca-Cola. Ka-Kor-Ko-La. (Sparkling water that tastes good).

 

[Verdad]

If Larsson's prose sucks in English, the likeliest explanation is that it sucks in Swedish too.

I don't know why people make such fuss about translations. It's not like competent translators are some kind of mythical rare species or that 'other' cultures are quite so alien, much less European cultures.

I've seen the Girl With… movie and thought it passable, but it didn't give me a slightest desire to read the books. I won’t say never—I’m now finishing HP, of all things—but not any time soon, I don’t think.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Translations are important cuz events and actions carry disparate weight different places. I recently read an article about racism by a black writer, in the article she explained how blacks perceive racism where it doesnt exist, and take offense when none is intended. So blacks and whites are sensitive to confounding even when they speak the same language. Blacks imagine whites are insensitive, and whites imagine blacks have chips on their shoulders.

 

[R. Richard]

I read GWTDT and I wasn't terribly inpressed. I would, however, like to have sales figures like Stieg Larsson's sales. (Sigh.)

 

[Handley_Page]

There's always how Mandarin managed a translation of Coca-Cola. Ka-Kor-Ko-La. (Sparkling water that tastes good).

Some years ago, Rolls Royce thought of calling the new car "Silver Mist" (presumably following the Ghostly connections).
But the word Mist does not translate well; it;s like the French word "Merde".