Happy weekend, everyone! I’ve spent much of this week championing Tove Jansson in an online poll of NYRB Classics authors, and I’m delighted to say that she won the overall competition – even if it did mean losing favourites like Barbara Comyns, Elizabeth Taylor, and Sylvia Townsend Warner along the way. She also got her fair share of people (mostly men) dismissing her as a children’s writer – it reminded me of a recent podcast episode where Rachel and I discussed how female writers are often expected to write for children too, and then critically diminished for doing so.
ANYWAY, on with the usual miscellany. I hope you’re having a fantastic weekend.
1.) The book – I hadn’t heard of Catching Fire by Daniel Hahn until Emily commented on a blog post. She wrote “Also has anyone read the book Catching Fire by Daniel Hahn? It is a memoir, the subtitle says a translation diary, about when the author translated the book Never Did the Fire by Diamela Eltit.” Emily also mentioned that she hadn’t read it yet, but that description was enough to send me straight to buy a copy (directly from the publisher) – and it is now waiting on my coffee table.
2.) The blog post – I enjoyed Sheree’s take on some of most reviewed books on GoodReads – or, as she puts it, Daddy GR :D
3.) The link – Charleston House (the country residence of major members of the Bloomsbury Group) is a marvellous, inspiring, enveloping place – and I enjoyed the Guardian’s take on its role in fashion history.
My book club read Daniel Hahn’s diary together with the book itself, and it really helped to illuminate certain passages, as well as reminding us (there are a few translators in our book club) just how challenging translation work can be.
And yay to Tove! One of my absolute favourite writers, although I agree with you that it’s a shame so many other women writers lost out along the way. (I do like Ginzburg as well, but Tove has had my heart all my life, it feels).
I also loved the sound of Catching Fire when Emily wrote about it. Thanks for the Guardian article link too. I was not inspired by many of the top Good Reads books but it was fun to read Sheree’s post. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Well, I’m going to have to read The True Deceiver at some point after yesterday Twitter conversation! As you know, I voted for Ginzburg, but it’s great to see a woman in translation triumphing in the final showdown, especially in August!
*yesterday’s
Ooh, I have that book on my wishlist! And I, too, enjoyed that Guardian piece.
Oooh, what a treat to spy myself in your weekend miscellany! Cheers, Simon :)