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Ramses-The Son of Light
- andrewoberg
- Scribbler
- Posts: 46
- Joined: June 2010
- Location: Kochi City, Japan
- Contact:
Ramses-The Son of Light
I got this off of a bookshelf at work recently, it's by Christian Jacq. Has anyone read it? It looks okay to me, but not great. Anyway, it's the first of a whole series, and my work only had this one, so I'd be interested to hear any comments. Is this going to be worth getting into?
Teacher and writer living in rural Japan--very adept with chopsticks! Humorous serial shorts and historical fiction graphic novel at: http://drugstorebooks.com/
I first read the Ramses series quite a few years ago and I did enjoy it at the time, particularly the first one which you've picked up I must admit I can't remember the series in great detail, and I haven't enjoyed a great deal of what I've read by Christian Jacq since. If you've got a particular interest in Ramses it's worth a look
I've read the 5-6 of the Rameses books about 6 years ago now, I remember mostly enjoying them, but also vaguely remember that I thought there was some "language" problems in the first one or two (odd sentence structure or word choice). Which is probably a result of whoever was doing the translation from the original French.
I haven't been inspired to pick up any of his other books though.
I haven't been inspired to pick up any of his other books though.
"Logic, my dear Zoe, merely enables one to be wrong with authority." The Doctor, Wheel in Space
SLOC: Solid Lump of Comfort (from the Chalet School books by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)
SLOC: Solid Lump of Comfort (from the Chalet School books by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)
[quote=""annis""]Yes, the language is a bit clunky -- a problem I've also found with Valerio Massimo Manfredi's novels, which are translated from the Italian. I've never been able to decide whether it's his writing which is at fault, or the lost in translation factor![/quote]
I had the same thing with his novels too! I've enjoyed the storyline, but the language let things down.
I had the same thing with his novels too! I've enjoyed the storyline, but the language let things down.
"Logic, my dear Zoe, merely enables one to be wrong with authority." The Doctor, Wheel in Space
SLOC: Solid Lump of Comfort (from the Chalet School books by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)
SLOC: Solid Lump of Comfort (from the Chalet School books by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)
- sweetpotatoboy
- Bibliophile
- Posts: 1641
- Joined: August 2008
- Location: London, UK
I read this series in French a few years ago, so I can't really comment on the translation. The language was very plain style, which is nice and accessible for someone with pretty decent but not quite native-standard French, so I imagine that the English translation was a fair reflection.
Not high-quality literary prose, but highly readable fiction. Don't expect to be blown away but a decent storyteller.
I might read some of his other books one day but no urgency.
Not high-quality literary prose, but highly readable fiction. Don't expect to be blown away but a decent storyteller.
I might read some of his other books one day but no urgency.
[quote=""ejays17""]I've read the 5-6 of the Rameses books about 6 years ago now, I remember mostly enjoying them, but also vaguely remember that I thought there was some "language" problems in the first one or two (odd sentence structure or word choice). Which is probably a result of whoever was doing the translation from the original French.
I haven't been inspired to pick up any of his other books though.[/quote]
My thoughts exactly
I haven't been inspired to pick up any of his other books though.[/quote]
My thoughts exactly
Currently reading: The Poisoned Pilgrim: A Hangman's Daughter Tale by Oliver Potzsch
- andrewoberg
- Scribbler
- Posts: 46
- Joined: June 2010
- Location: Kochi City, Japan
- Contact:
Hey all, thanks for your comments.
I actually stopped reading about midway through. It was just too terribly written. Very clunky language, as many of you commented on, and the pace was far too fast for my liking. Just when something interesting began to happen the next paragraph would have fast-tracked the entire scene.
Actually, that might be too negative. I would say that it's a good, light read for something like killing time on a flight. But I was looking for a book that would really open up life in ancient Egypt to me, and felt that Jacq's book didn't have the depth of detail to do that. There were times when it almost did, but not quite enough to keep me reading.
I actually stopped reading about midway through. It was just too terribly written. Very clunky language, as many of you commented on, and the pace was far too fast for my liking. Just when something interesting began to happen the next paragraph would have fast-tracked the entire scene.
Actually, that might be too negative. I would say that it's a good, light read for something like killing time on a flight. But I was looking for a book that would really open up life in ancient Egypt to me, and felt that Jacq's book didn't have the depth of detail to do that. There were times when it almost did, but not quite enough to keep me reading.
Teacher and writer living in rural Japan--very adept with chopsticks! Humorous serial shorts and historical fiction graphic novel at: http://drugstorebooks.com/
A translator can really make or break a translated book. It's always been my opinion that the well-translated books are those which actually skillfully rewritten by the translator during the process.
But then, I've always thought that language was more than just a set of symbols representing objects or actions. It's got its own unique cadence, rhythm, and flavor, and a well-written book is partly well-written because the words themselves are artistically arranged. In order for a book to retain that force and flavor, it needs to be rewritten enough to match the cadences of the new language.
If that makes sense.
But then, I've always thought that language was more than just a set of symbols representing objects or actions. It's got its own unique cadence, rhythm, and flavor, and a well-written book is partly well-written because the words themselves are artistically arranged. In order for a book to retain that force and flavor, it needs to be rewritten enough to match the cadences of the new language.
If that makes sense.
Rhian Hunt
Now Available: The Six Expressions of Death A murder mystery set in 16th century Japan.
Coming Late 2012: Man of the Bow and Spear Continuation of the series.
The Six Expressions of Death
Now Available: The Six Expressions of Death A murder mystery set in 16th century Japan.
Coming Late 2012: Man of the Bow and Spear Continuation of the series.
The Six Expressions of Death