Reviews

Translating Myself and Others by Jhumpa Lahiri

bookishkitkat's review against another edition

I really liked the introduction, and then everything quickly became too high brow for me. Also did not follow half the references she made in here, especially the Italian references which were like 50% of them. 

lape's review

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

noel_rene_cisneros's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Bellos ensayos sobre el paso de una lengua a otra, Jhumpa Lahiri reconoce que debido a su origen no tiene una lengua materna propiamente dicha, desde pequeña se enfrentó al proceso de traducir, primero entre el inglés y el bengalí, la lengua de su madre, para después enfrentarse a otros procesos de traducción y, finalmente, mudarse a Italia para aprehender el italiano, lengua en la que empezó a escribir —no solo traducir—. Ensayos en los que Lahiri ofrece luz sobre ciertos autores italianos que ha traducido —Elena Ferrante, Lalla Romano, Gramci, Calvino, Ovidio—, pero también su labor de cambiar de lengua en su escritura y de traducirse a sí misma al inglés. Revela a un tiempo a Lahiri, pero también la labor de traducción.

jedwin00's review

4.0

Not only is this author a terrific writer and an expert translator. They are also able to craft a selection of essays that beautifully elaborate on how complex the cultural exchange of translation can be.

Before I read this book I had no idea how much creative and scholarly effort goes into translation. It was essay 4 that really spoke to me. She uses the metaphor of the Greek myth of echo to describe the task of translations. It touched me deeply.

My favourite books are ones which open my eyes to the beauty and complexity of an environment I have not, and no intention to, experience. I now see how wonderful an act it is to translate and look upon another area of human expertise with wonder and joy.

bella613's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

This was incredible! I loved it. Very poetic and inspiring, but also informative and educational. At some points I wondered if maybe I'm not smart enough for this book (is this what it's like to take a class at Princeton?) But it's definitely worth it. 

sofi_thebookishflor's review

challenging informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

If you like the process of translation or are curious about it. This is the book for you. Incredibly insightful and interesting.

kevinmccarrick's review

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

car155a's review against another edition

informative inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

divineauthor's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

“For to translate is to look into a mirror and see someone other than oneself.” —“In Praise of Echo,” page 59

lahiri’s voice—in conjunction with o’brien and vourvoulias-bush as translators—is sonically, lyrically, narratively rich with meaning. the breadth of knowledge seeps through the text with each word; anyone who reads this knows that lahiri has been rolling each word / idea / theme in her mind for quite some time, letting it marinate and cook to near perfection. some of my favorites of her essays are “containers” and “in praise of echo,” though all are worth reading despite the others’ density! i know i’ll find myself flipping through this collection just to glimpse her prose again in the future. 

danakm's review against another edition

Listened to audiobook. Felt it was more a literary review than reflections on translation but might come back to it