Translation is a Love Affair
Translation is a Love Affair by Jacques Poulin
This is the story of a writer and his translator. A young woman arrives in Quebecois to meet a writer with a bad back, a cat with an SOS message attached to his collar, and a little girl who loves animals just like she does. The journey is a take on love, of a different kind of love than the romance of feelings met and encouraged-but one where the desires are known, yet never spoken. The translator, and the writer join forces on books, memories and most mysterious of all the search for the owner of the cat with the secret message.
Poulin consumes the reader in this modern love story where love is time, time is slow and a cry for help is all that one needs to jump out of their own life to reach into another's nightmare. Goodness it is breathtaking!! If you don't mind thinking as you read versus the modern novelist gibber that so many are pumping out these days-this read will make you think, make you wonder and amaze you with its richness.
A publisher at Archipelago sent me this book a while back telling me that I would like it. I have yet to doubt anything that comes from that press. The skill of Archipelago strikes again with the decision to translate this modern-day gem. I followed Jacques Poulin page after page and marveled at the excellent translation by Sheila Fischman. Pick this one up, it is art inside a pretty cover. I recommend it for those looking for an artistic and rare approach to the meaning of love with mystery tucked inside. Enjoy!
Archipelago Books I have reviewed:
Plants Don't Drink Coffee
Mourior
The Vanishing Moon
Sarajevo Marlboro
The Waitress Was New
Moving Parts
- ISBN: 9780981955704
- Author: Poulin, Jacques
- Publisher: Archipelago Books
- Translator: Fischman, Sheila
- Subject: Literary
- Copyright: 2009
- Publication Date: November 2009
- Binding: Paperback
- Language: English
- Pages: 144
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Secret Son
Secret Son
by Laila Lalami
291 pages
Fiction, International Fiction, Morocco
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
13, April 2009
An illegitimate son living in the slums comes to know that the story of his life is a lie, his father wasn't killed, and his mother is not a widow, but he was shielded from the truth. Set in Morocco, there is a difference in class systems and Laila Lalami captures the heart of this barrier with great depth. Her writing is pretty, practical and always honest, even when it hurts. There is one specific part where the son, Youssef narrates a chapter and in the subsequent chapter his new found wealthy father narrates that same time from his perspective, I loved that!
As in so much of the world, whether seen and spoken or ignored classes exist and the reprocutions of these systems are brought to life in Secret Son. This is a battle of the classes at its best. A son who should have lived the life of absurd luxury that his father is living, dinning on $300 plates of seafood, but because his mother was a maid he lives in the slums and they attempt to make ends meet. Will the wealth of his father entice Youssef to leave the mother who stuck by his side and had to forsake her entire family in order to keep him?
This is a book of relationships, dreams and the desire to make something of oneself, however most importantly it is of family, and the ties and bonds that hold us tight even after years and years of separation.
I enjoyed this read, but not as much as I started out to. Somehow there was a downturn three fourths of the way through, the story seemed to switch gears and become more political, less personal and I was lost in the mix. I did like the book, I just thought when I started out that I was going to love it and that was not the case. However because there are so many aspects of the book that severely intrigued me I do feel it is a good read. I went to Morocco when I was in high school, I am interested in the different class systems around the world, I love reading internationally and I am all about relationships in books and plots that twist around and around. If those are subjects you feel a drawn towards, you should check out Secret Son by Laila Lalami.
Laila Lalami's website
Blog filled with cool stuff and tour dates
Laila Lalami Author Book Event at Powell's Books:
Laila Lalami, the author of Secret Son was at Powell's and I was able to get up there with Alyce from At Home With Books to the author event. It was such fun, there were people asking weird questions during the Q&A (and I mean REALLY weird questions, that had nothing to do with the book!) and much more to laugh about. Laila Lalami was so sweet...even after I blurted that I had been to Morocco and didn't really love it. What is my deal!? I can't help but let the truth explode from my mouth. AHHH!
Of course, you know me by now, photos are a must!
If you haven't seen the Powell's Books podium...believe me it is the craziest podium ever. HUGE!
Laila was so sweet, very personable and just my size! (A big thank you to Alyce for these photos!!!)
Alyce got found some books to take home, she was a blast to hang with. Too fun.
