RIYADH: For many people quarantine has proved to be the perfect time to get back into reading if they stopped before lockdown due to their daily routine, or to pick it up if they never started.
Books, the oldest and most enlightening form of escapism, can transport readers far away from the space they have been stuck in for the past few months to somewhere new for a while.
An Arabic novel may add a local flavour to one’s life in the holy month of Ramadan, and even a lack of Arabic is not a problem with a proper translation.
Translations are not exactly the same as the original text but they are good enough, said Dr. Nadia Sabbah, a former educator at Prince Sultan University’s translation department.
She said it was inevitable that something would always be “lost in translation,” but that did not necessarily mean the value of a translated book was diminished.
“Cultural differences, religious differences and the lack of 100 percent interchangeable terms and expressions means that there will always be a very small margin of error,” Sabbah told Arab News. “But a good translator can combat this by putting a goal in mind to produce the same effect as the original author, even if it means a slight departure from the original style.”
Translator Sarah Al-Faisal recommends "The Beginning and the End" by Naguib Mahfouz
The Arabic language in particular, she said, was a difficult one to translate. “Arabic is a language that meanders almost. Arabic authors love long, flowing sentences. English is a language that loves brevity and conciseness for the most part. Finding a balance between the two is tricky, but nevertheless worth the effort.”
Every translator possesses their own style, skill set and area of expertise, which means that there are ultimately good and bad translations of Arabic novels.
How can readers tell the difference?
Translator Sarah Al-Faisal said that a good way to choose between different versions of a translated text was to look into the level of experience of the translators themselves, if possible.
“Translation is a process that evolves and improves by practice,” she told Arab News. “The more a translator has extensive experience in the field of translation and has many translations, the more versed they become in translation.”
Translator and writer Loulwa Al-Marshad recommended “The Yacoubian Building” by Egyptian author Alaa Al-Aswany
She also recommended looking into the book’s publishers and what kind of reputation they had. She said that some publishing houses relied on translated books to boost sales, and so they may accept poor translations in exchange for speed.
“Before reading any translated book, make sure that the publishing house has a reputation for translated work that is outstanding and that it focuses on quality, not quantity,” she added.
Al-Faisal recommended Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz’s “The Beginning and the End” as a good place to start.
The novel tells the story of a wealthy family thrust into poverty when the father dies. It is a brilliant portrayal of the major gaps between classes in Egyptian society.
“Naguib Mahfouz excels in describing the suffering of each family member, as well as their struggles in the face of sadness, poverty and a critical society. Many agree that this narration depicts the reality of Egyptian society in that era, and therefore, in my view, it is an appropriate reference for those who want to know how Egyptian society was in the thirties of the last century,” Al-Faisal said.
English teacher Dania Al-Harbi recommended any poetry book by her favorite author, Lebanese-American Kahlil Gibran.
Translator and writer Loulwa Al-Marshad recommended “The Yacoubian Building” by Egyptian author Alaa Al-Aswany. It is set during the first Gulf War and offers a scathing portrayal of modern Egyptian society following the country’s 1952 revolution.
“What I like about it is that the book covers many different, sometimes controversial, topics, but the writer is not biased about presenting them,” Al-Marshad told Arab News. “He’s just showing you the way things are. As for the English translation, it’s actually really good. Not many English translations can do what this one did when it comes to accurately portraying the traditional Egyptian household.”
The novel has broken sales records all over Egypt and been translated into 23 languages. The 2006 film adaptation is reported to be the highest-budget film in the history of Egyptian cinema.
English teacher Dania Al-Harbi recommended any poetry book by her favorite author, Lebanese-American Kahlil Gibran.
“I find myself turning to his words for comfort in these strange times,” she told Arab News. “My favorite of his quotes at the moment is from ‘Sand and Foam’: ‘One may not reach the dawn save by the path of the night.’ It gives me hope.”
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