tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675785862152144030.post1655820738024378829..comments2023-11-28T04:26:08.162-06:00Comments on Ravens and Writing Desks: Are Abridged Books Bad?Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00113180708896008365noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675785862152144030.post-63677802432894917072014-10-26T07:41:18.086-05:002014-10-26T07:41:18.086-05:00Depends on how. It's a bit like the discussion...Depends on how. It's a bit like the discussion about the Director's Cut: It makes you realize, that there is never one single version of any story but only a lot of variations.windspritehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06478484772242332262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675785862152144030.post-5310856034829294182014-03-07T14:45:14.875-06:002014-03-07T14:45:14.875-06:00Thanks for the long comment! Awesome!
I didn'...Thanks for the long comment! Awesome!<br /><br />I didn't even consider learning languages. You make an excellent point, and it's definitely useful for someone who is just learning, say, Spanish to be able to read at least some of Don Quixote in its original form. <br /><br />And what do you mean by books being "aimed" at a particular audience? Do you mean the author is aiming it, or the translator? If it is the author, then the book should be already satisfactorily simple for language learners or children. But if it is the translator, I don't see why a book that was originally meant for adults should be abridged so kids could read it. Of course, I do understand the case where language learners are concerned. (Also, when I say adult book, of course, I don't mean the kind of book that has thousands of sex scenes in it or something. I mean a higher vocabulary, etc.) I hope all that rambling makes sense.<br /><br />And yeah, regarding Les Miz and War and Peace - I tend to forget that they were originally in a different language, so that part sort of doesn't make sense, I guess. However, I DO think my edition of Les Miz is pretty close to Hugo's intentions - it was done by one of his best friends, during his lifetime, so it is author-approved! :-)<br /><br />Thanks for reading!Sophiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00113180708896008365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675785862152144030.post-16205368100989051202014-03-07T02:07:51.851-06:002014-03-07T02:07:51.851-06:00Abridged books are really good if you are learning...Abridged books are really good if you are learning a language and want to use the book to help you study. A lot of adults learning languages aren't that keen to read children's books (which is probably more where their abilities would lie if they are beginner/intermediate learners), so it's good for them to have the option of reading a classic book that they won't feel embarrassed reading. So when books are aimed at language learners, I don't think it's a bad thing at all. <br />Same if the books are aimed at children. <br /><br />In fact, the only time I think it shouldn't be done is if the abridged version is going to be the only version available. The choice to read the original should always be there. <br /><br />...Personally, I would never read an abridged book if I can read the original. Not even when I'm reading in other languages. But, each to their own and all that. <br /><br />One thing that isn't mentioned here is abridging books when they're translated - I know that at least one of Haruki Murakami's books had a whole section cut out of it when it was translated into English, which I think was with his blessing, but still, that's not really a thing where the reader gets to choose which version to go with (unless they can read both English and Japanese like me, mwah ha ha ha!). <br />Maybe it matters less with translated books, as they inevitably lose the original authors intent in translation anyway (no matter how good a translator does it, it's unavoidable). In that case, you probably aren't getting the authors full intent from reading Les Miserables or War and Peace anyway, as neither of them were originally written in English.<br /><br />Sorry this got to be rather long. Just thinking out loud (or the internet equivalent!), and avoiding work, haha.Jimjamjennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02249933703532348607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675785862152144030.post-12015362136968115552014-03-06T13:37:31.460-06:002014-03-06T13:37:31.460-06:00That's supposed to be a smiley face :-) by the...That's supposed to be a smiley face :-) by the waySophiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00113180708896008365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675785862152144030.post-73764980089647728462014-03-06T13:36:52.648-06:002014-03-06T13:36:52.648-06:00I'm glad you enjoyed my post -)
Okay, now who...I'm glad you enjoyed my post -)<br /><br />Okay, now who in the world abridges PETER PAN!? It's already a children's book!<br />Sophiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00113180708896008365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675785862152144030.post-31036011673965341262014-03-06T11:40:48.539-06:002014-03-06T11:40:48.539-06:00Nice points and conclusion. I as a reader dislike ...Nice points and conclusion. I as a reader dislike skimming, as I feel that it is an injustice to the book and the author. If a book is too hard for me, I'll just stop. When I was maybe 8, my family had a few abridged books for kids on the shelves and I accidentally read an abridged Peter Pan. When I realized what abridgment was I was outraged that someone would dare to do such a thing to a book. I think, if a book is too hard, don't read it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07696966598054318197noreply@blogger.com