tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1581982979984726349.post8626171126830592540..comments2023-09-07T14:14:50.539-04:00Comments on Free Listens: Literary Book Blog Hop: Must literature be difficult?Sayethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15921075981432007616noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1581982979984726349.post-89223723120670431922011-09-09T16:30:45.709-04:002011-09-09T16:30:45.709-04:00I really enjoyed Heaney's Beowulf, but can eas...I really enjoyed Heaney's Beowulf, but can easily see how big a difference the translation would make. Willa Cather is a great example of an author simple yet evocative prose.Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1581982979984726349.post-6752635245040937252011-09-09T00:01:37.266-04:002011-09-09T00:01:37.266-04:00You're definitely right that a work of literar...You're definitely right that a work of literary fiction isn't more difficult because of the way its reason. Like all genres, some books are easier to read than others and this will vary from person to person. There are other elements to literary fiction that make it more challenging than other genres I think, like the themes and ideas underlying the stories. <br /><br />You're brave reading Beowulf, can't say Ill be rushing out to read it :-)Rebecca Chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14144719070318640603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1581982979984726349.post-66723836719062454232011-09-08T23:23:34.177-04:002011-09-08T23:23:34.177-04:00You are very right about the translation affecting...You are very right about the translation affecting the simplicity of the prose. I didn't consider that in my answer.I've only read Foster's Room With A View and its definitely not difficult. Woolf on the other hand takes effort and patience,but I've found her rewarding.CHEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04634088152624853449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1581982979984726349.post-5604969314520004612011-09-08T22:29:30.014-04:002011-09-08T22:29:30.014-04:00I think when "difficult" refers specific...I think when "difficult" refers specifically to the quality of the prose, it is pretty obvious that a work doesn't have to be difficult to be literary. Steinbeck is a lovely example. Heaney's translation of Beowulf is pretty great. I never enjoyed reading Beowulf until I picked up that translation. He and Simon Armitage are pretty great contemporary translators.<br /><br /><a href="http://hawthornescarlet.blogspot.com/2011/09/literary-blog-hop-too-difficult.html" rel="nofollow">Here</a> is my post.LBChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08565867574821169945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1581982979984726349.post-71436552192701952062011-09-08T19:39:01.624-04:002011-09-08T19:39:01.624-04:00I tried so hard to read Beowulf but could not get ...I tried so hard to read Beowulf but could not get through it. I read the Seamus Heaney translation along side another version and the Heaney was much more beautiful and poetic. Maybe part of my problem was trying to read two Beowulfs simultaneously lol.Shannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04920055165881567597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1581982979984726349.post-63383399958545903662011-09-08T11:29:04.974-04:002011-09-08T11:29:04.974-04:00I like the whole 'translation' take. I nev...I like the whole 'translation' take. I never really thought about that. I was under the impression that Seamus Heaney's trans of Beowulf was one of the easier ones...I've been meaning to read this for ages!<br /><br />I haven't read any Forster, Cather or Steinbeck...but then I understand what you mean with Woolf and Melville being difficult.Songhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09707280327803432082noreply@blogger.com