Split between old and new, this translation seeks a niche audience.
This new translation of the beloved classic attempts to return to the roots of its earliest English translation.
With numerous English translations of Don Quixote already in existence, any new translator will have much to prove. Davis’ (Jungle of Glass, 2011) translation results from his attempt to preserve “the voice of the [Thomas] Shelton translation,” the earliest Quixote in English, in order to give a contemporary audience the sense of how the 17th-century masterpiece originally read. Even though Shelton translated the second part of the novel, Davis neglects it, which may disappoint some readers, as Cervantes provides some of his most piercing psychological and philosophical insights in the sequel. In Davis’ rendering, the register ascends above most current translations, preferring “a seventeenth century sensibility” over readability for a contemporary audience. This stylistic choice leads to stilted prose, especially in dialogue, where Davis provides the characters with lofty affectations informed by antiquated etiquette. That’s not to say, though, that this edition reaches the syrupy decadence of Peter Motteux’s early translation. Thus, Davis’ Quixote hovers between eras, neither transforming Cervantes’ novel into plain, current English nor infusing it with full-on Spanish Golden Age textures. The compromise attempts to harness the best of both eras, although the result can sometimes feel disjointed and ignorant of Cervantes’ dry sarcasm. The most readable passages occur during action scenes (even when the action takes place in Quixote’s imagination), where Davis deftly navigates the text, often with great gusto. His translation bypasses literalism, freely rearranging syntax and diction, and his arrangements create a colorful atmosphere and flavor, though some scholars may disagree with the mild poetic liberties he has taken. With so many translations available, Davis’ Quixote provides a unique path through the work, which, though it remains incomplete, should find a readership in those interested in the gaps between the language of Cervantes’ time and ours.
Split between old and new, this translation seeks a niche audience.Pub Date: May 3, 2012
ISBN: 978-1477401194
Page Count: 362
Publisher: Lulu
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Packs a punch and develops characters that may well deserve another visit.
In this thriller, men high up the legal food chain in San Antonio, Texas, mix sexual deviance and religious finagling in order to get their way.
Southers’ novel opens with serial shoplifter Alexandra Jiminez having her case heard in front of a grievance committee regarding a complaint against Jose P. Quiroz, her former attorney. Alexandra loses the first case but succeeds in the second, when she joins forces with two other women Quiroz has left in his wake. When Quiroz takes the matter to civil court, Southers introduces a sexual miscreant judge from North Texas, as well as a twisted monsignor. The judge risks exposure for his one-night stand with a former stripper, and the monsignor—whom Quiroz has helped out for years—threatens the sacraments of a key accuser. The web that Southers (himself an attorney) weaves pulls in the reader with its moralizing corkscrews, which are uncanny yet organic to the plot of this legal thriller. The main storyline, which slowly follows the unfolding case, omnisciently traces the courtroom happenings, but it tends to be repetitive and dry. However, the short sections that focus on the comings and goings of individual characters can be poignant in their detail. The themes he deals with are unsavory and very real, although his writing can at times be clunky, particularly with regard to dialogue and characters’ internal thoughts. Nonetheless, given the promise he shows, Southers might deserve his readers’ patience as he irons out the kinks in his writing. The novel’s final, fatal twist serves as a fitting end to this first book in a planned trilogy.
Packs a punch and develops characters that may well deserve another visit.Pub Date: Feb. 23, 2012
ISBN: 978-1466498075
Page Count: 356
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: July 3, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A heartfelt collection of poetry in need of further development and editing.
Obanigba’s debut book of poetry juxtaposes lighthearted fancy and crippling self-doubt.
Emotions run the gamut in this collection of one hundred poems ranging from candy-sweet musings on a summer day to the anxiety-ridden feelings of facing an uncertain future. While the collection varies greatly in content, a few central themes abound: To achieve success in this unpredictable world, it’s of the utmost importance to work hard and to rely on no one but yourself. The work, written in a straightforward, simple style, is short on depth and complexity, which hinders its message. A number of pieces in the collection are dedicated to questioning the author’s self-worth: In “will I or will I not?” Obanigba writes, “Will I ever or will I not, / Will I remember it seems I forgot? / So much confusion this is crazy, / So many goals but far too lazy, / Will I get round to things I need to get done, / Or will I relax, chill, and have fun.” This poem, and most others, becomes a missed opportunity due to its shallow phrasing, which sacrifices the development of its idea in favor of weak rhyming. What makes the work relatable, though, are the familiar themes and Obanigba’s candid examination of her own shortcomings. Throughout the collection, the author discusses her fears of failure and not having what it takes to succeed. Most if not all readers can identify with these feelings of inadequacy; at one time or another, everyone can relate to Obanigba’s attempt to find her path in life. The collection nevertheless struggles to make an impression due to its noncommittal pursuit to developing this very theme. However, the book’s most egregious flaw is its poor editing. The anthology is rife with misspellings, grammatical missteps and punctuation errors. Some are mere annoyances, such as the misuse of “your” vs. “you’re,” but other mistakes actually confuse the message behind the poems, while distracting and diminishing the work.
A heartfelt collection of poetry in need of further development and editing.Pub Date: April 3, 2012
ISBN: 978-1467889797
Page Count: 113
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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