As a non-English speaker who also didn't grow up reading in the English medium curriculum, one of the things I miss/struggle the most with is the inability to 'feel like I was there.'
I've read stories and novels in my native language, and the good ones made me feel like I was there. You know, the whole thing about 'transporting you into a different world' isn't foreign to me. But I just can't feel that way when reading English books.
Whether it's Harry Potter, a Cussler's novel, or any of the Lovecraftian horror (which happens to be my favorite genre even though I can't get immersed. Thank Bloodborne for making a Lovecraftian fan!), I get pretty disappointed when I can't visualize even though I know for a fact the author has done a fantastic job. Any tips? :D
Ah, that's so interesting! I don't have any tips, unfortunately. My only guess would be to try to read more books that were first published in your native language.
You might also try watching TV/movie adaptations — that can help you visualize what's happening if you're not 100% able to get there just through the text. Watching the Harry Potter movies, for example, might give you a sense of the brooding atmosphere.
In the Mountains of Madness is immensely atmospheric - a book that has images that have always stuck with me.
I'm curious about your issue of not being able to visualize books in English. Have you tried reading translations of English books in your native language or native language books you know well translated into English?
Another thought is drawing what you see in the book/story. I got a lot of inspiration from books when I was a teen and young adult (don't draw nearly enough anymore!).
I have actually read some translations. Some are bad, some are pretty great. But I want to read as the writer intended, if that makes sense. I've seen some instances where the original text is nuanced and gives a different feeling than the translation, even though I liked the translation.
Plus, it helps me learn writing (which is one reason I read and never do audiobooks). Sometimes I wish there was an AI tool that I could feed images or videos and it would 'describe the scene' so I could learn from it. :D (Audio descriptions on movies and TV shows sometimes help, but they don't give the whole picture, literally.)
I loved Blood in the Garden. I got a galley version of it and absolutely tore through it. It helps that I’ve always been a huge NBA fan. The writing is outstanding and I’ve been recommending it regularly for about a year now since I read it. So glad you enjoyed it too!
Yes! The book gets into Jordan (of course), the up-and-coming Spurs (who won in 99), the Heat and that great rivalry with Riley after he left the Knicks. Truly a great book.
I'm thinking Mistborn 1-3 will be next — that's what most of the bookish internet seems to think is the best starting point. I also pre-ordered Tress of the Emerald Sea already.
Great review of Elantris! I’m almost done and I love it. I want someone to develop a screenplay and make the movie asap. The characters are excellent and need to be part of broader pop culture awareness.
But my question is: when are you jumping back into the cosmere??
As a non-English speaker who also didn't grow up reading in the English medium curriculum, one of the things I miss/struggle the most with is the inability to 'feel like I was there.'
I've read stories and novels in my native language, and the good ones made me feel like I was there. You know, the whole thing about 'transporting you into a different world' isn't foreign to me. But I just can't feel that way when reading English books.
Whether it's Harry Potter, a Cussler's novel, or any of the Lovecraftian horror (which happens to be my favorite genre even though I can't get immersed. Thank Bloodborne for making a Lovecraftian fan!), I get pretty disappointed when I can't visualize even though I know for a fact the author has done a fantastic job. Any tips? :D
Ah, that's so interesting! I don't have any tips, unfortunately. My only guess would be to try to read more books that were first published in your native language.
You might also try watching TV/movie adaptations — that can help you visualize what's happening if you're not 100% able to get there just through the text. Watching the Harry Potter movies, for example, might give you a sense of the brooding atmosphere.
In the Mountains of Madness is immensely atmospheric - a book that has images that have always stuck with me.
I'm curious about your issue of not being able to visualize books in English. Have you tried reading translations of English books in your native language or native language books you know well translated into English?
Another thought is drawing what you see in the book/story. I got a lot of inspiration from books when I was a teen and young adult (don't draw nearly enough anymore!).
I have actually read some translations. Some are bad, some are pretty great. But I want to read as the writer intended, if that makes sense. I've seen some instances where the original text is nuanced and gives a different feeling than the translation, even though I liked the translation.
Plus, it helps me learn writing (which is one reason I read and never do audiobooks). Sometimes I wish there was an AI tool that I could feed images or videos and it would 'describe the scene' so I could learn from it. :D (Audio descriptions on movies and TV shows sometimes help, but they don't give the whole picture, literally.)
Actually I wonder if the AI illustration tool would work for what you're thinking. But I totally understand the "lost in translation" issue.
I loved Blood in the Garden. I got a galley version of it and absolutely tore through it. It helps that I’ve always been a huge NBA fan. The writing is outstanding and I’ve been recommending it regularly for about a year now since I read it. So glad you enjoyed it too!
Oh nice! Glad you enjoyed it too — I hadn't heard much about it before reading it.
Sanderson's Steelheart is the only book I've read of his. My wife and I both enjoyed that one quite a bit.
Nice! I've heard his YA stuff is really good. I'll have to give those a shot too.
The 90s seem like a special time for basketball. I thought The Last Dance documentary was so good... Plus, Space Jam.
Yes! The book gets into Jordan (of course), the up-and-coming Spurs (who won in 99), the Heat and that great rivalry with Riley after he left the Knicks. Truly a great book.
Welcome to the Cosmere. What's next? The primary works are no small undertaking.
I'm thinking Mistborn 1-3 will be next — that's what most of the bookish internet seems to think is the best starting point. I also pre-ordered Tress of the Emerald Sea already.
Great review of Elantris! I’m almost done and I love it. I want someone to develop a screenplay and make the movie asap. The characters are excellent and need to be part of broader pop culture awareness.
But my question is: when are you jumping back into the cosmere??