Murakami and Translation (Cuts)
by Will E • October 10, 2012 • News • 2 Comments
Tomorrow they announce the winner for the Nobel Prize in Literature, and like many years before, Daniel at How to Japanese has done a few weeks of Murakami Fest, in which he looks at untranslated bits and pieces of the Murakami oeuvre. This year, he’s taking a closer look at Dance, Dance, Dance, which, as it turns out, has had some rather extensive, if unpublicized, cuts and editorializations.
I’ve realized more and more over the years that an edited Murakami isn’t really a bad thing; I love the guy, but the less we talk about 1Q84 the better, and Birnbaum’s translations are what made me fall in love with the “Murakami style,” so clearly Birnbaum and his editor were on to something. Still it’s fascinating what’s lost—and what’s gained, mind you—in translation.
As for Murakami and the Nobel? Again, after 1Q84, I almost don’t want him to win. I’d rather wait until he produces something really good again to wash that bitter taste out, and remind us of all the good stuff he has written. But also, I’m just not sure I see it happening. I do think that the Nobel committee are aware of the conversation, the Ladbrokes odds etc., and I think they like to surprise. I’ve only recently started following the Nobel Prize race; has there ever been a winner that was widely expected?
I’d be really surprised if Murakami ever won the Nobel Prize. They go for highbrow writers and Murakami is not highbrow enough – he just doesn’t have the academic backing. Also, I believe I read somewhere (though I can’t find it now) that writers are nominated by their country’s national association, and I’m pretty sure Murakami wouldn’t even be nominated – again, he’s not taken seriously academically.
I’ve gone through different phases with Murakami which have been 1) liking him 2) reading some of his worse books and disliking him 3) going back to his best novels (1985-1995) and appreciating him again. But he’s not the kind of writer the Nobel committee picks (IMO).
Thank you for this opinion, could not agree with you more. Frankly speaking, I think Murakami is trying too hard to get it. And it starts to feel somehow sad. I was a great fan of his earlier works, but 1Q84 really killed all the jazz for me.