PhillyDave
“The essential doesn't change.” Beckett
From the bookface's Charles Bukowski Society: Provokationen in Briefform
I can't read German. Can you?
- Thread starter PhillyDave
- Start date
PhillyDave
“The essential doesn't change.” Beckett
Well alrighty then. Nevermind.
Pogue Mahone
Officials say drugs may have played a part
Sounds very German (no offense my German friends). Maybe the should do one of those Hitler spoofs
True enough.
Still I've seen much worse articles on Bukowski in German language.
Which makes me take the chance to turn this thread into a general: "WTF-stupid-German-articles-about Bukowski"-thread.
For example, just last week, there came up one piece, that begins with the insightful words:
"Actually, he's only writing about sex. And about drinking. Okay, he's been a hot number, stumbling drunk through talkshows [sic!] or demanding to have a fully packed refridgerator on stage for his readings. But by now, a lot of what made his world has gone out-of-fashion: horse-racing, beer in cans and playing the tough guy."
"Eigentlich geht es bei ihm immer nur um Sex. Und ums Saufen. Okay, er war schon eine tolle Nummer, wie er besoffen durch Talkshows torkelte oder sich bei Lesungen einen gut gefüllten Kühlschrank auf die Bühne stellen ließ. Doch mittlerweile ist viel von dem, was für seine Welt stand, aus der Mode gekommen: Pferderennen, Dosenbier und den harten Knochen geben."
- HERE it is in full length:
http://www.swp.de/ulm/nachrichten/kultur/bukowski-ist-wieder-da_-_hank_-24467266.html
[ - more to come - ]
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The beginning is prejudiced and ridiculous, you're right, but the major part of the review (on The Bell Tolls For No One) is surprisingly good, almost as if it has been written by someone else. By someone who did actually understand one or two things and who appreciates Bukowski's writing.
Lucky coincidence:
I am folding my bukowski-shop in a few weeks.
Will mail out a newsletter to former customers to call for "last orders", then shut the fucker down.
If you're interested in buying some of my stock, let me know.
Johannes
Founding member
It's not the place to discuss this shit on a mainly English speaking forum but for the record the cringe is still strong whenever I read (certain) German translations of Bukowskis work. Like in the first article PhillyDave posted:
"Faulkner, so verlogen wie geöltes Wachspapier. Hemingway kam zumindest zeitweise ran, orgelte dann aber nur noch dieselbe verpupste Melodie aus seinem großen Leierkasten. Celine schrieb ein unsterbliches Buch, über das ich Tag und Nacht gelacht habe, dann entwickelte er sich mehr und mehr zur bloßen Meckertante."
"Verpupste Melodie" and "Meckertante"??? ... like what the fuck, was this translated for kindergarten children?
"Faulkner, so verlogen wie geöltes Wachspapier. Hemingway kam zumindest zeitweise ran, orgelte dann aber nur noch dieselbe verpupste Melodie aus seinem großen Leierkasten. Celine schrieb ein unsterbliches Buch, über das ich Tag und Nacht gelacht habe, dann entwickelte er sich mehr und mehr zur bloßen Meckertante."
"Verpupste Melodie" and "Meckertante"??? ... like what the fuck, was this translated for kindergarten children?
PhillyDave
“The essential doesn't change.” Beckett
Here's another German post on fb auto translate. Buk in space.
The initial post had been brought to you by your friendly Charles-Bukowski-Society:
don't hesitate to *like* that one.
don't hesitate to *like* that one.
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Pogue Mahone
Officials say drugs may have played a part
I can't understand German, but I love this book cover....
