I have always enjoyed reading and recently started buying and reading books again after a break. I purchased books in both English and my native language (translated versions), but I am feeling somewhat conflicted about it. On one hand, I want my library to be consistent, and I think buying and reading books only in their original language would achieve that. On the other hand, I sometimes think, “Who cares? It doesn’t matter in what language I read books, as long as they are true to the original, and I enjoy the process.” Nevertheless, I need some opinions. What languages do you prefer? The original or the translated versions? Do you have books in multiple languages? Does the language in which you read a book make a difference?
I always go for the original language if it’s a language I speak. I love SF and the vast mojority of it still comes from the USA/UK, so I read mainly in English.
Translating is finicky business: not many translators work with the idea of giving the foreign reader the same (or similar) experience of the native speaker.