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?
If it’s a language I know, I read the original. If it’s a language I’m not fluent in, I usually go for English translations (not my native language) because it’s easier to find a good translation in it. Although there were times when translations to my native language turned out to be way better, because it’s also a widely spoken language with a pretty well developed culture of translations and literature in general.
And I wouldn’t say you always need to be super fluent to read in a non-native language. If I didn’t start reading in English I wouldn’t know it fluently.