I’m reading Fairy Tale now and have been wondering why I need be constantly reminded about this automatic translation issue??
It is mildly amusing when he points out he said “Knock it off” but that what comes out is “Cease speaking”… But then I start wondering how exactly THAT works. I don’t speak German but if I went to Germany and magically could communicate, would I know if my German was archaic or slangy and colloquial?
It’s a strange thing, but I’ll live with it 😌
Full disclosure: I listened to the audiobook and stopped when I felt I had had enough and “got it”.
In terms of not being a reliable narrator, I would say she reminds me of a lot of people I see who have histories of addiction and/or live chaotic lives. She was a victim of a lot things and sees herself as the victim of every thing, if that makes sense?
This was most apparent in the retelling of how she lost custody of her children. I think that situation is tragic and terrible and deeply wounding for a mom, but the vague way she spoke around it really showed a lack of understanding of what happened and why. I don’t want or need her, or anyone else, to confess to me and admit all their failings. That’s a painful (and ongoing) chapter of her life and not my business, but I’ll say this: I hope her therapist pushes back or prods a bit more than her editor seems to have. I don’t think she will ever heal or feel at peace if she can’t see the nuance there, her part in it. It’s very complex and not a clear cut case of perpetrator and victim.
Side note, it was not a very well-written or dynamic book for a non-fan so the Michelle Williams reading was definitely the way to go.
I’m not able to visualize things in my head (aphantasia), so I don’t! I can imagine how frustrating it would be to picture something and have that challenged; the closest I can imagine is when I finally see, on video, a podcaster I listen to regularly. It is so jarring because it’s as if different parts of the brain are fighting to control the concept of the person.
My mom has always told me that she casts the movie in her mind when she reads a book that really grabs her.
Thank you for the recommendation! I’m going to read this after my current book, thanks.