Saratoga Reads to offer talk on translation

Saratoga Reads invites the public to a special event on Friday, April 8, to hear from noted translator Stephen Snyder, professor of Japanese studies at Middlebury College, who will discuss the art of translation and the challenges of bridging cultures through literary works. The talk will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the H. Dutcher Community Room of the Saratoga Springs Public Library.

The evening is the "capstone" event for year seven of Saratoga Reads and a celebration of the program's current book of choice,The Housekeeper and the Professor, a novel by contemporary Japanese author Yoko Ogawa. The book was originally published in Japanese in 2003, selling more than 2.5 million copies, and was translated by Snyder into English in 2009.

Describing the book as a "gorgeous, cinematic novel," Susan Salter of the LA Times wrote, " The Housekeeper and the Professor is a perfectly sustained novel, a tribute to Stephen Snyder's smooth translation; like a note prolonged, a fermata, a pause enabling us to peer intently into the lives of its characters."

In his presentation, Snyder will discuss the process of translating The Housekeeper and the Professor and the challenges that editors and translators face in moving a book from one language and literary culture to another. He will describe how a book gets chosen for translation, how translators and publishers are selected, and the role of translation in increasingly globalized societies. The talk will be illustrated with photos and artwork.

Snyder is the author of Fictions of Desire: Narrative Form in the Novels of Nagai Kafu and has translated works by Yoko Ogawa, Kenzaburo Oe, Ryu Murakami, and Miri Yu, among others. His translation of Natsuo Kirino's OUT was a finalist for the Edgar Award for best mystery novel in 2004. His translation of Kunio Tsuji's Azuchi Okanki (The Signore) won the 1990 Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission translation prize. Snyder's translation of Yoko Ogawa's Hotel Iris was on the short list for the 2011 Man Asian Literary Prize.

In addition to the talk, the event will pay tribute to the victims of the current disasters in Japan, and donations will be accepted for an international aid organization that provides shelter and life-saving equipment to families.

"Our community has journeyed to Japan with author Yoko Ogawa via her novel The Housekeeper and the Professor, and as we host this final celebration of the book, Saratoga Reads would like to help our community reach out to the Japanese people who are suffering," said Tabitha Orthwein, chair of the Saratoga Reads board.

Following the presentation, Saratoga Reads will welcome its sponsors, volunteers and community participants to an appreciation reception. The reception will include baked goods generously donated by the Bread Basket, a tasting of Japanese teas arranged by the Fortunate Cup, and expert advice on tea from Kim Stote ofState University of New York, Empire State College.

"We will conclude the event with a reception in appreciation of the many people in the community who have helped to make our seventh year of reading together a success," said Orthwein. "We seek to engage readers of all ages and levels, and community support is crucial to that goal."

Saratoga Reads is a Skidmore College-Saratoga collaboration. Major sponsors of the program are Barnes & Noble, Hewitt's Garden Center, Saratoga.com, Skidmore College, The Saratogian, Adirondack Trust Company, Community Care Pediatrics?Saratoga, Saratoga Springs Rotary Club, Sperry's Restaurant, Wise Development Group, Impressions of Saratoga, Smile Sanctuary, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway Foundation , and Stewarts Holiday Match.

For more information check out SaratogaReads.org, Facebook, and Twitter.

LAST CALL FOR BOTANIC GARDENS TRIP   

Saratoga Reads fans should mark their calendars for May 1, when the program will celebrate Japanese culture with a bus trip to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, home of the largest display of flowering cherry trees outside of Japan. Trip participants will have the opportunity to experience the garden's Sakura Matsuri Festival, including tea ceremonies, drumming, kite flying, and more. Thecost is $65 per person including round-trip coach transportation and garden admission.For more information, contactRhona at busplus1@gmail.com or call 518-505-1303.