I have always assumed I simply don’t like to read in Slovak.
But now that I have read the Slovak translation of Normal People I think something else is going on.
Slovak literature is… annoying.
Almost every Slovak novel I’ve had in my hands was very much lacking when it comes to plot and structure.
I got the impression the Slovak idea of writing a novel is to use as many obscure words and synonyms as possible. Probably to make up for the general lack of imagination.
It’s my personal opinion that the more a writer is trying to impress with style and word choice the less he or she has to say.
I have yet to discover the first Slovak novel that really speaks to me.
Normal People isn’t brilliant literature, but the characters grow, everything fits together. The writer has created a world that is inviting and feels real. In my humble opinion most of the Slovak novels I have tried eventually fail at this.
There are two books I have enjoyed reading in Slovak and both were translations.
The other one was The Reader by Schlink.
I haven’t give up on Slovak literature though. I will keep trying to find something good.
Part of the trouble is that none of the Slovaks I know, not even the well-read ones, read Slovak novels, especially not any contemporary ones.
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I would say that contemporary Slovak literature is experiencing a kind of boom at the moment. New promising writers are entering the scene every year. I was happy to see too that 4 out of 5 finalists for Anasoft Litera prize this year were female writers. My problem is that I read slowly so I haven’t checked many of these new Slovak novels yet. It’s on my list though.
I agree to an extent that Slovak literature, I would add movies too, is often hard to swallow because it tends to be brooding and melancholic. I am not sure where it is coming from, but I would definitely not give up on Slovak literature just yet.
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I talked to someone in the jury of this prize, he read 200 books of contemporary Slovak writers and he said he was depressed. I doubt you read very little in Slovak because of a lack of time, it’s just that there is simply a lot more non Slovak literature out there that is simply more of a joy to read
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Yes, that is also a reason. Too many books, too little time. 🙂 Was he depressed by the topics of the books or by quality?
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By the lack of quality. He’s a snob though. His favorite book is Paralelne Pribehy by Peter Nadas. Not exactly the kind of literature that any contemporary Slovak writer can emulate
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