Monday, August 27, 2007

Some online interviews

If some of you are thinking of reading Sigrid Undset's Norwegian epic, Kristin Lavransdatter this year, here's an interview with Tiina Nunnally, who translated some of Sigrid Undset's more important works. [Link via Imani]

From Worldhum, Frank Bures talks to Klara Glowczewska about the joys and challenges of translating the late Polish writer, Ryszard Kapuscinski. [Read it here.]

From the Salon.com archives (via Bookslut), a 1998 interview with Grace Paley, by A.M. Homes. [Read it here.]

Paley on not giving a shit:

I think one's freest almost at the beginning, when you really don't give a shit. And you have to watch that freedom and keep it. You must keep it. You can lose it. You have to keep not giving a shit. But, on the other hand, in ordinary life you're freer in talking up, saying what you think. You're freer in who you talk to. The only thing you're not freer in is yelling at your children. You have to stop at a certain point. Like when they're 35.

If you want to start reading Grace Paley, Literate Kitten recommends starting with Enormous Changes at the Last Minute.

I first read about Grace Paley from a issue of Oprah Winfrey's magazine. In an odd realisation of serendipity, I believe I bought that issue because Amy Bloom contributed an essay on Grace Paley, and she wrote so eloquently about Paley's short stories that Paley's name stuck to my head. Now would be a good time for me to start. Going online to check out the inventory at the local library.

Dear Universe,

I appreciate you sending great authors my way as a way of widening my reading horizon. However, I would appreciate it if you could also arrange for a large chunk of reading time in my schedule in the near future?

PS: I would still like to stay employed, of course.

Yours Sincerely,

Dark Orpheus

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fantastic Paley quote. If the Universe grants your wish let me know because I'll be asking the very same thing.

Anonymous said...

sometimes,Universe have a way to communicate to you.

this morning, was listening to the radio on the way to work. for some strange reason, i was thinking of a particular song in my mind and next thing, the radio is playing it on air. *Thank you*

You might just get your wish granted, stay tune.

darkorpheus said...

Stefanie You will definitely be the first to know the day I can truly say - I have so much time and nothing to read!

quietletters Oh, I'm quite sure the universe does grant wishes. But the universe also has a mind of its own, and things are not always the way I would prefer it either.

Anonymous said...

it's true too. that's what makes life interesting. doses of amazement and disappointment sometimes. i believe that things always happened for a reason. maybe we don't know it now. look out for the good ones. it feels happier that way. at least i hope.

darkorpheus said...

Quietletters I also believe the Universe has a sense of humour. Hence the concept of irony.