Let's talk translations?

[takethewatch]

Does anyone have Opinions and/or Advice about translations to share? It's been a few years since my initial read-through of the Brick, and now that I have relapsed with a vengeance into this fandom, I am about due for another one (as soon as Life permits). I know not to read Denny--but I would love to see some discussion of the other translations out there (especially the new Donougher one) and their relative merits.

Comments

[cahn]

On my last reread I did most of it in Hapgood (because it was free to put on my kindle, which is much lighter than my Fahnestock/MacAfee), hit Javert Off the Track (which I, uh, may have had virtually memorized off the F/MA translation), noped out of there, and finished off the last piece in F/MA. And I was shocked and dismayed by how much more readable F/MA was; it was really surprising to me. I agree, Hapgood is serviceable, but F/MA was way easier to get through, and I'm a bit bitter because I think some of the parts I thought were hard slogging would have been much less of a slog in F/MA.

[sophia_sol]

...all of a sudden I'm making a connection with my own experience. My first read was Hapgood and I found it tough going in places but enjoyed it anyways. My second read a year or so later was FMA and I found it a much easier read - but I assumed it was just because I'd done it once before and also had spent a year in the fandom, and those combined factors made it easier. I'm thinking I didn't place nearly enough emphasis on the difference in translation!