Last week I wrote a bit about why branching into international fiction is a good idea - but I barely touched on how to do it. Whenever you come in contact with another culture, there's going to be some complications in understanding, even if the story is similar to something you may read at home. So how can we get the most out of reading outside our culture?
1. Notes, notes, notes! I've talked about this before when discussing translation, but good notations are invaluable. It will keep you from reaching to your phone to find find a map or look up a political reference. Always check to see what your edition has to offer besides the basic text!
2. Fill in the gaps. Make sure to find some basic information about the country your current book is from. Looking at a map or knowing the typically family structure or religion ahead of time will make the actual reading much smoother.
3. Release all preconceived notions about that culture/country. I'd suggest going into a novel assuming nothing, expecting nothing. There's a good chance it won't fit the mold of what you expect, which is all part of the fun. For example, if you are reading a novel about a woman in modern-day Afghanistan, don't assume it's going to be her crying out against the evils about her society. It's possible there will be criticism from the character, but it's better to sit down and try to understand as much of the plot from that character's point of view.
4. Understand that you are an outsider. Characters will do things you don't understand and don't agree with. That's okay. The author -wherever they are from - grew up and lived in a different contextual environment then you, as a reader. Differences are fantastic and thought-provoking. Just don't forget that it's also impossible to understand all the differences or why they occur. After all - in reading foreign fiction, we aren't the original audience.
5. Go past the basics. Even if we can't understand everything, it's still important to dwell on those differences. Which ones do you understand, which ones make more sense than others. And what can what we understand tell us about our own values and traditions?
There's a lot one can get out of international fiction, and there's a myriad of ways to read it. Perhaps the most obvious, and most important notion that these tips indicate, is how reading outside our own purview can enlighten, as well as entertain.
1. Notes, notes, notes! I've talked about this before when discussing translation, but good notations are invaluable. It will keep you from reaching to your phone to find find a map or look up a political reference. Always check to see what your edition has to offer besides the basic text!
2. Fill in the gaps. Make sure to find some basic information about the country your current book is from. Looking at a map or knowing the typically family structure or religion ahead of time will make the actual reading much smoother.
3. Release all preconceived notions about that culture/country. I'd suggest going into a novel assuming nothing, expecting nothing. There's a good chance it won't fit the mold of what you expect, which is all part of the fun. For example, if you are reading a novel about a woman in modern-day Afghanistan, don't assume it's going to be her crying out against the evils about her society. It's possible there will be criticism from the character, but it's better to sit down and try to understand as much of the plot from that character's point of view.
4. Understand that you are an outsider. Characters will do things you don't understand and don't agree with. That's okay. The author -wherever they are from - grew up and lived in a different contextual environment then you, as a reader. Differences are fantastic and thought-provoking. Just don't forget that it's also impossible to understand all the differences or why they occur. After all - in reading foreign fiction, we aren't the original audience.
5. Go past the basics. Even if we can't understand everything, it's still important to dwell on those differences. Which ones do you understand, which ones make more sense than others. And what can what we understand tell us about our own values and traditions?
There's a lot one can get out of international fiction, and there's a myriad of ways to read it. Perhaps the most obvious, and most important notion that these tips indicate, is how reading outside our own purview can enlighten, as well as entertain.
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