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A review by ishikawa_sachi
El ganso salvaje by Ōgai Mori
4.0
"Gan (The Wild Geese)" is a novel filled with metaphors, symbolism and slow and quiet reflection. Us readers are nowadays used to fast-paced books and even rhythmic pacing, but --to me-- this book has been a wonderful respite from neckbreaking-speed narratives. Some readers might get impatient with the main characters, Otama and Okada, might grow exasperated with their endless musings, and what they are expected to do might happen either very late or even not at all.
Maybe I haven't searched for it well-enough, but I haven't found the original "Gan" in Japanese, here in Goodreads. Well, I have read the translation, and I do have something to say. I have read both versions and found that there are parts in the Japanese versions which have completely disappeared in the English version. Granted, they are not indispensable, but I wonder what has made the translator decide it was okay to cut some descriptions which I found very enticing.
Maybe I haven't searched for it well-enough, but I haven't found the original "Gan" in Japanese, here in Goodreads. Well, I have read the translation, and I do have something to say. I have read both versions and found that there are parts in the Japanese versions which have completely disappeared in the English version. Granted, they are not indispensable, but I wonder what has made the translator decide it was okay to cut some descriptions which I found very enticing.