The Catalan novel Núvols baixos was published in paperback by Editorial Omicron in 2009. Two years ago, I decided to translate this novel from Catalan into Spanish. The project was distinguished with a grant for writers and translators in Finland. I hope it will reach new target languages for translations and also new readers.
Review of the novel in its Catalan version: Núvols baixos ([Low Clouds], 2009)
"What the author presents us in his book is a piece of real life, with the fine scalpel of his writing. There is in the work a great work fact about the language and the style. The novel is very interesting and it constitutes, to my view, one of the big promises of the contemporary narrative for Catalan Literature."-Review in L'ull crític segona etapa 15-16, academic journal of Literature.
Abstract:
Gabriele is an actress who, near the end of her career, revisits the city where she spent her adolescence. Her unexpected visit puts two of her friends a little off guard--they see it as a kind of escape from gray, monotonous days. The actress as well can intuit through them the life she might have had. On the other hand, fame has weighed her down for forty years and only one thing seems evident: this journey reawakens old passions and changes the lives of everyone she visits.
About female characters in the book:
Gabriele is sixty-two years old, she married twice and is bisexual.
Marianne is older and hardly remembers the actress. Marianne has Alzheimer’s disease. In this book she’s portrayed in a passive role. The life around her is now more important than her own life.
Sílvia is a housewife that feels since years the monotony of marriage. Some time ago she said to her daughter that she could take care of their grandchildren for a while, but now she must care for them daily.
Genre: FICTION / LiteraryThe Catalan version sold 1500 copies in its first edition in paperback, but since some years ago it's out of stock.
Ni mirando hacia la izquierda o hacia la derecha podría recordar este comedor donde ha almorzado hoy. Y tantas cosas como intuiría si estuviese bien de salud, y miren, mejor así. A menudo la encuentran caminando por alguna planta, o bien parada en la ventana de alguna alcoba, sus dedos en el cristal y, si alguien la llama, se gira, ¿no es tierno?
[...]
Decía Sílvia al cerrar el envase del zumo que hoy hace un día espléndido. Luego se queda pensativa, mientras alarga una mano por la mesa, sólo que en dirección contraria al marido. Un error sin importancia, que ella podría encarar de nuevo hacia el otro lado. Hace mucho que el marido no se fija en ella; a estas alturas la tiene muy vista. Y de golpe, él podría sentirse sorprendido por una mano que va aproximándose, sólo que corren tan lentamente sus dedos por este mantel que parece una tortura.
Language | Status |
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Dutch
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Translation in progress.
Translated by Vera Ramakers
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Greek
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Already translated.
Translated by Παρασκευή Μουτσιούνα
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Author review: Finalizó la traducción literaria en el tiempo acordado, y con buena disponibilidad para la comunicación con el autor cuando es necesario. Muy recomendable. |