Monty J’s comment > Likes and Comments

Dear Monty

Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed response.

I fully get your point on cultural idioms, and agree that things do get lost in translation.

I am currently working through some of Homer's work, and undoubtedly I would have vastly benefited from reading it in Greek. But I have to make do with English translations and I'm certain thatthere is a lot that gets past me. In this case I listen to some of the audio lectures from The Teaching Company, [those by Prof. Elizabeth Vandiver.] So I can totally relate to the approach you used with East of Eden.

Multiple readings I also agree are very helpful. And usually every once in a while I pick out a book from my home library, which I havent read in a few years and have a go at it. The obvious benefits of re-reading include my own personal experience and expanded understanding of life and its nuances.

Thanks again !

Romance (or possibly Freud's sex thing) is the purpose of life, at least for the good boy Fitzgerald. Chopping it up into cultural pieces doesn't much matter. I have a feeling the movie Casablanca may have been written by his ghost.

You're most welcome @Kevin.

@Robert, agreed. Actually, there were several fingers in that pudding. Casablanca is the gold standard in love stories. Sparse dialogue. So much emotion was expressed in the face and body.

I'm glad, in a way, Fitzgerald wasn't around to see Casablanca. He'd have been green with envy.

Green like a dollar bill, the other side of his creative coin.