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JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Can anyone tell me of some famous writers from Ecuador? I would like to buy a few novels in translation!

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:06 pm Post subject:

Not many on offer, but here goes:

Juan Montalvo- famous writer and great statesman, a bit like our Thomas Jefferson.

Juan Leon Mera- same generation, wrote the books they all have to read in school. Also the words to the national anthem.

For more fun to read, you might try Luis Sepulveda. Technically Chilean, he lived and wrote here for many years.

Best,

Justin

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

MELEE · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:25 pm Post subject:

I have some recommendations...

Of Sepulveda's I like The Old Man Who Read Love Stories

There is a collection of short stories in English translation called Fire From the Andes All women writers from Ecuador, Peru and Boliva.

For a Gringo's eye view there is a great newish book called Ca�ar: A year in the Highlands of Ecuador by Judy Blankenship. And of course Tom Miller's classic The Panama Hat Trail.

An additional note about translations. I once read three copies of the same book El jardin a lado By Jose Donoso, the original Spanish and two different English translations. (This was a project for a class, in case you are thinking "nerd") There was a marked difference in flow and readablity in the two translations, in one it was excellent, the other, while an accurate translation, was clumsy and awkard and not at all an enjoyable read. If that had been my only thing to go on, I wouldn't have thought much about Jose Donoso, instead, he's one of my favorites.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Thanks for the recommendations. I cannot read or speak Spanish that well so reading the orginal version is not really a possibility. I don't live in Latin America so I really don't have much of a chance to learn Spanish on top of the fact that I am trying to learn Korean these days.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:39 pm Post subject:

Read it in English now, and it'll be easier to re-read in Spanish once you-re here...

Melee, I-m thinking nerd. Whether for a class or not. Sorry. (Of course, anybody who knows me will tell you that I can REALLY relate to nerdiness...)

Justin

wheatifus · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:01 pm Post subject:

Oh yes, that you can do Justin! (Only joking). Very Happy

wheatifus · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:03 pm Post subject:

Oh yes, that you can do Justin! (Only joking). Very Happy

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:52 am Post subject:

Which proves that wheatifus knows me! How you doing?

I have learned to embrace nerd-dom.

Justin

wheatifus · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:25 pm Post subject:

...and we wouldn't have you any other way!

As for me;

Well, you know... embracing the dream TEFL lifestyle by trying to crack the ESOL world in... [insert fanfare here] WALES! Dark clouds, non stop rain, freezing cold misery... home sweet home (almost). Spend most of my time wasting precious uni study time on unrelated internet sites (all clean ones). Still, this is what I've got to go through in order to reach that 'stability' goal I was after and soon as that's done (if and when; one hurdle brings forth many more) I'm off... Well. When I've got the money to that is. Boo hoo.

Watching my adopted nationality play Canada at rugby tonight. Well that's something positive...

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh