comment on language

The first point to note about the language used in this book is that it is a translation, meaning that, as in the case with any/all translations, there is the possibility of variation and/or misinterpretation from original intent. That said, there is the sense about this particular translation that there is a strong connection with the original, a sense of poetry and location/community specific ideas and imagery that creates a powerfully evocative sense of world and experience. Traditions, day-to-day activities, as well as surprises and transformations to both are communicated with careful attention to detail and specifics, to context and aftermath, all creating a richly textured sense of immediacy, intimacy, and deeply personal experience. In other words, language combines with vivid characterization and detailed plotting to draw the reader closely into the experience and truth of the characters and their situations.