We are the readers. We are the ones who want to know more. We are the ones who observe the fictional and the real. We are the ones who create the story, even when there isn’t one there to begin with. We are the ones you write for. We are the ones who make things more interesting because we can find the story in every conversation, in every interaction. We are the ones who will never stop learning, dreaming, hoping, finding. We are the ones will never stop trying to figure it out, and will always be aware that we never will… it’s what keeps us searching, looking, wanting.
— Because We Are Readers (via bookriot)
Vladimir Volegov
Reader’s Bill of Rights
1. The right to not read
2. The right to skip pages
3. The right to not finish
4. The right to reread
5. The right to read anything
6. The right to escapism
7. The right to read anywhere
8. The right to browse
9. The right to read out loud
10. The right to not defend your tastes
— Daniel Pennac (via wordpainting)
Pile by BookMonger on Flickr.
….for the night
Hath been to me a more familiar face
Than that of man; and in her starry shade
Of dim and solitary loveliness,
I learn’d the language of another world.
— Lord Byron, from “Manfred” (via litverve)
yes I’m ready (by sonnygallagher)
I think a great book—leaving aside other qualities such as narrative power, characterization, style, and so on—is a book that describes the world in a way that has not been done before; and that is recognized by those who read it as telling new truths—about society or the way in which emotional lives are led, or both—such truths having not been previously available, certainly not from official records or government documents, or from journalism or television.
— Julian Barnes (via theparisreview)
Pisces
art by Yelena Bryksenkova
Xiaolu Guo, A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers
Above: Istanbul governor Mr. Mutlu tweets: “Police will NOT intervene in Gezi Parki or Taksim. Police will not intervene the protesters. From this morning going forward, your brothers in the police will look after you.”
Below: Taksim Sq this morning
My real self wanders elsewhere, far away, wanders on and on invisibly and has nothing to do with my life.
— Hermann Hesse (via inatt)
Police spray water canon directly on a protester in a wheelchair this evening in Taksim (Tuesday, June 11)
Introverts, in contrast, may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were home in their pajamas. They prefer to devote their social energies to close friends, colleagues, and family. They listen more than they talk, think before they speak, and often feel as if they express themselves better in writing than in conversation. They tend to dislike conflict. Many have a horror of small talk, but enjoy deep discussions.
maggathemuggle asked: Hi. I love your blog :) I saw that you translated Holes, which is one of my favourite books. I really want to be a translator, but I don’t know how to start! I was wondering, how did you get into translating and how did you know that was what you wanted to do? Also, do you have any advice for beginners? I hope you have a nice day!
—- I started freelancing as a temporary job because I was looking for teaching jobs or trying academic works in those days but they all turned out to be disappointing and annoying so I decided to work like this in the end. So I’m not sure if I should say that it was what I really wanted to do (there were times I really enjoyed teaching as well but not all the time). Honestly you may find what you’re looking for after you try different things in the beginning. Working freelance has pros and cons. It is not a regular job as other desk jobs but working hours are flexible most of the time and I can create time for the things I like doing. That’s why I don’t want to do anything else in the future either and I hope I won’t have to work in a place that I would hate. So I advice you to try many things, always improve yourself since working on a language means being a student in your whole life and never give up if you really enjoy what you’re doing no matter what people say.
purpleraven asked: Hello! :) I’ve been following you for a long time now and your blog’s one of my favorites! I was curious about what you thought on translation as a career, if it’s worth getting into basically, especially since you do that yourself. I’ve finally decided not to run away from pursuing a degree in linguistics, so I’m trying to find what options there are, besides the stiff academic and research paths involved. Is it interesting to be a translator? Did you always aim to be one? Best of wishes, Rali
—- Thank you. I think I have answered in details above :) Beside that, translating can be sometimes enjoyable and sometimes tedious. It is up to the text or speech. If you have a chance to do academic research, it is better than many other subjects in the academic sense (at least in my opinion) but make sure you really want to study on essays and theses in most of your time :)) And did I always aim to be one? When I think about my school years, I see that I wanted to work as a translator more than working as a teacher but first I had to try the academic path. On the other hand, you may also work as a part-time translator while you are studying on your academic researches as well. Better to try first :)
cloverrevolc asked: Have you ever read “Everything is illuminated” by Jonathan Safran Foer?
—- Yes, I had read it but I love Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close better so if I use the chart below, I should tag the book as “it was okay”.
haven’t heard of it | will check it out | will not read it |haven’t read it yet | didn’t like it | it was okay | a must read | this book is my life | LIFERUINER
theseagoat asked: why won’t you read the dharma bums?
—- Because Kerouac had disappointed me with On the Road. Most people love On the Road and I appreciate his merit in literature as well as critical and insightful thoughs on life and system but I couldn’t enjoy the book. So I don’t think I would try another book of Kerouac.
okuma-gunlugum said: U should read “reading lolita in tahran” :)
—- I will if I find the book :))
sarahandkitty said: Since most of these books aren’t in your favorites, I was wondering if you could give us a list of books you really, really enjoy.
—- You may check my list here. :) I try to update it regularly.
boook-worm said: 22/11/63 is incredible! Enjoy :)
—- Thanks. I am really enjoying. I didn’t realize that I missed reading Stephen King for a long time :)
