Book Reading : Would you switch translation/language in the middle of a series?

[Grey Fox]

For the polyglotes of the board.

I'm currently reading Bobby Jordan's Wheel of Time. I've read the first 3 books in French(6 books in the translation) & I'm having the hardest of time finding Book 4 (7 & 8 in french). So, I'm considering switching to reading the English originals. It has the advantages of being much, much cheaper. Each French book retail for 15$, on Amazon.ca book 4-5-6 are 19$. However, I'm afraid I'll get lost in the level of english & sudden change of everything but the characters.

Would you do it? Would you switch from a translation to the original version?

[Siege]

I have been reading exclusively in english for the last 15 years or so.
In my mind most of the time can't remember in what language I read a book.

It have not helped with my writting, though.

[Ed Anger]

If I could get a English translation of Davout le Terrible, I would. My French is horrible.

[The Brain]

It never came up. Last time I read an English-language series in Swedish translation was 25 years ago (it was LOTR). A couple years later I re-read it in English but that's not the same.

[Zoupa]

The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.

Ever.


Never ever.

[Ed Anger]

The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.

Ever.


Never ever.

Timmay likes it. Enough said.

[Josquius]

Not that I can read books in `foreign` (well... I read a Wallander book in Swedish. With a fair bit of dictionary checking) but I`d 100% say go for the original language.
When people say they`ve read a certain foreign book I am impressed, I didn`t know they were so good in that language...but then they say no, it was the English translation- then you didn`t read that book did you?
You read some English writer`s take on the story, not the actual original.

As for switching....hmm....can`t be so different surely?
Just get a good guide before hand translating character, place and concept names and you`re set.

[Jacob]

I've switched once or twice (Danish to English). It's a bit weird at first, but I got over it (and didn't want to wait for the Danish translation to come out).

[Oexmelin]

The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.

Ever.


Never ever.

Who knows, maybe it is like some French dubbing, and translation actually improves the series

[Eddie Teach]

then you didn`t read that book did you?

Yes, they did.

[Razgovory]

The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.

Ever.


Never ever.

I avoided that one like the plague.  From what I gather the series starts off briskly enough then just bogs down.

[The Brain]

Not that I can read books in `foreign` (well... I read a Wallander book in Swedish. With a fair bit of dictionary checking) but I`d 100% say go for the original language.
When people say they`ve read a certain foreign book I am impressed, I didn`t know they were so good in that language...but then they say no, it was the English translation- then you didn`t read that book did you?

Interesting theory.

[Grey Fox]

The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.

Ever.


Never ever.

Who knows, maybe it is like some French dubbing, and translation actually improves the series

No, it's not really a good translation.

[jimmy olsen]

The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.

Ever.


Never ever.

Different strokes for different folks, let him make his own decision.

[Iormlund]

Don't think I would, but I've never had to. I've been reading mostly in English since one teacher lent me Dune almost 20 years ago. Only exceptions are books I've borrowed from someone.