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For an intelligent guy, !@#$%!...
I'll say this once more. I'm not asserting that translations are worthless, can't be well-written, or aren't in some way representative of the original.
I'm simply saying that, from a 'deconstructionist' point of view, if you will, they can't be approached in the same way. That because of such technicalities as syntax, diction, textual literary devices, colloquialisms, etc., a translation will inevitably compromise the 'voice' of the original.
I'm not criticizing the reading of Gogol for the book club (not yet anyhow; though I will say I'm still waiting to be impressed by Dead Souls, poor translation or not). I'm merely saying that, because of the way I approach a novel, it wouldn't be my first choice for a book club discussion.
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