War and Peace (Book I), by Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy deserves his great fame in this book. A master of writing skills.

I told Jia that Tolstoy showed great writing skills in the book - any 3 pages could be used in a textbook as writing samples, but the book may not touch one's heart. Then I claimed that he was talented. Jia corrected me that writing skills made him a master, but it was improper to claim him being talented, which is subjective, but being master is more objective. I agree.

Just finished the Book I. I mostly used the Alfred A. Knope's new translation by Richard Pevear and Larrisa Volokhonsky. This couple did a fine job this time, not like their dull translation of Anna Karinina. I also read some text from Rosemary Edomons' 1957 translation, and Constance Garnett's. My impressions were:

1. Pevear and Volokhonsky's is the most precise one, easiest to read at least for me, whose English is a second language. Among the pages I read from the other two translations, both have places that are confusing or hard to grasp at the first reading, but Pevear and Volokhonsky's translation is very clear.

2. Among the three, Garnett produced the most beautiful English sentences, but she was criticized for inaccuracy. However, I can't forget the power delivered in her Anna Karinina, so I will definitely read her translation some day. Pevear and Volokhonsky's is the least one in terms of English beauty.
3. Edomons' lies in the middle, more smoothly and English-like than Pevear and Volokhonsky's, but some sentences still read confusing.

Translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky. Published by Alfred A. Knope, New York, 2007. Hardcover. ISBN 9780307266934. (The hardcover edition is out-of-print, I regret that I did not buy it, although I already have Everyman's library edition, and Penguin's Anthony Briggs edition both in hardcover and paperback edition.)

Translated by Rosemary Edmons. Published by the Folio Society, London, 1978. This is Edmonds' 1957 translation, and she made a revision in 1978, and both were published by Penguin. (This Folio Society edition chose a particular font which looks artistically, but very disturbing when you started reading. I have a bad impression on the Folio Society).

Translated by Constance Garnett. Published by Modern Library, New York, 1994. ISBN 0679600841.

怀旧苏州河，陆元敏/朱全弟

看到这书时以为说的是苏州。但是翻看图片时，觉得像是上海。细读时，果然是上海市区的苏州河 -- 今年春天去上海时逛外滩，那个从纪念塔处流入上海的支流 竟然就是苏州河，古称吴淞江。 （应该说在苏州河在此处从上海汇入。）
这次在上海借出差呆了一个星期。逛了些大街小巷。没有特别喜欢。因为更喜欢北京的开阔、大气和人文气息。上海道路狭窄，高高低低，楼房密集。不过现在想想，偌大的城市，密集交错的建筑，荼蘼的历史，道有些余味。哥哥说北京和上海是给他最强震撼的。
这本书图片不错，文字平庸了些。
摄影：陆元敏, 文字：朱全弟。京中玉国际有限公司，2003年7月。浙江摄影出版社授权。ISBN 9867672038。

京都一年，林文月

十分不错的一本书。林如月文字古朴、优美，和描写的京都古韵配合得很好。写出了个人的感受。
看了林如月翻译的《枕草子》的第一节，文字优美极了。期待明年回家时收购一本她的《枕草子》和《源氏物语》。

三民书局印行。ISBN 9571424218。