I remember thinking: this is absolutely brilliant. The book has this sharp humour and total honesty – it feels so refreshing and alive.
What's your favourite story in the book?
I really love the book's opening chapter, 'Just Like Mak' – it captures so much of the spirit and purpose of the book and yet handles these huge topics with such a deft touch. I also love 'Fish', which hones in so playfully and sensitively on the particularities of a child's preferences.
What did you find challenging about working on the translation?
It was challenge to make sure we always stayed true to the tone of Reda's writing, particularly the humour that underpins everything in the book and which is so crisp and alert and never-ever-ever-ever twee. And then there are all sorts of interesting quirks to Indonesian – as of course there must be with any language – but I remember getting particularly flummoxed by certain Indonesian exclamations like 'wah' (which sort of means gosh/wow/heck/well...) and 'aduh' (oh dear/oh no/poor you/poor me/ouch). These words have such particular senses/implications in Indonesian depending on the context (and I was also struck that the way they are uttered is also crucial – they're often articulated with a particularly musical/theatrical ring) and I remember thinking: the English language just doesn't get quite this. (Aduh.)
Why do you think it's important for children to read books in translation?
Reading in translation really helps transport us beyond those little bubbles of familiarity that we can so easily float about in. Books in translation remind us that there are zillions of different sorts of lives and give us amazing access to different ways of thinking and being, which seems so very crucial. At any stage in life. But of course the sooner better.
What are your favourite books in translation?
I read The Vegetarian by Han Kang (translated by Deborah Smith) a couple of months ago and still haven't really recovered. I've loved devouring everything by Elena Ferrante (translated by Ann Goldstein). And I have loved W.G. Sebald's books (as translated by Michael Hulse and Anthea Bell) since I was a student and only wish he could have lived until he was 107 and kept on writing his strange and wonderful works.
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MORE ABOUT KATE:
Kate Wakeling is a poet and musicologist. Her debut poetry collection for children, Moon Juice, won the CLiPPA in 2017 and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal. A pamphlet of her poetry for adults, The Rainbow Faults, is published by The Rialto. Kate studied music at Cambridge University and holds a PhD in Balinese gamelan music from SOAS. She is writer- in-residence with Aurora Orchestra.
Website: www.katewakeling.co.uk
Twitter: @WakelingKate
