Fiona N
fionamnt.bsky.social
Fiona N
@fionamnt.bsky.social
Translator (NL>EN) | Reader | BookCrosser | Baker | Scottish (and Dutch) | Loves language and history
Book 29 in 2025: Expelled from Uganda, by Noreen Nasim.
The fictionalised story of the author's father and his family, Asian Ugandans who had to flee the country under Idi Amin's horrific rule. Very interesting to read more about this.

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September 15, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Book 28 in 2025: The Falcons of Fire and Ice, by Karen Maitland.
The landscape in Iceland is really a character in itself, and it was interesting to read about the history and customs, and about falconry. And apart from that, it was also a great story.

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September 1, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Book 27 in 2025: Rambling Man: My Life on the Road, by Billy Connolly (audiobook).
Funny and philosophical, Billy recounts his travels around the world as a true "rambling man".
Always a pleasure to listen to him!
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August 22, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Fiona N
Since 2023, translators and interpreters have seen work dry up, rates plummet and their jobs reduced to editing AI-generated output. Some are leaving the field, others are considering bankruptcy. All despite any major upgrade in translation quality.

This is how AI is killing translation work:
AI Killed My Job: Translators
Few industries have been hit by AI as hard as translation. Rates are plummeting. Work is drying up. Translators are considering abandoning the field, or bankruptcy. These are their stories.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
August 21, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Book 26 in 2025: Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury.
A rather strange carnival comes to town, and sure enough some very creepy things start happening. You'll never look at a carousel or a mirror maze the same way again.
Creepily enjoyable!

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August 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Book 25 in 2025: The Women, by Kristin Hannah.
Powerful story of the women who served as army nurses in Vietnam, witnessing unimaginable horrors and returning home to zero recognition. And of the deep, unbreakable friendships forged there.
Very good.

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August 5, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Book 24 in 2025: The Puzzle Wood, by Rosie Andrews.
1852, a remote house where the governess has died. Her sister poses as a new governess to join the household and try to find out what happened.
Atmospheric surroundings, strange goings-on. Very good!

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August 1, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Book 23 in 2025: Orbital, by Samantha Harvey.

From the constantly changing vistas and multiple sunrises and sunsets per 'day' to the minutiae of life in space, this was a wonderfully slow and thought-provoking read.

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July 23, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Book 22 in 2025: The Japanese Lover, by Isabel Allende. Translated by Nick Caistor and Amanda Hopkinson.
A beautiful story about the enduring power of love, against a rich backdrop of the very different histories of the characters.

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July 19, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Book 21 in 2025: The Watcher in the Shadows, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Translated by Lucia Graves.
Oddly enjoyable young adult gothic creepiness!

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July 12, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Book 20 in 2025: The Extinction of Irena Rey, by Jennifer Croft.
As a translator, I loved a book by a translator, about translators, with a narrator who's one of them, whose words are translated by one of the others, including snide footnotes. Indescribable!
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#xl8
June 27, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Fiona N
Thanks for the reminder @janemunday.bsky.social. Every summer, I repost this article DROWNING DOES NOT LOOK LIKE DROWNING. To date, I know of FOUR kids who were saved after someone who'd clicked on the link learnt how to spot actual drowning. Take time to read and pass on.

slate.com/technology/2...
Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning
Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect.
slate.com
June 19, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Book 19 in 2025: Fifth Business, by Robertson Davies.
Schoolteacher in Canada looks back on his life, with colourful characters and fair amount of tragedy and drama, and a bit of adventure.
Quite enjoyed this.

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June 13, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Fiona N
"Translation handcrafted without the use of generative AI" Copyright page of one of my forthcoming translations.
June 9, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Book 18 in 2025: A God in Ruins, by Kate Atkinson.
One of those books I almost didn't want to finish, because I was enjoying it so much and didn't want to have to say goodbye to the characters (except Viola maybe!).
Beautifully written.
Loved it.

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June 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Book 17 in 2025: The Evergreen in Red and White, by Steven Kay.
The story of Rabbi Howell, Sheffield United player, in the early days of professional football, faced with some difficult life choices. Well researched, with good backdrop of Victorian Sheffield.
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June 2, 2025 at 11:02 AM
ADD a letter and ruin a movie

Lady Chatterley's Liver
ADD a letter and ruin a movie

Diet Hard
ADD a letter and ruin a movie

True Grits
May 28, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Book 16 in 2025: Splinter, by Sebastian Fitzek. Translated by John Brown John.
Marc reads about an experiment that might help him forget his wife's death. But then he comes home to find his wife, who's very much alive, but doesn't recognise him.
What's happening to his mind?
Gripping story.
May 25, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Book 15 in 2025: Dust by Charles Pellegrino.
What happens to the world if all the insects die off suddenly. Pretty scary stuff. And as in the pandemic, a crisis brings out the very best and worst in people.
We really need to take better care of our planet!
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May 20, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Book 14 in 2025: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin.
Loved the writing, the flawed characters, the video game industry setting (although I grew up on text adventures 😁).
Beautiful.
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May 13, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Fiona N
Denmark's Ministry of Justice has announced that post-editing machine translation (PEMT) does not qualify as "translation" under its legal framework.
#Translation #ProfessionalStandards #AITranslation
Denmark Says Post-Editing Is Not Translation
Danish associations get legal backing to stop AI translation editors from getting credit as original translators.
slator.com
May 9, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Reposted by Fiona N
May 7, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Reposted by Fiona N
Happy 99th birthday to the man who gave voice to the wild. 🎉

Sir David Attenborough, thank you for a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, and for sharing its story with wisdom, wonder, and grace.

You've inspired generations to fall in love with nature.
May 8, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Book 13 in 2025: Elena Knows, by Claudia Piñeiro. Translated by Frances Riddle.
Not the Marple-esque crime novel the description might suggest. Instead it deals with some big issues, against the backdrop of a difficult mother-daughter relationship.
Very good.
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May 4, 2025 at 12:09 PM