Newbie needing recommendations

honeybee · Joined: 23 Apr 2012 Posts: 7

Hello all:

I am a newbie to Romance novels (except for Georgette Heyer) and need some recommendations for my particular situation:

I am an English speaker living in Dutch-speaking Belgium and am trying to learn Dutch. Shocked

I thought it might be fun to read an English romance novel in Dutch translation to help my learning. My idea is to get an English and Dutch version of the same book, so I can read them side-by-side.

I'm looking for something that wouldn't be too complicated. For example, a historical romance might have too much period-specific vocabulary that I wouldn't need.

I am looking for something light, no mysteries or scary stuff. It would have to be a best seller, as I will need to find a book that was popular enough to have been translated into Dutch.

What would y'all recommend? Books by Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, Barbara Talor Bradford are some of the Dutch translations that I see in the bookstores. I'm sure there are others, but I'm not familiar enough with the most popular authors.

I would really appreciate any suggestions from the forum!

CG · Joined: 27 Jan 2012 Posts: 58 Location: Central Texas

I would suggest anything by Jennifer Crusie for a smart and funny read, and I believe she's been published in Dutch. Welcome to Temptation and Bet Me are two of my favorites.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is another favorite, she writes intelligent funny contemporaries as well and she has a page on her website for international readers and there's a link to her Dutch publisher.
http://www.susanephillips.com/international.html

As far as the authors you listed, I would stick with Nora Roberts, IMHO.

Good luck and welcome to the neighborhood.

honeybee · Joined: 23 Apr 2012 Posts: 7

Thanks, CG-- I appreciate your input!

PamelaM · Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 166

I believe Julia Quinn publishes internationally and you also may try Lisa Kleypas. Sherry Thomas (her books are not as light) also publishes internationally. Quinn and Kleypas have large backlists of bestsellers but Thomas' backlist is 4-5 books. Good Luck!

honeybee · Joined: 23 Apr 2012 Posts: 7

Thanks, PamelaM!

I hadn't heard of either of these authors, and I will definitely check out their Dutch translations. Part of my problem in undertaking this task is I have no idea of where to begin, as I am completely new to the genre. Many thanks for the suggestions; I appreciate it!

PatW · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 614 Location: Central Maryland

If you like Georgette Heyer, you will like Mary Balogh's historicals - however a quick internet search didn't show me that her books have been translated into Dutch. I found references to Spanish, Italian, and Polish.... you might take a look in your bookstore to verify. Some of her newer books are definitely best sellers.

I think your project has great merit! My sister-in-law is reading Harry Potter in German for the same reason! Best of luck!
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honeybee · Joined: 23 Apr 2012 Posts: 7

Thanks, PatW! I'll see if I can find Balogh in Dutch. Thanks for the suggestion!

Re: Harry Potter -- yes, I may break down and do that as well. It does have the advantage of also having a Dutch audio-book, so I could both listen and read in Dutch and then check my understanding.

How is your sister-in-law finding the process? Has it helped her with her German?

PatW · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 614 Location: Central Maryland

Eliza · Joined: 21 Aug 2011 Posts: 718

For me, humor hasn't always translated the same or as easily when just starting out in a new language. So like CG, I bet Nora Roberts would be a good bet for contemps for what you've seen so far.

If you did want historicals, I agree with PatW that Mary Balogh would be a good choice. She sets the period settings really well without a lot of extra stuff thrown in, focusing on the people and the story.

And like PamelaM said, Lisa Kleypas and Julia Quinn historicals would be good choices too. Everyone I know adores Kleypas; I'd bet she'd translate well too. Quinn would be the choice for lighter fare IMO.

LFL · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 629

I disagree with the Mary Balogh recommendation. Georgette Heyer's books are very comedic, while Mary Balogh's books are usually quite serious. She's not the first author I would recommend to a Heyer fan.

The author I thought of was Loretta Chase, who writes funny books set in Regency England. A Google search shows that she has been translated into Dutch. My personal favorites of her books are the ones in the Carsington series. The reading order for the books is:

Miss Wonderful
Mr. Impossible
Lord Perfect
Not Quite a Lady
Last Night's Scandal

A Dutch translation of Miss Wonderful was mentioned on another site so I am certain you can find that one. However, her most popular book is Lord of Scoundrels so that may be the best starting place if you can find a copy of it in Dutch.

honeybee · Joined: 23 Apr 2012 Posts: 7

Thanks Liza and LFT! I really appreciate your recommendations and opinions.

It will be interesting to see whose books and which titles will end up being available.

I went to the library today and looked to see what was in stock. 2 books by Sarah Elizabeth Phillips, several by Nora Roberts, but none by Julia Quinn or Lisa Kleypas. Of course, we live in a rather small market town, so I think I might have better luck in the larger bookstores in Leuven or Ghent.

I did see several books by Cathy Kelly, Sophie Kinsella and Rosamunde Pilcher. Can anyone weigh in on these authors?

Eliza · Joined: 21 Aug 2011 Posts: 718

LFL · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 629

LFL · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 629

Cobbsouth · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 62 Location: Loveland, Colorado

A couple of my teen romances were translated into Dutch. Being for younger readers, they might be a bit easier to read than a book intended for adults who are, presumably, already fluent in the language.

(I tried to post pictures of the covers here, but couldn't figure out how to do it.)
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