Pensamientos - Thoughts (72): A Hemingway la posibilidad de quedarse sin inspiración le aterraba tanto como el riesgo de quedarse sin vicios, ....
The sentences I am going to post are by my one and only José Luis Alvite
, as sarcastic and ironic as usual
Instead of posting this as a killer thread, I thought I might post one sentence every other day or so.
I would like you to post the translation and your opinion about the sentence. I will correct the translation, and if you post an opinion in Spanish correct major grammar mistakes. You can post in English, but let's get a lot of opinions on these controversial sentences.
Please read this message from Alvite himself to all students.
And remember:
Alvite is sarcastic, always pessimistic, nothing is what it looks like
Here goes number 72.
Don't miss this thread!I am posting the chosen answers on Facebook, on Alvite's wall!
A Hemingway la posibilidad de quedarse sin inspiración le aterraba tanto como el riesgo de quedarse sin vicios, probablemente porque entendía la vida como algo que sólo resulta interesante cuando se está al borde de perderla. El escritor norteamericano era abrasivo por fuera y tierno por dentro, como una flor invidente que creciese casi mustia en el interior de un cactus.
7 Answers
The possibility of being left without inspiration terrified Hemingway as much as the risk of being left without any vices, probably because he understood life to be something that only gets interesting when you're on the edge of losing it. The North American writer was abrasive on the outside and tender on the inside, like a flower that is out of sight, growing almost withered inside of a cactus.
Me parece que Alvite se está describiendo a si mismo. Ya hemos visto que nuestro amigo vicioso, irónico y pesimista tiene un lado tierno que aparece a veces en su escritura. Se ve que tiene mucho en común con Hemingway.
A Hemingway la posibilidad de quedarse sin inspiración le aterraba tanto como el riesgo de quedarse sin vicios, probablemente porque entendía la vida como algo que sólo resulta interesante cuando se está al borde de perderla. El escritor norteamericano era abrasivo por fuera y tierno por dentro, como una flor invidente que creciese casi mustia en el interior de un cactus.
To Hemingway, the possibility of being left without inspiration terrified him as much as the risk of being left without any vices, probably because he understood life as something that only gets interesting when one is on the edge of losing it. The North American writer was abrasive on the outside and delicate on the inside, like a hidden flower that grows almost withered inside a cactus.
Español: Me encantan las imágenes de los escritos de Alvite. Creo que Alvite puede entender el punto de vista de Hemingway-- la vida solo vale la pena si es -- interesante.
English: I love the imagery of Alvite's writing. I think that Alvite can relate to Hemingway's point of view -- life is only worth living if it's interesting.
A Hemingway la posibilidad de quedarse sin inspiración le aterraba tanto como el riesgo de quedarse sin vicios, probablemente porque entendía la vida como algo que sólo resulta interesante cuando se está al borde de perderla. El escritor norteamericano era abrasivo por fuera y tierno por dentro, como una flor invidente que creciese casi mustia en el interior de un cactus.
To Hemingway the possibility of being left without inspiration terrified him as much as the risk of running out of vices, probably because he understood life as something which is only interesting when one is on the verge of losing it. The American writer was abrasive on the outside and tender inside, like a sightless flower that grows almost faded inside a cactus.
Creo Alvite está comparando la personalidad aparente de Hemingway a la de una flor oculta e invisible dentro de un cactus. Uno tiene que mirar más allá de lo que parece ser evidente.
I think Alvite is comparing the apparent personality of Hemingway to that of a flower hidden and unseen inside a cactus. One has to look beyond what seems to be obvious.
PS It is just a thought but maybe Alvite understands that he is himself like that.
To Hemingway the possiblity of being without inspiration terrfied him as much as the risk of being without vices probably because he understood that life as something that only becomes interesting when one is on the verge of losing it. The American writer was abrasive on the outside and tender on the inside, like blind flower that grew almost withered on the inside of a catcus.
No sé nada de la vida de Hemingway por eso no puedo comentar con exactiud los comentarios de Alvite. Pero creo que en Hemingway, vio un alma gemela, alguien que pasó por las mismas cosas.
A Hemingway la posibilidad de quedarse sin inspiración le aterraba tanto como el riesgo de quedarse sin vicios, probablemente porque entendía la vida como algo que sólo resulta interesante cuando se está al borde de perderla. El escritor norteamericano era abrasivo por fuera y tierno por dentro, como una flor invidente que creciese casi mustia en el interior de un cactus.
The possibility of being left without inspiration terrified Hemingway as much as the risk of being left without any vices, probably because he understood life to be something that only gets interesting when you are on the edge of losing it. The North American writer was abrasive on the outside and tender on the inside, like a flower that is out of sight, growing almost withered inside of a cactus.
Quizá -- El Sr. Alvite comparta las mismas inquietudes que le preocupaban al Señor Hemingway. Su descripción del abrasivo Hemingway y sus ternura interior, me suena familiar. Es como si El Sr. Alvite le estuviera describiendo estas cualidades a la persona reflejada en el espejo.
A Hemingway la posibilidad de quedarse sin inspiración le aterraba tanto como el riesgo de quedarse sin vicios, probablemente porque entendía la vida como algo que sólo resulta interesante cuando se está al borde de perderla. El escritor norteamericano era abrasivo por fuera y tierno por dentro, como una flor invidente que creciese casi mustia en el interior de un cactus.
To Hemingway, the chance of ending up without inspiration terrified him as much as ending up without sinful living, probably because, for some people, life was meant to be interesting only when they are on the edge of losing it. The north American writer was abrasive on the outside and tender on the inside, like a blind flower that barely manages to grow inside a cactus.
Seguramente Alvite tiene un muy alto concepto de Ernest Hemingway, como se esperaría de un escritor del otro. Qué hermoso que --pensara sobre el corazón de Hemingway de tan íntima manera como esta.
It's almost certain that Alvite has very high regard for Ernest Hemingway, as one would expect of one writer to another. How beautiful that he would think about Hemingway's heart in such a way as this.
A Hemingway la posibilidad de quedarse sin inspiración le aterraba tanto como el riesgo de quedarse sin vicios, probablemente porque entendía la vida como algo que sólo resulta interesante cuando se está al borde de perderla. El escritor norteamericano era abrasivo por fuera y tierno por dentro, como una flor invidente que creciese casi mustia en el interior de un cactus.
La traducción: To Hemingway, the possibility of being left without inspiration was as terrifying as the risk of being left without vices, probably because he understood life as something which is only interesting when one is on the verge of losing it. The American writer was abrasive on the outside and tender on the inside, like a blind, almost withered flower that grew inside a cactus.
El comentario in castellano: ¡Qué gran verdad!. Siempre me ha encantado Adiós a las armas y Alvite ha reconocido la misma cosa en Hemingway en general que me encantaba -- en ese libro: esa calidad tan abierta de la herida y la sinceridad desconsolada vagando perdido y sin la armadura, por las palabras dichas con la voz tan áspera.
El comentario en inglés: How true. I've always loved A Farewell to Arms, and Alvite has noticed the same thing in Hemingway in general that I loved in that book--the rawness of the wound and the heartbroken sincerity wandering lost with its armor off, through the gruffness.
