March 25, 2007
Pip pip
I just noticed that the British edition of King Dork from Penguin/Puffin is up on Amazon.co.uk. Pub date: August 2.
The copyediting for it has been pretty interesting. They went for a "light Anglicization," which means stuff like "favourite" and trousers rather than pants, and so forth. I always sort of thought the British invented hazing, so I was surprised to learn they don't have the word over there. And did you know that they don't understand the phrase "to horn in on"? Well, you do now.
Posted by Dr. Frank at March 25, 2007 07:35 PM | TrackBackThat's a shame. The trouser/pants thing has always been a source of great amusement to me. Though not as much as 'fanny'.
Posted by: Anarchie at March 25, 2007 09:05 PMI'm British and ordered King Dork from the States a little while ago. I don't think I'll have TOO much trouble with the translation when I get to reading it!
We say "to butt in on" rather than "to horn in on" (assuming the definition I looked up was correct – to intrude/interfere?). Crazy world.
Posted by: JG at March 25, 2007 09:17 PMwhen you search 'king dork' at amazon.co.uk, it also comes up with hotels in Dorking. thats wicked.
Posted by: Ally at March 26, 2007 03:07 PMMy very favorite Britishism of all is: "a bit poo"
Usage:
The dress she was wearing wasn't awful, but the overall effect was a bit poo.
I'm going to try and work that into general conversation today. I obviously don't mind rude stares.
Posted by: Bluestalking Reader at March 26, 2007 07:15 PMI am english and i had no touble reading King Dork, i didnt realise that there were that many americanisms in it (although that could be a by product of all the US tv shows i watch).
Posted by: Anna Louise at March 26, 2007 07:56 PMI like how the UK Amazon site says that you can pre-order and they will "dispatch" the book to you once they receive it from the publisher. I guess UK readers cannot be expected to understand an Americanism such as "send."
So that graphic is just a graphic, right -- i.e., that is not the cover for the UK edition? Or do they think that UK readers won't get the joke of the US cover, since presumably the classic red "Catcher" cover was a US-only thing?
Posted by: Aaron at March 27, 2007 01:45 AMWill the 'Frito Bandito' reference make the UK version? It's a dead on description of LBT's over-the-top Spanish accent. However, does anyone under 35 remember that once ubiquitous Frito Lay advertising character? He disappeared in 1971, long before most YA readers were born. Kinda like the milkshake stealing Evil Grimace of McDonald’s past.
Posted by: Hair Like Jane Hathaway at March 27, 2007 07:08 PMThat's the first time I've seen that cover! Great job visually getting teens interested. That lady would get any teenage guy to read the book. But, what about the teenage ladies? Uh oh, I hear feminism screeming over my shoulder. But, without that pic and dick sceen would be out. Way to go? Still questioning that.
Posted by: Leslie at April 2, 2007 12:01 AMOh no! I'm in the uk and I think that the American cover is about a million times more attractive. Um, not that it should really matter, I guess. Still!
Glad it's going to be available here, though - means I don't have to shell out for an import that I can't really afford!
Posted by: charly at April 8, 2007 01:07 AM