November Book of the Month: Waking Lions by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen. Join the webchat with the author and her translator on Monday 14 November, 9pm.

[UrsulaMumsnet]

November's book of the month is the gripping literary thriller Waking Lions by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen.

You can expect to miss your stop and lose hours to this consuming tale, based on a true event, about a respected Israeli neurosurgeon whose split-second decision one evening leaves him spiralling into a web of deception, corruption and guilt.

Apply for one of 50 free copies before 14 October, read the book over the next few weeks and join us back here on 14 November 9-10pm to discuss it and put questions to Ayelet and the book's translator, Sondra Silverston.

If you're not lucky enough to bag a free copy, we'd still love for you to come and join in the discussion - buy a paperback here.

@SallySwann

I thought it was an interesting title and wondered if the title is the same in Israel.

i'm glad you liked the title SallySwan, and yes - it was the same in Israel. in Hebrew: "Lehair Arayot". i liked the idea of a hidden predator within all of us, and what happens when this predator suddenly awakes...

Thanks Ayelet, I wonder how much my perceptions of the characters will have changed on a second reading. Was this already a printed book in Israel that was translated afterwards for Pushkin or was it translated at the same time as its release in Israel? Has the book been reviewed/enjoyed differently in each country?

@yUMMYmUMMYb

Sondra - as you were translating were there parts of the story that you would have written differently? A process question - do you read the whole book first to get a sense of the story and then go back and translate or do you translate on initial read? Such a fascinating job.

Well, yUMMYmUMMyb, the big secret in the translation world is that most translators do not read the entire book before beginning work. A chapter or 2 at most. There are a couple of reasons: first, it would take forever, because no translator can read with translating in his head, playing with choices and possibilities. Secondly, the suspense of not knowing how the book will develop keeps you on your toes, interested, alert. You're right, it is a fascinating job, but not an easy one.

@todormirchev

Thank you Mumsnet for the free copy of "Waking Lions".I enjoy reading the book a lot. I want to ask the autor Ayelet Gundar-Goshen: If there is a film adaptation of the book in the future, which actor and actress would she like to see playing the lead characters from "Waking Lions?"

Thanks todormirchev, glad you liked it. NBC network has bought the film rights – but it's really too early to know if it's actually going to happen. Anyway, I find it really hard to imagine the actor and actress. I wrote the book in Hebrew, and the filming would be in English, with American actors who don't speak my language…

@Hygellig

Belo, I assumed that he would resume his normal life, but some ambiguity remained at the end. It was interesting to consider the moral repercussions of not handing himself in at the time of the hit and run; for one thing, it led to the death of Mona; on the other hand, he saved many lives both in his day job and as a garage doctor. If I read about a hit and run in the news, my reaction would be utter loathing for the driver not only for driving dangerously but also for not handing themselves in.

Further questions to Ayelet and Sondra:

1. Rregarding the translation, did you cooperate at all before or during the translation process? How long did it take to translate? Ayelet, have you read your book in English and, if so, is it strange to read it in another language?

1. What research did you do for the novel, for example, was it possible to meet African refugees or migrants to talk about their experiences?

1. Are there any plans to adapt it for TV or film?

1. Ayelet, do you have any plans for future novels? I wish you all the best for your birth of your baby.

Hygellig I'm afraid my English isn't good enough to read Literature. Last book I read in English was Harry Potter, in high school…

As for the research – I talked a with friends from "Doctor's for Human rights", who works with the refugee community, and I met refugees from Eritrea. But I believe the best way to know a character is not from a 'research' but from within, to try and put myself in the shoes of the other.

NBC bought the filming rights for waking lions - but it's still far away.

I do have a plan for a third novel, but my baby is due in the end of this month, so I'll have to be patient.

I am also impressed at being a translator, Sondra. Such an interesting job.

@RachelMumsnet

Ayelet and Sondra; We would like to put our standard questions from Mumsnet HQ to you both:

Which childhood book most inspired you?

What was the last book you gave someone as a gift?

What was the best book you have recently read?

And finally - to Ayelet - can you describe the room where you wrote Waking Lions - and to Sondra - the room where you wrote the translation?

Since I was always an avid read, I have to say that my entire neighborhood library inspired me and I can't think of one particular book. The last book I gave as a gift is Tana French's new novel, The Tresspasser. I love Tana French. The best book I read recently is Kate Atkinson's Life After Life. Absolutely brilliant. I translate in my little workroom, just me, my computer and my bookshelves.

@Givemecoffeeplease

Loving this so much. Are you medically trained to speak so fluently about drugs, operations, doctors' lives etc? And how has that impacted on the novel??

So glad you like it Givemecoffeeplease. I'm not medically trained – I have some doctor friends who I called and called and called again with endless questions.

@MummysGotMakeup

Thanks Ayelet, I wonder how much my perceptions of the characters will have changed on a second reading. Was this already a printed book in Israel that was translated afterwards for Pushkin or was it translated at the same time as its release in Israel? Has the book been reviewed/enjoyed differently in each country?

the book was published in Hebrew and then translated to different languages. when i was doing a reading tour in Germany i felt their perception of the novel is different than in Israel: they're used to think of Israelis as victims, and the novel tells a more complex story.

@CountTessa

I am finding Sirkit a a fascinating character and would love to know more from her side. For such a central player, I'm wondering Ayelet if it was a conscious decision to marginalise her so much and depict her as the strong wild brave African woman, yet one who is so hidden in Israeli society?

Exactly Counttessa – I wanted to find a graphic depiction of Sirkit's "otherness". She is marginalized in the text just as she is in the Israeli society

Ayelet, thank you very much for the answer. Very glad that we will have the chance to see this facinating story on screen. Looking forward for another great and captivating story from you.

Sondra, do you translate technical material as well, or just literature?
I am grateful that translators open up worlds to us that we would otherwise not be able to access.

I wonder if the backpacker who inspired the story has heard about the novel...

@SallySwann

I'd also like to ask Sondra if she has translated books from English into Hebrew and how she got involved in this kind of work in the first place. I assume that she must have lived in Israel at some point?

I've been living in Israel since 1970, originally from New York. When I arrived here, I knew I wanted to be a translator, even though I didn't know a word of Hebrew at the time. But where there's a will... I studied hard, did a 2-year translating course, and here I am. Translating gets me deep into the books I'm working on, and often into the head of the writer. With Ayelet, I really felt that my translations were writing themselves, that's how connected I felt to her writing. By the way, congratulations, Ayelet, on the upcoming baby.

Did you use anybody else, other 'doctor friends', in order to discuss, bounce ideas about?

Do you currently see yourself more as a novelist than a psychologist? Or are both still important, yet different, parts of you?

@Hygellig

Sondra, do you translate technical material as well, or just literature? I am grateful that translators open up worlds to us that we would otherwise not be able to access.

I wonder if the backpacker who inspired the story has heard about the novel...

Hygellig - When I first started out, I translated everything. But I felt that if I had to translate one more document on washing machine specifications or something like it, I would go completely mad. Getting into literary translation is difficult, but there was nothing else I wanted to do.

@SondraSilverston

[quote RachelMumsnet] Ayelet and Sondra; We would like to put our standard questions from Mumsnet HQ to you both:

Which childhood book most inspired you?

What was the last book you gave someone as a gift?

What was the best book you have recently read?

And finally - to Ayelet - can you describe the room where you wrote Waking Lions - and to Sondra - the room where you wrote the translation?

Since I was always an avid read, I have to say that my entire neighborhood library inspired me and I can't think of one particular book. The last book I gave as a gift is Tana French's new novel, The Tresspasser. I love Tana French. The best book I read recently is Kate Atkinson's Life After Life. Absolutely brilliant.
I translate in my little workroom, just me, my computer and my bookshelves.[/quote]

one of the childhood book that inspired me the most was "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" - i spent hours in my Wardrobe trying to get to another country.

i bought "my brilliant friend" to my dad when he went into surgery - it helped him recover.

the best book i've recently read is "One horse enters a bar", by David Grossman

i wrote "waking lion"s in my living room in Tel Aviv. a month after the publication my first child was born, and the writing-room became the baby's room.

There's a couple of questions earlier up the thread that were missed and I wanted to put to you before our time is up: For Ayelet, BearAustin asked:

Do you worry about having your novels translated into other languages? Do you worry that they will lose part of their essence?‬

and Hygellig asked:

I would like to ask Ayelet if she considered exploring the ethical and emotional dimensions of alternative scenarios? For example if Eitan hadn't left his wallet at the scene, it's unlikely that the police would have found that he was the hit and run driver, but having a death on his conscience might have had major repercussions on his life - or he might have gradually found himself thinking about it less and less.‬

‪I was also wondering if the novel has raised awareness of the plight of migrant workers and refugees in Israel?‬

@BearAusten

Did you use anybody else, other 'doctor friends', in order to discuss, bounce ideas about?

Do you currently see yourself more as a novelist than a psychologist? Or are both still important, yet different, parts of you?

i talked to my partner, he's the one that told me that Sirkit has to black-mail Eitan, and not to be a passive character.

i still see myself as both a writer and a psychologist. in both cases, it's about asking questions and not taking anything for granted.

Fascinating insight into translating - something I had genuinely not thought about. Loved the book and look forward to another one soon. Thanks and good luck with baby

And to Sondra - another question from Hygellig:

Regarding the translation, did you cooperate at all before or during the translation process? How long did it take to translate?

I also wanted to ask if you think Liat believed that Eitan was just driving around and wanted to help the Eritreans. Do you think she would notice the large amount of money missing from their bank account and be angry about it?

If you don't have time to answer I would just like to say thank you both very much for joining the webchat at this late hour, and thank you for a very thought-provoking but also enjoyable read.

@RachelMumsnet

There's a couple of questions earlier up the thread that were missed and I wanted to put to you before our time is up: For Ayelet, BearAustin asked:

Do you worry about having your novels translated into other languages? Do you worry that they will lose part of their essence?‬

and Hygellig asked:

I would like to ask Ayelet if she considered exploring the ethical and emotional dimensions of alternative scenarios? For example if Eitan hadn't left his wallet at the scene, it's unlikely that the police would have found that he was the hit and run driver, but having a death on his conscience might have had major repercussions on his life - or he might have gradually found himself thinking about it less and less.‬

‪I was also wondering if the novel has raised awareness of the plight of migrant workers and refugees in Israel?‬

thanks for bringing those questions again - and sorry for being so slow! i wish i could say it's the late hour, but actually i'm not used to typing - i write with a pen...
*
yes, BearAustin, i always wonder about the translations. Waking Lions is translated to 11 languages, none of them i can read, and i just have to learn and trust the words to go thier own way.

That's a good question Hygellig, and it followed me while writing – if Sirkit hadn't appear on Eitan's doorway – would he be able to simply go on with his life? How long would it be before the memory of the accident fades away? I still wonder.

As for your second question: the refugees in Israel are the invisible people of our society – I tried to change that in the novel, but it takes more than one novel to change society…

@RachelMumsnet

And to Sondra - another question from Hygellig:

Regarding the translation, did you cooperate at all before or during the translation process? How long did it take to translate?

The translation took about 4 months. Ayelet saw the first few chapters, approved and trusted me to continue on my own. When I had specific questions, I consulted with her.

Good night everyone. It was lovely talking to you, and to re-think issues in the novel. your questions will go on with me, to my next novel.
Best wishes from Tel Aviv, Ayelet

Thank you for an excellent webchat.