She calms down somewhat after a few seconds. "...sorry...a lot of family will be there and they will ask lots of questions about things if I go...I think I'm worried about that for non-backlash reasons as well? Like...it's an engagement party. I don't want it to accidentally become about me instead?"

"That makes sense, I think he was just trying to like, indicate that you have plans and he'll notice if you don't show up, but presumably you can see people in some less fraught context if you want to skip the party?"

"I'll ask her what she thinks. I'll have a couple of days so. And I can find time to see my parents either way, yeah."

"I have stepped into a kind of suspicious-looking position here, I don't blame him for wanting to make it known that you've got people looking out for you."

"...Yeah it's awkward that I...can't really talk to them. We could...maybe try another recording?"

"Sure, lemme line that up..." Phone phone. "Say when."

Deep breath "When." Pause "Hi, mom and dad, This is just to let you know that I continue to be - about as fine as can be expected under the circumstances - and Traceless has been excellent and not weird about things. I don't know if I will still do the party, I have to talk to Erica about it because...it would be unfair to her if I accidentally steal all the attention with...bigger news. I will take you both out for dinner or something if I decide not to be at the party.  So I will see you...sometime around then either way. Take care. Bye."

"Should I send this to the both of 'em?"

"Yes, please."

Send send.

"Thank you, sorry your book get interrupted."

"It's a long book, I was never gonna read it in one sitting."

"Have you also read it in translation?"

"Nope, I've been saving it for when my French equaled its requirements."

"I've been meaning to read the English version but perhaps I'll work on my French some more and read it in the original instead!"

"A good translator can do some really cool things and I think it's fascinating but I like starting with the source material when I can - it makes it easier to appreciate the nature of the translation qua translation that way, I think."

"That does make sense, you know what they're interpreting that way."

"Exactly."

"It gets even more complicated with older works. Discussions about which translations of the Iliad or the Odyssey are the best ones can get heated."  

"I've read those! I forget which translator's version I wound up with, I'd have to look..."

'Last year a TA recommended a translation for me when I asked, but I did not get her reasoning."

"For which, or was it both?"

"Both yeah."

"I do think it's good to read a given author's work's all by the same translator when feasible, to create an equivalence to the like - in-jokey nature of close acquaintance with a specific writer."

"Also it would be weird to read if the translators had very different styles! Like some prefer a slightly old-fashioned sounding style and some use a modern style.."