So, I'm currently reading As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson which takes places in English village Little Kilton. It was a while since I read the last book so I went online to read a detailed synopsis… I found one that said the main character lives somewhere in Connecticut… I was like ????? So obviously in America it's been adapted for American audiences.
My question is, why? Genuinely, no shade, why? I don't understand? When I read books by American authors they're set in… America? The towns are American, the language is American English. I'm thinking particularly of Stephen King here now, the references to political events, TV/film personalities are American and therefore go right over my head but I'm fine with that coz Stephen King is American. I don't understand why English (I'm assuming some, not all) books are Americanised but American books are Englishanised (I'm so sorry). Unless, they are and I'm not aware? Enlighten me! Please!
by baldcats4eva
2 Comments
Harry Potter was Americanized. In really dumb ways. Some may have made sense. Like if a word means one thing in British English but something else in US English, it might confuse readers. Like tank top/sweater vest. A young American reader might think the character isn’t dressed appropriately for the weather. Or jumper/sweater, because a jumper in the US is a kind of dress. But other changes just felt insulting, like American kids couldn’t be trusted to figure out that sweet means the same thing as candy.
This makes me rage!! I had the opposite experience! I read two other Holly Jackson books. I had no idea she was English and her books take place in the UK. I feel like I was cheated out of reading the real book. It’s not like I’m going to go back and reread either of them.
The Reappearance of Rachel Price has British characters in it. I have no idea if they originally were American and swapped or for all I know they were German and turned British for the unnecessary American version. Geography is also important to the story. I have no idea what locations the original book used and I’m actually very curious. It changes the story.
The worst part is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is part of a series. I don’t want to carry on with the American version because I think it’s bullshit, but the idea of switching midseries to the real books is too annoying!
When they made the TV adaptation I thought how strange to move the setting to England. That’s when I figured it out.
Why do they feel the need to do this? It’s because they think Americans are stupid. It’s insulting to our intelligence. We can’t relate to a story that takes place in a UK suburb? Why not? Everyone is speaking English. Americans are exposed to British culture tons. It’s not that foreign. We can’t handle a few words spelled differently and slang words? That’s what the internet is for.
I was annoyed when they changed words in Harry Potter for American audiences, again treating us like we’re stupid, but at least they didn’t transport Hogwarts to Massachusetts or Minnesota.