Day 56: Reading Pedro Páramo in Comala

Dialogue

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1. 1
   A

   Profe, he de confesarle algo: me leí Pedro Páramo de principio a fin y no le entendí ni jota.

   Mr. Anaya, I've got a confession to make: I read Pedro Páramo from beginning to end and didn't understand a word.

   Line 1
2. 2
   B

   ¿Ni jota? Has de saber que Rulfo pensó titularla “Los murmullos”. ¿Qué fue lo que no entendiste?

   Not a word? You should know that Rulfo thought of calling it “The Murmurs.” What was it you didn't understand?

   Line 2
3. 3
   A

   Todo. Ni capítulos tiene, puros pedazos, y a la mitad ya no sabía ni quién hablaba.

   All of it. It doesn't even have chapters, just bits and pieces, and halfway through I didn't even know who was talking.

   Line 3
4. 4
   B

   Cierra el libro tantito y mira el pueblo: son las tres y no hay ni un alma. ¿Qué oyes?

   Close the book for a moment and look at the town: it's three o'clock and there isn't a soul around. What can you hear?

   Line 4
5. 5
   A

   Nada. Bueno, un perro, un radio a lo lejos y una señora barriendo que no se ve por ningún lado.

   Nothing. Well, a dog, a radio in the distance and a woman sweeping who's nowhere to be seen.

   Line 5
6. 6
   B

   Una voz sin cuerpo, como en la novela. Y a donde fueres, haz lo que vieres: léeme otra vez la primera línea.

   A voice without a body, just like in the novel. And when in Rome, do as the Romans do: read me the first line again.

   Line 6
7. 7
   A

   “Vine a Comala porque me dijeron que acá vivía mi padre, un tal Pedro Páramo. Mi madre me lo dijo”.

   “I came to Comala because I was told that my father lived here, a man called Pedro Páramo. My mother told me.”

   Line 7
8. 8
   B

   ¿Y ahora? Rulfo decía que el nombre venía de comal, por el calor. ¿Sigue sin tener sentido?

   And now? Rulfo used to say the name came from comal, the griddle, because of the heat. Does it still make no sense?

   Line 8
9. 9
   A

   Se me enchinó la piel, profe. Suena como si me lo estuviera contando alguien detrás de esa puerta.

   It's given me goosebumps, Mr. Anaya. It sounds as if someone's telling it to me from behind that door.

   Line 9
10. 10
    B

    Eso es Pedro Páramo. La verdad, la excursión explicó más que todas mis clases; para el lunes, tu reseña.

    That's Pedro Páramo. To be honest, the trip has explained more than all my classes; your book report for Monday, then.

    Line 10
11. 11
    A

    Ya la empecé: “Vine a Comala porque me dijeron que acá iba a entender a mi maestro, un tal profe Anaya. Mi madre firmó el permiso”.

    I've already started it: “I came to Comala because I was told that here I would understand my teacher, a man called Mr. Anaya. My mother signed the permission slip.”

    Line 11