> The culture behind the language? That is what takes decades to acquire, and if you don't have it, I 100% guarantee you will get a more accurate reading of the

> The culture behind the language? That is what takes decades to acquire, and if you don't have it, I 100% guarantee you will get a more accurate reading of the author's intent in a well-translated work than you ever would lurching your way though the native text. This is definitely true, especially the further a culture is from your own. Japanese culture especially has all sorts of features that will whooosh! over the heads of most people reading those books in translation. It's not that you won't enjoy a book in translation, it's just that you're never getting 100% of what a native will get it from it. We have to just accept that. We don't have enough hours in our lives (right now) to study a language to native level and live in that culture to native level simply to enjoy a book.