Giles Tremlett Fan Club

[Marbella]

Not that I'm trying to start one (a fan club) but if you don't already read his stories in The Guardian I'd recommend them to you. He does live the full Spanish life with his family in Madrid and makes some very astute, and often very amusing, observations on Spanish life.

Two things prompt me to start this thread:
1) This piece on Spanish nicknames, which is a few days old now, I think is funny:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1774784,00.html

2) I've recently been given a copy of his book 'Ghosts of Spain'. Ben has mentioned it elsewhere on the forum but I'm really enjoying reading this book and if anyone wants to talk about it (maybe in its own thread so we don't drift too far away from the subject) then that would be great.


On the subject of the fan club I did send Giles an email once commenting on something he'd written but he wisely ignored me.

[Ben]

In Madrid did a pod interview with him (http://in-madrid.com/pod.html) that I have a feeling you may enjoy if you haven't heard it already. I have a copy of the book but have yet to get round to starting it. (If you feel like writing a couple of hunderd words on what makes it a great book I'd be delighted to put your review on the main blog in the books section!!)

(And I have a feeling that emails to the @guardian.co.uk addresses may not even get to the intended recipient, so I'm sure he didn't ignore you!)

[Marbella]

Thanks for the tip on the InMadrid interview Ben, will listen to that.
Will certainly send you something on the book when I've read it.

[Ben]

Great! Thanks! So, any more Tremlett fans out there?

[Brian]

Well, I am after reading that article.

Who else might you find in that phone book?

Blanca Manca?
Rocco Mocoso?

;D

[deleste]

Not that I'm trying to start one (a fan club) but if you don't already read his stories in The Guardian I'd recommend them to you. He does live the full Spanish life with his family in Madrid and makes some very astute, and often very amusing, observations on Spanish life.

Two things prompt me to start this thread:
1) This piece on Spanish nicknames, which is a few days old now, I think is funny:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1774784,00.html

2) I've recently been given a copy of his book 'Ghosts of Spain'. Ben has mentioned it elsewhere on the forum but I'm really enjoying reading this book and if anyone wants to talk about it (maybe in its own thread so we don't drift too far away from the subject) then that would be great.


On the subject of the fan club I did send Giles an email once commenting on something he'd written but he wisely ignored me.

I agree, it's a great read. I always look for his stuff in The Guardian now. Think I'll take it to Spain this summer to read it again.

[Marbella]

Not sure I can do a totally positive review on this book because I tend to over-analyse and found it quite uncomfortable reading at times. If anyone remembers the initiation ceremony in the Richard Harris film, A Man Called Horse? Well, if you still love Spain/the Spanish after reading some parts of this book then you'll see what I mean by the analogy. I passed the test but it wasn't easy.

It is a real rollercoaster ride through the civil war, ETA, catalanismo, drugs, tourism, corruption, flamenco...the list goes on. Giles Tremlett has an easy going, quite punchy style which made the coverage of so many subject areas achievable. I'm not sure if it is a good or bad thing that after reading it I have more questions than answers.

Before reading this book, I thought that Spaniards were being shifty in not confronting their past in relation to the civil war. I think now that if Spaniards want to forget then outsiders (like me, like Tremlett by his own admission) should let them do so.

It's powerful stuff, I'd be interested to hear from others who have read this book.

[Edith]

Sounds very interesting, and I will certainly read it. As far as loving Spain is concerned... every country on this planet has got something to answer for, but unfortunately most people prefer to sweep their own country's historical crimes under the carpet.

[Marbella]

Tremlett discusses prostitution in Ghosts of Spain and in today's Guardian he writes about the macro-brothels springing up in Spain:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/spain/article/0,,1804872,00.html


Will prostitution be fully legalised in Spain one day I wonder? Is the new liberalism going a bit too far...

[Ben]

There is a huge brothel called Flowers Park about 20 k's north of Madrid on the A6, a legend amongst local young men, known to all as 'El Flowers'. It's basically just a huge club frequented only by men and, of course, the mostly female staff. One Spanish friend of mine told me how there was a floor show in the centre of the room, a couple having sex while everyone stood around watching, and that the whole place was a bit like Sodom and Gomorrah here on earth today... involving, he had to admit, some of the most attractive young Brazilian ladies he had ever clapped eyes on.

I've tried to convince Marina what a fine piece of investigative journalism a trip out to 'Flowers' would make... but as you can imagine, that is one podcast that's never going to appear on NFS!

[Marbella]

I've tried to convince Marina what a fine piece of investigative journalism a trip out to 'Flowers' would make... but as you can imagine, that is one podcast that's never going to appear on NFS!

Well Tremlett did it (for want of a better expression) in the name of journalism. He makes the point in the book, and you kind of reinforce it here, that visiting brothels is becoming an accepted part of Spanish male life. Strictly taboo in the secular UK and yet Spain, a country steeped in religious symbolism, tradition and conviction, is loosening its attitude to this. Not sure why I've immediately made the connection between religeon and this, but I'm trying to think of the social paradox that this represents.

Perhaps I'm over stating the case but what we call in our family puticlubs, you know the ones by the road you see everywhere, seem to be heading to the mainstream.

[Edith]

Tremlett discusses prostitution in Ghosts of Spain and in today's Guardian he writes about the macro-brothels springing up in Spain:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/spain/article/0,,1804872,00.html


Will prostitution be fully legalised in Spain one day I wonder? Is the new liberalism going a bit too far...

I don't like prostitution either, but legalizing prostitution might actually help improve the living conditions of the prostitutes, which is why I am in favor of it. Illegal prostitution often involves all sorts of criminal practices such as human trafficking and working conditions which are very similar to slavery. Often, the women are literally kept under lock and key by their 'owners'.

By the way, I almost finished reading the book and it's been a very interesting read so far... not as much as a shock as I expected it to be, though, since I already knew something about the Civil War victims and about ETA. Tremlett's analysis of la transición is very interesting!

[guapo]

Tremlett discusses prostitution in Ghosts of Spain and in today's Guardian he writes about the macro-brothels springing up in Spain
This guy really shows dedication to his job! Today in the Observer he has an article on Encarna Conde (http://blogfadada.blogspot.com/). A wheelchair user and disabled rights campaigner who took part in a porn film after complaining to producers that they never featured disabled people.

You can find the article here:

http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1805526,00.html