books as souvenirs

[jessica]

Hello everyone!

So I've been in Madrid for almost 2 weeks now and I started thinking that books would be a good souvenir to take back with me. The only thing is that I can NEVER decide on books. I was wondering if there's something that's a really popular read in spanish. (for example, like Harry Potter is popular in English)

Any ideas? thanks ;D

[ValenciaSon]

Hola Jessica, how are you and how is Madrid? I don't have any suggestions, I just wanted to say hi.

[Juanjo]

Hi Jessica,

Anything by Pérez-Reverte (the Alatriste series are very popular, especially with a film out at the moment, but my favourite is "La reina del Sur" about drug-running on the Costa del Sol).

Also check out the Spanish Amazon website to see what is "hot" at the moment

Saludos

Juanjo

[richardksa]

It's been said before, but "Ghosts of Spain" by Giles Trimlett should be a must, just to keep the understanding of what you are now encountering alive. But if you are in Madrid then any of the dependientas at Casa de Libros or FNAC would be happy to suggest what is hot.

[Brian]

It's been said before, but "Ghosts of Spain" by Giles Trimlett should be a must, just to keep the understanding of what you are now encountering alive. But if you are in Madrid then any of the dependientas at Casa de Libros or FNAC would be happy to suggest what is hot.

Have Trimlett´s books been translated into Spanish, or only English?

[Ben]

Also check out the Spanish Amazon website to see what is "hot" at the momentIf only Spanish Amazon existed!! Sadly it doesn't, not sure why... there is a Spanish ebay after all...

I would suggest 'La Sombre del Viento', seems to be a massive hit here still after a couple of years... though I haven't read it yet!

[Juanjo]

If only Spanish Amazon existed!! Sadly it doesn't, not sure why... there is a Spanish ebay after all...

Try Amazon.com/Libros en español or http://www.libroscentral.com/

I would suggest 'La Sombre del Viento', seems to be a massive hit here still after a couple of years... though I haven't read it yet!

It is a good read, as usual better in Spanish than translation. A Catalan friend has traced the various locations that form the background of the book and tells me that the descriptions are accurate- she even had coffee in the café where much of the action takes place.

If Jessica is interested in literary history and is still in Madrid, then I would also recommend "Los Viejos Cafés de Madrid" by Ángel del Río López (2003) which describes most of the locations in which Spain´s heroes of literature met in tertulia. Four still exist, Comercial, Oriente, Lyon and Gijón (probably the most famous).

[BTW Ben, congratulations on Notes in Spanish podcasts' it solves one of my problems of keeping my ear attuned to the cadence of everyday Spanish - thanks!]

Juanjo

[Diana]

I would suggest 'La Sombre del Viento', seems to be a massive hit here still after a couple of years... though I haven't read it yet!

Definitely! I gave it to my son's mother-in-law (mi consuegra) in Chile and she couldn't put it down. I read it in English and also loved it.

[jessica]

If only Spanish Amazon existed!! Sadly it doesn't, not sure why... there is a Spanish ebay after all...

I would suggest 'La Sombre del Viento', seems to be a massive hit here still after a couple of years... though I haven't read it yet!

thanks for that one, ben! it´s actually on my list at home, which i failed to bring with me. for some reason at home they can only get a hold of this HUGE hardcover copy,and i don´t like bulky books. :D

[jessica]

Hola Jessica, how are you and how is Madrid? I don't have any suggestions, I just wanted to say hi.

hi valenciason, and thanks for the greeting! i´m actually doing really well. i´ve been in europe for 5 weeks (the previous 3 were spent with different friends in germany and these last 4 have been/will be spent in madrid with my hermana madrileña. ;)

madrid is astonishing and i´m afraid i´m going to miss it TERRIBLY when i go home. it´s too early to say now since i still plan on visiting other spanish-speaking countries before i make my decision, but i just might have to consider moving here. ;)and it´s funny, because for me the `calor horrible que hace´does not exist at all. at home it´s SO much hotter than here, so i´m loving this weather. and the elevation. at home i´m sea-level, so we hardly get a good breeze like here, and opening the windows is a rare occasion!

[Edith]

Hey Jessica, I haven't got any suggestions for yo this time but I just want to say hi to you too! :)

So you have finally made it across the big pond! I hope you are enjoying yourself! :thumbs-up:

I bet the Virginia summers are much more humid than Madrid's, although I remember spending a couple of days there in sweltering August heat.

[jessica]

Hey Jessica, I haven't got any suggestions for yo this time but I just want to say hi to you too! :)

So you have finally made it across the big pond! I hope you are enjoying yourself! :thumbs-up:

I bet the Virginia summers are much more humid than Madrid's, although I remember spending a couple of days there in sweltering August heat.

Hey Edith, nice to hear from you! Yes, finally...and i'm having a wonderful time.

Oh, they're incredibly more humid than Madrid's. It's funny because everyone thinks I'm crazy because I have no problems going out during "the hottest part of the day" because it's not hot to me at all. I mean, I can feel the sun more than in Virginia, but the difference is that there's wind since i'm not at sea level here, so it feels so cool and refreshing.