- Joined
- Feb 2, 2010
- Messages
- 27,101
- Reaction score
- 12,359
- Location
- Granada, España
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Libertarian - Left
Oddly I've always had trouble with Spanish authors. I've tried reading Cervantes several times and have started and stopped "The General in His Labyrinth" three times over the years. Marquez is a great writer - I know my wife told me so - but I can't seem to get engrossed in the book. Maybe something's lost in the translation and it works better in Spanish? I know that's for certain with Don Quoxite.
I've read Don Quijote in English and although it took an age to get through, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a tough ask though. There are plenty of modern Spanish authors worth trying. See if you can find some Arturo Pérez Reverte, The Queen of the South is especially recommended. Or try Carlos Ruiz Zafón (The Shadow of the Wind)and Ildefonso Falcones (The Hand of Fatima) - they are all translated into English and great story-tellers. If you're looking for something a bit more literary, Borgés short stories are great, as are those of Julio Ramón Ribeyro. Reinaldo Arenas and Roberto Bolaño are great novelists too, but quite tough to read.