Books: what are you reading?

[Alex]

Hi there!
I would like to talk about one of the things I love most: books. I'm always looking for new stuffto read. So, what are you reading right now, or what was the last book you read?

Was It good? Would you recommend it?

[Jessica]

Reading the last Harry Potter book for the billionth time

[JPablo]

Finishing (I hope soon...) El general en su laberinto (Gabriel García Márquez) and starting soon Magnificent Desolation (by Buzz Aldrin)

Then, yes, I want to tackle the whole Harry Potter series (only read or listened 2 or 3 books) (which I liked very much) and I want to tackle as well Mission Earth by L. Ron Hubbard. (Only read The Invaders Plan on that 10 volume masterpiece... and it is one awesome Sci-Fi one...)

[sosia]

recently:
the Millenium trilogy Stieg Larsson: it does really catch you. A little too much violence for me but worth to read in a cheap version, because once read......
the name of the wind (Rothfuss), I recommend it if you like Tolkien books, it's something new. But remember it's the first of three.
Las legiones malditas (Santiago Posteguillo): 2nd book, long but good. Only if you like romans
Monstruous regiment, Terry Prattchet. Always a laugh for sure, and some deeper inside.

now:
Sparkling Cyanid (Agata Christie): she always surprises me. I'm still trying to find how she does it, but I'm clueless.....

next:
I suppose Imperium (Robert Harris) but I still have to buy it....
saludos

[Alex]

JP, I only read "100 años de soledad" and "Crónicas de una muerte anunciada" by García Marquez, I like them very much, how about the one you're reading? Is it good?

Sosia, I was actually planning to start reading the "The name of the wind" or "A game of thrones" by George R. R. Martin. Still haven't decided wich one, they both look tempting.

[CrOtALiTo]

I'm reading a toy story book, because my children like it, then I bought a book about that caricature in English, and when I'm reading them, I translate the best I can do it.

I know that is very childish but that is easier for read when you haven't enough experience in the thread.

[JPablo]

I love "El general en su laberinto" even if the subject is a bit "sad" he is able to put you there with Bolívar in a way that is amazing. (I have read "The four Seasons of Manuela" about Manuela Sáenz and Bolívar and also "Liberator of a Contient" also on Bolívar... (I love anything having to do with Bolívar, as he was such a champion of Freedom...)

When I read "Crónica de una muerte anunciada" I liked the way he writes, but I have a "bad memory" on it, i.e., it was so graphic in some parts at one point I almost got to the point of throwing up! (No kidding... I think you have to have quite a stomach for some sections... figuratively and literally!)

Ah, another one that I bought a while ago and is sitting there waiting for me to read is "La sombra del viento". (Probably will be right after the Aldrin one.)

Another good one is Amelie Nothomb (La metafísica de los tubos). I think she is a genius... and her books are not too long.

Ah, and a short one and a lot of fun and laughter, "Sin noticias de Gurb".

[Jessica]

@JPablo: I read the whole series and also you can go to youtube to listen to the audiobooks...I've listened to most of the series there too

[JPablo]

@Wow, that's great. The ones I read or listened in audiobook seem to me masterpieces!
I also love the way Jim Dale performs the different characters.

I listened to the first book by a very good Spanish Voice Actor, and if you want to practice Spanish, I recommend it to you. Since you already know the plot and the difficult words in English, you can definitely practice Spanish by listening to the translated version. I believe it is by "Editorial Salamandra" (the Spanish publishing house.) (That's the Spain version. There may be a Mexican or Latin American version too...)

Another good read (in Spanish) is Arturo Pérez Reverte, and Antonio Muñoz Molina... in terms of other current writers. I like the "Capitán Alatriste" series.

Oh, I forgot to mention a very fast reading and a lot of fun, by L. Ron Hubbard, I enjoyed very much "Under the Black Ensign". It's about 2 hours plus of audio program, and you definitely practice your English and learn a lot of lexical wealth from it, while enjoying yourself... (If you like pirates, that one is a great story) (All the "Stories from the Golden Age" by LRH are a lot of fun.) (I recommend these to Crotalito too!)

[spacemaker]

Ahora estoy leyendo "Dieciséis esbozos de mí mismo" Autobiografía crítica de Bernard Shaw y "Pulpos y hombres" de Eugenio Alarco, un historiador y pensador peruano.


Now I am reading "Sixteen Self Sketches" by Bernard Shaw and "Octopus and men" by Eugenio Alarco, a peruvian historian and thinker.

[poli]

Originally Posted by spacemaker

Ahora estoy leyendo "Dieciséis esbozos de mí mismo" Autobiografía crítica de Bernard Shaw y "Pulpos y hombres" de Eugenio Alarco, un historiador y pensador peruano.


Now I am reading "Sixteen Self Sketches" by Bernard Shaw and "Octopus and men" by Eugenio Alarco, a peruvian historian and thinker.

¿Estás leyendo Shaw en inglés? Era un dramaturgo muy interrestante.
Tenía gran popularidad in inglaterra en su época aunque era su crítica más elocuente
e ingenioso. Algunos de sus obras de teatro tienen preludios que tambien valen la pena leer.

[Awaken]

Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind. I'm on book 7. I like them a lot as you can tell =)

[JPablo]

@Awaken, That Sword of Truth series sounds very interesting (per what I read in Wikipedia, I had no acquaintance with it before...) I guess it goes next in the already long list of "things to read"...

@Spacemaker & Poli, I think I've only seen "My Fair Lady" (Pygmalion) in its film version and another theatrical version into Spanish. (The English film I also saw it dubbed.) I wonder now how G. B. Shaw must have written the Cockney expressions, etc... so I take I will tackle that title too...

Another good one is "The Importance of being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde. That play is quite a challenge for a translator, starting with the title and the homophones "Earnest/Ernest" which was lost in one of the Spanish versions (the most popular, actually) just calling it "La importancia de llamarse Ernesto".
I saw live the Catalonian representation of the play, which they name "L'importancia de esser Frank" (Frank = franc = honest straightforward) which was a better attempt. (The play has also quite some funny plays on words... if I remember well...)
The Spanish could have chosen "La importancia de ser Honesto" (=Honest) which is a proper noun in Spain (even if not very common... unfortunately)

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by JPablo

I love "El general en su laberinto" even if the subject is a bit "sad" he is able to put you there with Bolívar in a way that is amazing. (I have read "The four Seasons of Manuela" about Manuela Sáenz and Bolívar and also "Liberator of a Contient" also on Bolívar... (I love anything having to do with Bolívar, as he was such a champion of Freedom...)

When I read "Crónica de una muerte anunciada" I liked the way he writes, but I have a "bad memory" on it, i.e., it was so graphic in some parts at one point I almost got to the point of throwing up! (No kidding... I think you have to have quite a stomach for some sections... figuratively and literally!)

Ah, another one that I bought a while ago and is sitting there waiting for me to read is "La sombra del viento". (Probably will be right after the Aldrin one.)

Another good one is Amelie Nothomb (La metafísica de los tubos). I think she is a genius... and her books are not too long.

Ah, and a short one and a lot of fun and laughter, "Sin noticias de Gurb".

What is the book gender?

I mean, I don't know if you are reading books about stories or real facts.

[JPablo]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

What is the book genre?

I mean, I don't know if you are reading books about stories or real facts.

Mainly stories.
The ones on Bolívar are biographic, but you can say that are "historical novel" (novela histórica)... or rather, "biografías noveladas".

Las del Capitán Alatriste son "novela histórica" en el sentido de que hay hechos reales, pero la historia es ficción, creada por el autor.

Ah, I noted a correction on your post,
genre = género (literario)
gender = género (lingüístico) o sexo.

[poli]

Originally Posted by JPablo

@Awaken, That Sword of Truth series sounds very interesting (per what I read in Wikipedia, I had no acquaintance with it before...) I guess it goes next in the already long list of "things to read"...

@Spacemaker & Poli, I think I've only seen "My Fair Lady" (Pygmalion) in its film version and another theatrical version into Spanish. (The English film I also saw it dubbed.) I wonder now how G. B. Shaw must have written the Cockney expressions, etc... so I take I will tackle that title too...

Another good one is "The Importance of being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde. That play is quite a challenge for a translator, starting with the title and the homophones "Earnest/Ernest" which was lost in one of the Spanish versions (the most popular, actually) just calling it "La importancia de llamarse Ernesto".
I saw live the Catalonian representation of the play, which they name "L'importancia de esser Frank" (Frank = franc = honest straightforward) which was a better attempt. (The play has also quite some funny plays on words... if I remember well...)
The Spanish could have chosen "La importancia de ser Honesto" (=Honest) which is a proper noun in Spain (even if not very common... unfortunately)

Shaw is not nearly as playful with words as Wilde is, and the title "The
Importance of Being Ernest" captures the spirit of Wilde's wit. I think Shaw translates better, though he is less witty. There are fewer puns, but Shaw expresses really heartfelt and hard headed feminist and anti-imperialists (and perhaps Socialist) points of view in 1900-- maybe the height of the English Empire . "My Fair Lady" is a good interpretation of "Pygmalian", but Shaw would probably not have liked it. It lacks the bite of his work. In "My Fair Lady" Henry Higgins is too lovable. "My Fair Lady is an American love note to England. In "Pygmalian" Elisa walks out on Henry. Despite his fame in England, Shaw was Irish from Dublin with very little love for the British Empire.

[JPablo]

Thank you, Poli. Both authors (each one in his own style and forms...) seem well worthy of being read.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I have just read "La Felicidad" and "El Capanga", by Jorge Guzmán, Chilean writer. He's a very effective narrator and stories are original. I will look for more from him... just hope I can find it in Mexico.

[JPablo]

Interesting... I don't know Guzmán, but you reminded me, Julio Cortázar (great short stories) who is quite awesome too.

[Awaken]

Originally Posted by JPablo

@Awaken, That Sword of Truth series sounds very interesting (per what I read in Wikipedia, I had no acquaintance with it before...) I guess it goes next in the already long list of "things to read"...

It is along the lines of Lord of the Rings. If you like that kind of book, it will probably interest you. It is definitely geared more towards an adult audience though than the Lord of the Ring series.