5 from the Archive is the brain child of Simon from Stuck-in-a-Book who invited us to use his idea if we so wished. And I do, now that the blogosphere is concentrating on Spanish language literature thanks to the hosting of Spanish Literature Month by Stu of Winston’s Dad and Richard of Caravana De Recuerdos. I haven’t read much Spanish literature but the little that I have read and reviewed here is very good indeed. So, if you’re looking for something to read this July, I heartily recommend the following. Listed in chronological date of the English language publication. Links are to my original reviews.
1) Chronicle of A Death Foretold – Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Columbia)
English Translation 1981
A contemporary classic in which the ending is given away in the title without lessening the shock at all.
2) No Word from Gurb – Eduardo Mendoza (Spain)
English translation 2007
Comic brilliance. Perfect for an olympic year. Barcelona, whilst preparing for the 1992 Olympics, is invaded by aliens. You’ll never look at Madonna in the same way again!
3) Child’s Play – Carmen Posadas (Uruguay)
English translation 2008
A satiric mystery examining the uncomfortable question: can a child really be born evil?
4) Down the Rabbit Hole – Juan Pablo Villabolos (Mexico)
English translation 2011
Precocious child narrator chronicles his reality and unwittingly reveals the horror of being a drug baron’s son.
5) The Scent of Lemon Leaves - Clara Sanchez (Spain)
English translation 2012
A meditation of the past and a reconciliation with the present as a geriatic concentration camp survivor continues his hunt for former Nazis on the Costa del Sol.
Which Spanish literature would you recommend me to read?
Great suggestions. I would also add Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s ‘The Shadow Of The Wind’, for its atmospheric descriptions of Barcelona and the wonderful Cemetery of Forgotten Books.
five great hoice I ve read two ,down the rabbit hole was one of my favourite books last year and your review of scent of had peak my interest more than it was so will be getting that not sure if for this time round ,all the best stu
[...] lists crossed my path this week. The first is five works from Spanish Literature brought to us by Lizzy’s Literary Life and nine books about Paris (three each from the classics, 20th century classics, and history [...]
I’ve only read the García Márquez novel, which I remember liking although it was several years ago now, so I look forward to finding out more about the other choices you’ve highlighted. Not knowing your tastes very well yet, Lizzy, I’d probably recommend Bolaño’s The Savage Detectives or Cervantes’ Don Quixote for big wonderful books that actually live up to their hype and then maybe Carmen Laforet’s Nada for a keenly felt coming of age tale in a gothic Barcelona setting or Mario Vargas Llosa’s The War of the End of the World for its epic, almost cinematic storytelling. In the meantime, thanks for joining us in the celebration this month!
The scent of lemon leaves!
Lovely to see this format elsewhere! I’ve not heard of any of these authors or titles… I’m struggling to think of anything I’ve read from Spain, but I have read a few that were originally in Spanish.
Thanks for appropriating the idea–I’ll do the same. I’ve read other books by Mendoza and enjoy his style. I’ll have to be on the lookout for Gurb.
Love this archive idea & your use of it to support a great challenge.