I need help from an aficionado of Spanish literature.

Question

I think I'm getting to the stage in my learning where I might be able to tackle a book in Spanish, albeit one with simple language and reading it slowly. I'm having trouble finding any places to get books in Spanish here (in Adelaide, Australia), but I do have an ebook reader. This is the list of free Spanish ebooks I can download for my reader:

http://mybebook.com/download_free_ebook/browse/languages/es/page/1

I was hoping someone could have a quick glance through the list and tell me whether there are any that would be interesting and suitable for a rank novice.

Failing that, maybe you have some other recommendations, and I'd just have to find a way to get my hands on them?

Edit- Ended up buying "James y el melocotón gigante" as well as "Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal" with expensive international shipping from Amazon, but should be worth it! Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

If you're looking for a beginner book, why not try Charlotte's Web "La telarana de Carlota" or "James y el melocotón gigante" James and the Giant Peach. Both are books for children with lots of vocabulary (they are available at Amazon . com)

• Great idea!!! I loved James and the Giant Peach when I was a kid, that's perfect! ¡Muchas gracias! - Hamfist Aug 26, 2009
• After that you can try the "Harry Potter" books in Spanish. They are at a high-beginner to intermediate level of reading. I loved them! - --Mariana-- Aug 26, 2009
• Haha you read my mind, ended up buying Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal as well. I'm gonna be reunited with all my favourite kiddy books. - Hamfist Aug 26, 2009

Answer 2

...interesting and suitable for a rank novice

Well... on that first page -unless I missed one- none of the books are probably not even suitable for a Spanish native speaker who doesn't read frequently and has a good vocabulary. It is literature for adults, pretty much like Shakespeare, but in Spanish.

• I see- in that case perhaps I'll give up on the ebooks then. Looks like I'll have to get a book then. Could you recommend anything? - Hamfist Aug 26, 2009

Answer 3

Hamfist, I included some links for graded readings on this thread.

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/9479/instituto-cervantes-lots-of-help-for-learners

• Great resource thank you :-) - Hamfist Aug 26, 2009

Answer 4

Personally the first book I tackled was "Holes" "Hoyos" en Español. Then I went on to "Don Quixote" In both instances though, it was very helpful to read the English text and the same time, that way if I had questions i was able to get a basic understanding of what was said by re-reading in English.

Answer 5

Another good thing to do is start out small with some of the old folklore stories, which are easy to find and are often only 3-4 pages in length.

• Nice idea, thank you. I will get searching on the intertubes. - Hamfist Aug 26, 2009
• You're welcome! - LAtINaPunKRO Aug 26, 2009