Can you think of a good spanish book I can use?

Question

I'm an intermediate level student but I sort of fell off the wagon and I'm looking into buying a Spanish book to work on my Spanish. Can someone think of an inexpensive good book I can purchase? Or can you think of a book that really helped you improve with your Spanish? I'm looking into something that will take me from intermediate to advanced Spanish. Thanks.

• I made a few corrections for you.Hope they look right to you. - nizhoni1 Nov 13, 2009

Answer 1

Wow, I think I will make a list for myself of all the good suggestions in this thread. And I suppose I can add one, too....one that Lazarus suggested when active on the site. However, it was not inexpensive.....about $53, perhaps because it came from Spain?

Grámatica básica del estudiante de español is completely in Spanish and has many exercises.

I find the explanations of the grammar clear and they include information about common errors, too.

• Nice suggestion! - chaparrito Nov 13, 2009
• I think I'm going to get this book. Where did you buy your book from originally? I'm looking around and it looks like I will have to definitely order it online. - deniscvidal Nov 14, 2009

Answer 2

I've never found the one 'ultimate' 'bestest' spanish learning book, they are all about the same, more or less. Some styles of writing you may find preferable over others. And some focus more on grammar, some more on vocabulary, etc.. My suggestion would be to just go to a bookstore and browse all the books until you find one that 'strikes your fancy'... Or, as mountain girl mentioned, the site here has lots of lessons that you will find in any book too! I have spent hundreds of dollars on books, when I could have saved my money and just done the lessons here for free!

Answer 3

Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish by Joseph Keenan is an absolutely awesome book, whether you consider yourself a beginner or not. It's one of those books I keep coming back to again and again. Not only is it informative, it's well-written and interesting. I would definitely recommend it! :D

Amazon.com listing

• "Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish by Joseph Keenan " en un bueno libro. - Daniel Nov 14, 2009

Answer 4

Another vote for "Breaking out of Beginner's Spanish" by Joseph J. Keenan.

Unless you are a raw beginner I can't recommend this book highly enough. I could talk for ages about how good this book is. You need it.

Answer 5

Thanks for the input guys. Have any of you come across the Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish By Margarita Madrigal, Andy Warhol. I was looking into different learning spanish books and this one caught my eye.

Here is the google book preview http://books.google.com/books?id=ueYyY9XZbgYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Madrigal's+Magic+Key+to+Spanish&ei=iMf9SvSfGJPKywT19OjVAg&client=safari#v=onepage&q=&f=false

• Um, here is a better link in case anyone is interested in taking a look into it http://tinyurl.com/yzh9ezv. - deniscvidal Nov 13, 2009

Answer 6

Are you particularly wedded to the idea of using a book?

This is an excellent website for learning Spanish, if you will have online access.

Rosetta Stone is also an excellent program, if you prefer not to exclusively use Spanishdict.

• I think the two are great sources to learn spanish, but I will be traveling with limited access to a computer, so I think a book would be the best solution in my case. - deniscvidal Nov 13, 2009
• Oh, well then, where will you be headed? - LAtINaPunKRO Nov 13, 2009
• I am head out west from Washington, DC. I will be using public transportation so I will have tons of time to burn through a few books. - deniscvidal Nov 13, 2009
• Ah, when I was younger I spent 3 weeks in a car with my parents, i brought close to 25 books with me, and read through all of them! :) - LAtINaPunKRO Nov 13, 2009
• Whoa, that's impressive. - deniscvidal Nov 13, 2009
View 1 more commments >>

Answer 7

Honestly there are lots of books that I can think of right off the bat, but as Mountaingirl pointed out this is an amazing learning site, and is often more helpful than books, not only to beginners, but to intermediates as well.

• Are you looking for something general, or more culture based/oriented? - LAtINaPunKRO Nov 13, 2009
• Definitely something more general; something along the lines of traditional/generic spanish. - deniscvidal Nov 13, 2009

Answer 8

OK, I understand your situation with a book...

Are you thinking textbook? If so, your local college or community college will be able to help you.

As a resource for reference books, the NTC Publishing Company out of Lincolnwood, Illinois, has some excellent publications. (Are you in the US?) Maybe you could browse through their website and see if something strikes your fancy.

• I text book would be something ideal I suppose, but anything that tackles on grammar would be helpful. It seems like NTC has a solid selection, so I'll give them a browse. Thanks! - deniscvidal Nov 13, 2009

Answer 9

Why don't you try books from your library? If you find the one you like, you can buy it online at a discount.

• I thought about it, but I will not be back in DC for a while. - deniscvidal Nov 13, 2009

Answer 10

I am familiar with Margarita Madrigal, although not that book. She is excellent, and if that book caught your eye, go for it!

• Great, thanks mountaingirl. Do you remember which tittle you used? - deniscvidal Nov 13, 2009

Answer 11

If you're looking for a grammar book, this one was recommended to me (Larousse's Gramatica lengua espanola: Reglas y ejercicios). I've found it to be a good reference when I don't have Internet access. It's $9 or so new on amazon or less used.

Answer 12

Denis,

I just bought this book from Amazon and it's excellent. Take a look at the couple hundred positive reviews.

Also, it has a workbook called Practising Spanish Grammar.

• Thanks, Marianne. This look like something I could use. - deniscvidal Nov 13, 2009

Answer 13

Now, can anyone recommend a good fiction spanish book to read? -- I could use something new outside my Garcia Marquez repertoire .

• Try the Harry Potter books in Spanish...they're great and at an intermediate level. - --Mariana-- Nov 13, 2009

Answer 14

I have the book "Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish" but I can't locate it right now. I studied from it some. It's a different method of learning than many of the books you see. I found it to be helpful.

I just got the book "Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish" and it seems good. It claims to be a guidebook on how Spanish is spoken in Spanish-speaking countries. I've read bits of it, and I think it would make interesting reading for a long trip.

Answer 15

I really enjoyed Side-By-Side Spanish and English Grammar

It explains why we say things the way we do in English, then shows how to use the same grammar in Spanish. It helped me understand English grammar too!