Run on sentences with use of comma

Question

When writing, I like breaking up long thoughts into components, and using stop signs like period, semi-colon, colon and dash to delimit the components. I'm disappointed that my first-ever Spanish book (autobiography) is written in a style that is opposite my own writing style. The woman uses huge sentences (one was 12 lines long) with multiple ideas all joined by commas. I find it difficult to find a rhythm and a cadence. I even have a hard time holding the memory of what the sentence is about as it can change so much in its tortured journey to the period.

Is this a common style in Spanish literature, or did I just get unlucky?

The second comma in the first sentence shoudn't be there (it separates the items in a list with only two components) - lorenzo9, Sep 11, 2011

Thanks, I had wondered about that. I have always chosen to err on the side of more commas rather than fewer when it comes to lists. It's overkill. Ironic. - Pablo-Peligroso, Sep 11, 2011

Answer 1

I was helping a Spanish student with his class on English composition. I was constantly telling him to shorten his sentences to where they only contained a single thought. I don't know if that is part of the Spanish writing style or their perception of our writing style. It does seem to be more extensive that just one or two people's personal writing style.

Answer 2

I believe it is common in Spanish literature with much longer sentences used than we ever would in English. Here's some thoughts on the subject from other SD users long sentences in Spanish newspapers