Can you recommend a fiction book for Spanish practice?

Question

Can anyone recommend any books in Spanish to practice my reading? I read the newspapers every day but I want something that's fiction and entertaining. I am at an intermediate level. Thanks!

Answer 1

¿Quién mató a Palomino Molero? de Mario Vargas Llosa.

Who killed Palomino Molero? by Mario Vargas Llosa.

Pedro y el capitán de Mario Benedetti

Pedro and the Captain by Mario Benedetti

Answer 2

What type of fiction do you like'

Answer 3

Have you tried browsing your local library? It may depend upon where you live, but our libraries have a section just for Spanish language books. Most of them are well-known novels translated from English. If an adult novel turns out to be too much, I recommend checking on books for younger readers. I am sort of low intermediate and am reading a book written for middle school age youngsters called "El Pan De La Guerra" (The Breadwinner). It is an interesting story and has helped increase my vocabulary. Good Luck.

Answer 4

El canto de los quetzales is a good option. It is the adventure of a young boy in the rainforest of Costa Rica. It is easy to read and to understand. The genre is eco fantasy. I think you would like it.

Answer 5

Oh boy, that's a tough question -- I like so many different kinds of books. A good mystery is always a pleasure, and I really enjoy books about travel (living vicariously because I don't travel enough). I don't particularly like romance novels or science fiction...although I like vampire stories.

I was thinking that I may have to begin with books geared toward young adults because my Spanish is only at an intermediate level.

Someone recommended Harry Potter in Spanish, which I have on order with my library.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Answer 6

Alot of books that are written in english have been translated into spanish ... Try Goggling a few basic books in subjects you have enjoyed in the past and see if they are offered in spanish. I myself like romance novels I have a few in spanish that I am attempting to read.

Answer 7

Hi Mariana:

I am into one right now you may find interesting.

" Qumrán" by Elliette Abecassis. An historical thriller about archaeology and the dead sea scrolls. Its not too long and I find it very interesting. Amazon has it (or did anyway).

Answer 8

You could read one of your favourite English language books in Spanish - I've personally read the translated versions of 1984 and Harry Potter and it also helps knowing the story when deciphering some vocab:

To download 1984 by George Orwell go to http://literatura.itematika.com/descargar/libro/192/1984.html

There's also a good guide on where to find books at http://topspanishtips.weebly.com

Answer 9

Can anyone recommend any books in Spanish to practice my reading? I read the newspapers every day but I want something that's fiction and entertaining. I am at an intermediate level. Thanks!

Try "Ali En El País De Las Maravillas" by Alberto Vázquez-Figuera. It´s not too difficult and quite amusing in parts, especially as you try to work out what the hell is Ali´s big defect.

Answer 10

Thanks, everyone! I'll try the two books mentioned.

Our library does not have a Spanish section, but we're part of an online library exchange so I can get just about any book available in print.

Thanks again.

Answer 11

Oh, boy, this question was asked so long ago that I even had the category wrong!

Thanks so much everyone for your suggestions.

• Amazing how these old threads come back to haunt us, hehe. Intermediate indeed, qué va. - Eddy May 27, 2011

Answer 12

I'm an adult non-native speaker and I've read lots of Isabel Allende, but by far my favorite was the novel Zorro, AND I was amazed how engrossed I got in the first two of her "Young Adult" trilogy: La Ciudad de las Bestias and El Reino del Dragon del Oro. Also like the Francisco Jiménez trilogy--non-fiction account of a Mexican family who immigrated to the US in the 50s. They are relatively easy for a non-native speaker to understand and the vocabulary relates to ordinary things, as opposed to the kind of vocabulary you find in works of fantasy or adventure. You can also get a free download of the Fusion Reader and read The Bicycle Thief in parallel text--great format for me but NOT a riveting story! Have fun, Marianne. I'd love to hear what you end up reading and enjoying.

Answer 13

I'll recomend you Relatos de un náufrago, by the Nobel Prize Gabriel García Márquez. It is the story of a castaway who spent several weeks lost in the sea on a boat after his ship sank, before he was rescued.