Can you recommend a "free eBook" in Spanish?

Question

I put in quotes based on the instructions "libro gratis" but I'm more interested in your recommendations. I found [La rana viajera (Spanish Edition)][1] by Julio Camba as a free download. His is easy Spanish, and he's a good writer. But not my favorite. Everyday for this guy was a bad hair day (andaba alborotado), but the price is right and the writing is excellent.

[1]: https://www.amazon.com/rana-viajera-Spanish-Julio-Camba-ebook/dp/B004UIUQ3O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468076482&sr=8-1&keywords=Julio Camba

Good question I would like this also to put on my ipad. - ray76, Jul 10, 2016

Ray, I use a Paper White. Both English and Spanish dictionaries work flawlessly and simultaneously. Is the same true of the Ipad? - pierre_groussac, Jul 11, 2016

Answer 1

People have asked about ebooks before. It depends on your interests, whether you prefer books from a particular area and how good your Spanish is.

I read blogs a lot and newspaper articles. I checkout the twitter feeds of Arturo Perez Reverte

Antonio Munoz Molina

and

Lorenzo Silva They are all writers based in Spain though I haven't yet read a book by Arturo Perez Reverte - he does however write some very interesting articles. He and other writers have just started a site called Zenda. His own twitter feed tends to have lots of posts about abandoned dogs!

I do not have a twitter account, ut if you put the name of someone who interests you + twitter their feed will show. Authors flag up their latest books and sometimes links to a time limited free download, language sites will have links to latest posts.

Antonio Munoz Molina's wife Elvira Lindo is a well known for her series for children about a boy growing up in Madrid. We read some in class.

I have read several novels by a Greek author Petros Mákaris [translated into Spanish] They are crime fiction which I enjoy. The problem with crrime fiction is it uses some specialist language and a lot of slang but if it is a genre you like you will soon get to know the various words for jail etc.

I have an app from Planeta on my tablet this gives excerpts from books and reviews and items about their authors.

You may enjoy Juan Vasquez The Sound of things falling. I cannot remember the Spanish title. It is set in Colombia.

On the free list try El País 35 historías. It is to celebrate 35 years of publishing and has an article for each year.[Amazon]

Finally check out Página Dos on rtve it is a programme about books covering Spain and international. It is one of the rtve programmes that has subtitles and a transcript available

Of course most companies allow you to download a few chapters as a free sample - good practice plus you can decide if you like it.

Página 2

Answer 2

Try the following link. ( I used Google to find it.)

Link to free ebooks in Spanish

What a clever little member you are D D . - ray76, Jul 10, 2016

You are obviously the only one who noticed. There are sooo many links, I thought the OP would pleased. (Big sigh.) - Daniela2041, Jul 11, 2016

Answer 3

2nd post. The childrens books I have looked at are: Manolito Gafotas by Elvira Lindo NB slang will be from Madrid and se vende Mamá by Care Santos again from Spain

se vende mamá

The first book I tried to read in Spanish was La sombra del viento by Carlos Zafon. I bought it in Barcelona. However, it was very descriptive and I found it difficult [I would be OK now] The next book I read was by Javier Cercas and it was Soldados de Salamis. This is about the civil war but also includes present day action. It was from this book I realised at that stage I was better reading something written in a journalistic style not cluttered with too much description.

useful book reviews

NB many authors write articles in El País including Cercas, Marias, Almudena Grandes and Antonio Munoz Molina

I still prefer the bilingual format. My Spanish is good enough to get by, but having the English text close by is a comfort. If this makes me less than immersion perfect, so be it. - pierre_groussac, Jul 11, 2016

My favorite book is still “Spanish Stories: A Dual-Language Book by Angel Flores. My favorite story: The “Incense Tree Roof” by Horatio Quiroga. The story convinced me Spanish people were worth knowing. - pierre_groussac, Jul 11, 2016

Answer 4

Thanks to all who answered my question. All of you are spot on about selecting a book or genre that appeals to you. You're not going to get anywhere unless you find a book that you like. The motivation to read just won't be there.

I notice that some of you are recommending blogs and books from journalists. This is good advice. Journalists are trained in presenting ideas clearly in a language that's easy to understand. The free book that I cited (Julio Camba's [La Rana Viajera][1]) is a case in point. This particular book illustrates a problem you might find with free downloads: no hyperlinks from the table of contents to individual chapters. This can be overcome to a certain extent by bookmarking each chapter as you come across it, then matching the chapter's number to to the count order of the bookmark. But if your interest is piqued enough to do this, you'll probably end up buying the book in retail.

Another option on Amazon is to search for free books in the Spanish section (Best Sellers in Literature & Fiction in Spanish - Top 100 free).

Anyway, thanks for answering. The operative word here is free (gratis). It gets expensive buying books at retail. It's always a struggle to keep our minds entertained and our money in our pocket at the same time.

Mejores deseos a todos.

[1]: https://www.amazon.com/rana-viajera-Spanish-Julio-Camba-ebook/dp/B004UIUQ3O/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1468243164&sr=1-1&keywords=La Rana Viajera

Thanks mate , you are a" little ripper". One of our members 2 years ago wrote and illustrated a lovely children's boon which is on Amazon, "Kimmys Birthday Surprise" by Jennifer.L . Woolsey. - ray76, Jul 11, 2016

Right on. Don’t overlook children’s books. For example, Cenerentola - La Cenicienta: Italiano-Español, $0.99. Advantage = I know the story, language is easy, both dictionaries work simultaneously in the Paper White. & there are pictures. - pierre_groussac, Jul 11, 2016