I'm going to Spain next week and would like to bring a good book to keep me occupied. I've just read Ernesto Sabato's "El Tunel" and liked it a lot. A few months ago i read Oscar Hernandez's "El Viaje de Marcos." I liked that one too, but can't seem to find his other books anywhere. Does anyone have a suggestion for a modern book in Spanish? I'm looking for something edgy and captivating.

Mil Gracias

Have you read any Jorge Luis Borges? His short stories are definitely captivating. The collection EL ADELPH is a particularly good collection. You will not be disappointed.

Could you be a little more specific? By that I mean...do you want to continue with Latin American literature or do you want to read peninsula? Do you have a time frame in mind?

Sheryl

Peninsular lit. would be preferable. But I'm open to anything. With regard to the time frame...anything really in the past 50 years. A book thats about young adults, for young adults is what Im interested in.

thanks!

Why not try 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez? (Cien Años de Soledad).

Not wanted to over push this book but I happen to believe it is the greatest book ever written and was the deciding factor when I accepted a job in Spain, so I could start to learn Spanish and read the book in it's original language.

If you are looking for something comtemporary and peninsular about young adults, try Historias del Kronen by José Ángel Mañas. It is about a group of friends in Madrid who spend their time drinking and doing drugs and the consequences that occur from their expoits. It is one of my favorite books, and is a great way to learn some of the current slang used by madrileños.

Now THAT'S EXACTLY what I was looking for...I'll try to find that book today. Thank you so much!

Try MENSAKA... Same author as above, different incredibly amazing title about the music scene and a struggling band in Madrid... This was also made into a successful, equally entertaining movie. Two thumbs up if edgy modern iberian lit is your thing.

Thanks for the suggestions. Contemporary edgy iberian lit. is definetely what I'm looking for. I've bought Historias del Kronen, and it looks really good. I'm going to save it for my trip to Spain next week. Thanks again everyone.

Hi,

I've read two books by Jose Luis Sampedro and fell in love with both.

"La Vieja Sirena" is a 700 page long book, and it takes a while to get into it but then ...

"La Sonrisa Etrusca" was also a fabulous novel.

K

I realize the books I recommended was not necessarily what you were looking for as the Sirena is placed in ancient Egypt, while the other one is about an older man. But still worth reading!