A bit boring
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It's difficult to find good Spanish authors suitable for beginners. The idea behind this book is good. Short stories with the Spanish text translated on the opposite page. This makes it easy to progress through the story without losing too much momentum. The translations are quite good.
I found the stories a bit boring. It appears that in an effort to find reputable authors of good literature, the editors sacrificed more potentially interesting stories with actual events. The stories are often long-winded and slow with no great drama. They didn't maintain my interest beyond an exercise in grammar and vocabulary building. But if stories about Literary Tea Parties and a woman's indifference to other people get you hooked then this is for you. Personally I prefer stories where things actually happen.
2.5 stars, so I'll have to round it up to 3 for roundness sake.
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Spanish vocabulary and reading practice
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For an intermediate to advanced student I found these stories to be very entertaining and enjoyable. A pleasant break from the usual dull writing found in textbooks. The amount of new vocabulary was very high for me but being able to quickly look up the meaning on the opposite side of the page is such a joy. Yes, there are discrepencies in some of the translations, but I found that enriched my understanding by trying to decipher why a figurative rather than literal translation was used. Languages don't always have word for word translations. Understanding this is a part of the richness involved in learning about another culture along with the language.
The pace of working through the book was very slow but equally rewarding for the quality of the literature and the immersion in the language. Not a book for beginners, but intermediate on upwards should definitely consider this book.
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A clever book for adults wishing to improve their Spanish
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This is an interesting idea for adults with an intermediate knowledge of the Spanish language, who wish to improve vocabulary and work on grammatical structures. Although the stories themselves are not the most exciting ever, the text is clearly presented and can be easily cross-referenced, and as the stories are short, they are digestible. The book comes with a short but interesting introduction about the included Spanish authors and their work, and the purpose of the book. Also included is a notes section detailing finer grammar, history and vocabulary points. The downsides are that the book is over 200 pages long, and filled entirely with words. On a purely aesthetic level, this could be a little daunting. Also, there are one or two discrepancies in the translations. Otherwise the book is enjoyable, and a handy reference text. I have not seen any other fiction books like this, and so it is a good investment, best suited for over 16s.
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