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Short Stories in Spanish: New Penguin Parallel Text (New Penguin Parallel Texts) (Spanish Edition) |
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List Price: $15.00
Our Price: $10.20
Your Save: $ 4.80 ( 32% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Average Customer Rating:  
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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 863.0108064
EAN: 9780140265415
ISBN: 0140265414
Label: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 256
Publication Date: 2001-01-01
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Release Date: 2001-01-02
Studio: Penguin (Non-Classics)
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Editorial Reviews:
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Reflecting the variety of modern Spanish literature, these stories range from the sharp insights of Gabriel García Marquez's María dos Prazeres to Isabel Allende's powerful evocation of the oral traditions of the Amerindian Walimai, the deceptive simplicity of Javier Marías's On the Honeymoon, and the philosophical speculation of Laura Freixas's Absurd Ending.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Great stories but tough for intermediates
Comment: I will add that if you are looking for light reading this may not be for you. This is "real" literature and requires some concentration. IMHO intermediates will find the stories challenging to read in Spanish and beginners may give up (although the English translations are worth reading as well). My favorite story was Maria dos Prazeres.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not exactly a literal translation.
Comment: When I look for parallel text books, it is important to me that each book does an accurate job translating the original Spanish into its exact English equivalent. These books are training aids, and as such, I feel they need to uphold that accuracy as best as possible.
However, this book takes some liberties. The authors will take Spanish phrases and words, and mold them into English phrases and words that are chosen by their own taste in vocabulary. For the student who is learning one language or the other, it would seem very helpful if authors did not dance around a translation to make it sound good in English. I would much prefer a literal translation so that I can study the structure of each sentence, and note how the words are being used in context. When I read the word "tiempo precioso," I expect to see "precious time" in English, not "valuable time," or some other synonym. The latter phrase is not only used regularly in English, but it is a direct translation. This, of course, is an utmost basic example.
Once you highlight the loose interpretations in the book, you can continue studying the rest of the language. The stories are diverse and interesting enough to want to continue reading. I agree with other reviewers in that they are a bit dark in nature, but entertaining nonetheless.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Challenging for Beginners
Comment: I love, love, love the Allende story, but generally found the stories selected for this book dark and depressing. No matter, I'm sure that many won't agree with me. I just want to note that the vocabulary and sentence structure can be pretty challenging (I'm about intermediate), so this might not be suitable for beginners, but might be just what someone who is more advanced is looking for.
Customer Rating:
Summary: not for me
Comment: I know, these are supposed to be great literary works. Sorry, not very interesting!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent learning tool
Comment: This book begins with easy stories, mostly in present tense. It progresses to more difficult stories. The stories are by Latino authors, so you have the additional bonus of Latino culture with the stories. The back of the book gives brief information about the authors. It includes exercises, some to be answered orally and others written, and a Spanish glossary. It's a good tool to have in your "bag of tricks" for learning and improving your Spanish.
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