For those of us for whom English is the primary language, books, movies, and even music in English probably make up the bulk of our media diet, and it’s easy to assume that this is the best that entertainment offers. But there is a wealth of pleasures available in languages other than English that is as wonderfully diverse as the United States itself.
The demographic makeup of our country shows that many people are excluded from the conversation if they conducted it solely in English. The Hispanic/Latino population in the United States is 18.9 percent, according to the most recent census data, and over 30 million people age 5 and older speak Spanish. These numbers are only increasing, so there is a real demand for books and entertainment in Spanish, such as movies. For people who want to read books in their native language, Spanish, or practice their language skills in a fun and immersive way, here are some of the best Spanish books to explore.
If you are embarking on reading a novel to improve your Spanish skills, here are some tips for success:
Don’t look up every word you don’t know. Looking up the dictionary every few sentences is a real chore. Instead, try to use context clues to decipher new vocabulary.
Choose topics you enjoy. After all, it’s supposed to be more fun than traditional language classes!
Give time to time. You didn’t learn your native language overnight, did you? Take it slow, be patient with yourself, and you’ll be reading Spanish fluently in no time. And if your brain needs a break, then check out some of our favorite books by Hispanic and Latin America authors written in English.
1. Don Quijote de la Mancha
This commemorative edition of the classic story tells the misadventures of an offbeat knight and his sidekick Sancho. The book has been translated into over 60 languages and Dostoyevsky called it “the last and greatest expression of the human spirit,” so what more we can say?
2. Cien Años de Soledad
You may know this masterpiece by its English name, 100 Years of Solitude, but this sweeping intergenerational tale is worth reading in any language. It is a fantastic yet gripping tale that follows the Buendia family through time and turmoil.
3. El DÃa Que Se Perdió la Cordura
This romantic thriller follows an investigation into a strange tangle of events after someone, a man walking around naked with a decapitated woman’s head. It is twisty, fast-paced and has been compared to authors like Stephen King, GarcÃa Márquez, and George Orwell.
Buy: El DÃa Que Se Perdió la Cordura
4. Veinte Poemas de Amor y una Canción Desesperada
If you are not familiar with the deeply romantic and very visual poetry of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, now is the time to know. His poetry is so well known that his character and most famous lines appear elsewhere in pop culture, not to mention the occasional pickup line.
Buy: Veinte Poemas de Amor y una Canción Desesperada
5. La Casa de Los EspÃritus
The great Chilean writer introduces us to the proud but versatile Esteban, his love for his wife Clara, who communicates with the spirit world matches whose political ambitions only. When their daughter has an illicit affair, she gives them their granddaughter Alba, an unexpected gift for them all.
Buy: La Casa de Los EspÃritus
6. La Casa en Mango Street
In a series of vignettes, we meet Esperanza Cordero growing up in Chicago. The young Latina experiences heartbreak, triumphs, and many personal discoveries as she learns about the world and her place in it.
7. Como Agua Para Chocolate
A classic love story that was turned into an award-winning film. This story follows Tita from her birth to her destiny as a chef, through her journey with food as a way of life. There’s romance, intrigue, and even recipes to tickle your imagination and taste buds. (So grab a snack first).
8. Travesuras De La Nina Mala
A love story written by a Nobel Prize winner in literature, this moving tale follows a conference interpreter around the world, from Peru to Paris, London and even Tokyo. Along the way, we hear about the HIV/AIDS crisis, the bohemian revival in Paris, and the political unrest in Peru.
Buy: Travesuras De La Nina Mala
9. Rayuela
In this innovative novel about the life of an Argentinian man divided between Paris and Buenos Aires in the 1950s, you can “mingle” between chapters or go straight to the end like in a traditional novel. It is a refreshingly offbeat approach to storytelling.
Buy: Rayuela
10. La Casa de Bernarda de Alba
A play that meditates on feminism, repression and post-war Spain, this story of a household of women grieving after the death of their patriarch is a classic. I said it to be a metaphor for society after the Spanish Civil War, as well as the author’s premonition of his own death.
Buy: La Casa de Bernarda de Alba
