On a lazy weekend one of our favourite things to do is kick back with an audio book. We love zoning-out and transporting ourselves to different worlds. What’s more, listening to audio books in different languages is such a great way of enhancing our comprehension skills. Whether we’re sitting in the park or lounging on the sofa, this is such a good way of relaxing but doing something worthwhile at the same time – win-win! Here are a few top Spanish audio books that we’ve been enjoying recently.
Largo pétalo de mar
The latest novel from legendary Chilean author, Isabel Allende, this emotional roller-coaster of a tale starts during the Spanish civil war, and follows a group of characters whose lives intertwine over a number of years and across different locations. The story includes transatlantic voyages, dramatic obstacles, dictatorships, and people simply doing their best to survive and form something resembling a family. Listeners will be engrossed from the very beginning.
El amor en los tiempos del cólera
A tale that’s considered one of the biggest classics of Spanish language literature, El amor en los tiempos del cólera is another masterpiece from Nobel prize winner Gabriel García Márquez. The story tells of hopeless romantic Florentino, and his first love Fermina. They were young sweethearts, but as they grow older their lives drift apart. Florentino never gives up hope, however, of being reunited with his love, not even after 50 years. Will his endurance pay off? Listen to this literary masterpiece and find out!
La vida de Lazarillo de Tormes y de sus fortunas y adversidades
We’re continuing with the blockbusters with another classic piece of Spanish literature. Published anonymously (due to its anti-clerical nature) in 1554, the novella is written as a series of letters, detailing the life of Lázaro de Tormes from his apprenticeship as a young boy through the various masters he serves during his life. The novella was actually initially banned by the Spanish crown, and is famous for shedding light on the social plight and injustices many faced at the time. It’s a short listen, and a must for any Spanish culture enthusiasts.
Como agua para chocolate
A firm favourite amongst fans of Spanish language literature, this Mexican 12-part novel by Laura Esquivel has a fascinating way of weaving Mexican recipes and food culture into the story. It tells the tale of Tita who, as the youngest daughter in the family, is forbidden from marrying her true love Pedro, and instead is forced to be alone and take care of her mother for the rest of her life. The love between her and Pedro stays strong however, and throughout their lives emotions run high with extreme and – more often than not – bizarre events unfolding. Fans of the magical realist genre will enjoy this one!
La catedral del mar
Recently made into a Netflix series, this epic novel by Ildefonso Falcones delves deep into the history of medieval Barcelona, and follows two generations with father and son Bernat and Arnau. The tale is set to the backdrop of the construction of Santa Maria del Mar, an iconic cathedral in the city and a fascinating period of time in Barcelona, during which we see the lives and stories of the main characters develop. This is a truly great listen, especially for those interested in history and/or Catalonia.
Marina
Fans of La sombra del viento are sure to enjoy this shorter story by Carlos Ruis Zafón. Also set in Barcelona, this chilling tale has similar characteristics to earlier works, with haunting characters and equal measures of history and mystery. One day, the lives of 15-year-olds Marina and Oscar suddenly become mixed up with a sinister, creepy character named Mijail. He has a dark past and an even stranger present. The story is close to a horror genre, although it’s tricky to define – perhaps this is one of the reasons it was so well received.
Love the Spanish language? At IH London we have Spanish courses starting every 6 weeks, and have plenty of options for more advanced learners. Find out about our upcoming courses here.