A language learners’ forum

I've read about 200 pages (of 650). it wouldn't be my normal choice of book in English, but I've persevered as an exercise in reading practise.

MamaPata wrote:How is everyone going with the Shadow of the Wind? I have barely started, so I’ve got a lot ahead of me this week! I suspect I will have to join the discussion a week or so after everyone else.

Do people have suggestions for what they want to read in May?

I’m enjoying it, but I’m way behind too. I’m not even halfway done.

MamaPata wrote:How is everyone going with the Shadow of the Wind? I have barely started, so I’ve got a lot ahead of me this week! I suspect I will have to join the discussion a week or so after everyone else.

Do people have suggestions for what they want to read in May?

Contrary to my idea of getting a headstart I just started reading seriously over the Easter holidays. I'm about 100 pages in now and I have to say that I'm struggling. Reading the book is a reality check for my Spanish. After the first dozen pages, I decided to get a translation to reread passages I don't understand. Now I'm reading the English and Spanish version in parallel and even in the English version there are plenty of words unbeknown to me. (I wanted to get the German translation, but it was not available at my library). I think/hope I will finish the book by the end of May. Personally, I don't mind spoilers so I'm looking forward to the discussion here even if I haven't finished yet.

Philipp wrote:

MamaPata wrote:How is everyone going with the Shadow of the Wind? I have barely started, so I’ve got a lot ahead of me this week! I suspect I will have to join the discussion a week or so after everyone else.

Do people have suggestions for what they want to read in May?

Contrary to my idea of getting a headstart I just started reading seriously over the Easter holidays. I'm about 100 pages in now and I have to say that I'm struggling. Reading the book is a reality check for my Spanish. After the first dozen pages, I decided to get a translation to reread passages I don't understand. Now I'm reading the English and Spanish version in parallel and even in the English version there are plenty of words unbeknown to me. (I wanted to get the German translation, but it was not available at my library). I think/hope I will finish the book by the end of May. Personally, I don't mind spoilers so I'm looking forward to the discussion here even if I haven't finished yet.

I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds it a bit of a reality check. The author writes beautifully, but there is still a lot of unknown vocabulary for me. It seems like no matter how much vocabulary I learn, I never make a dent. There’s always so much more left to learn.

I'm reading the German translation but have struggled to get beyond the blind girl face touching stereotype early on in the book. Can anyone reassure me that it gets better?

I've only read about 36 pages (in the Italian version) and I'm bored with it. As far as the writing I've come across very few unknown words. Last week I thought I'd give it a chance but this week I'm not sure I will. If I do return to it I probably won't finish it for months.

As nobody seems to have suggested any books for May, shall we just continue with Shadow of the Wind. It sounds like quite a few of us are still going with it.

I didn't read Shadow of the Wind this round, but I've read it in the past - once in English, and then in Spanish. It is one of those books that you should not read twice. I really enjoyed it in English, though I was a bit confused on some of the plot twists at the end. I figured the story would make more sense when I read it the second time.

It didn't.

I gave up after reading about a third, which I think qualifies as a good try. I wasn't defeated by the language, I just wasn't enjoying it & I have other books I'd rather be reading. I have subsequently read a plot summary on wiki to see if it turns out like I thought it would, which it does, so I doubt I'll be going back to finish it off.

Man a lot of negative reactions. I read it back in 2011 and remember really enjoying it. As a kid I remember escaping to books, and loving the charectors and plot, wondering about the authors and their lives as well, so the story surrounding this plot resonated with me, and the setting of Barcelona in the 40’s I think is intentional as a message against censorship. Now, from a language enthusiast perspective, it’s also interesting that Catalan isn’t mentioned once that I recall. I don’t remember exactly how the pacing felt, it was actually the first book I read in Spanish, so I think I may have had some difficulty in the beginning, but eventually it became a page-turner for me especially as I got to the section of Julian Carax.

Since some here said it’s not good the second time around, I’m picking it up again to see what I think. So far I’m 40 pages in and it’s going alright.