Vote for the July book club book

This is a room for the discussion of travel plans or experiences and the culture of places you have visited or plan to visit.

Which book(s) do you want to read in July?

Poll ended at Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:09 pm

L'amica geniale (My Brilliant Friend)
2
67%
Tiempos recios
1
33%
 
Total votes: 3

Mista
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Posts: 608
Joined: Wed May 11, 2016 11:03 pm
Location: Norway
Languages: Norwegian (N), English (QN). Studied Ancient Greek (MA), Linguistics (MA), Latin (BA), German (BA). Italian at A2/B1 level. Learning: French, Japanese, Russian (focus) and various others, like Polish, Spanish, Vietnamese, and anything that comes my way. Also know some Sanskrit (but not the script) and Coptic. Really want to learn Arabic and Amharic.
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... =15&t=7497
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Vote for the July book club book

Postby Mista » Sun Jun 28, 2020 4:09 pm

There are no other nominations, so I'll just copy my most from the other thread:

Mista wrote:I have a romance languages project going this summer, so for July I’d like to nominate the books I’m planning to read in Italian and Spanish, respectively.

Elena Ferrante: L’amica geniale (My brilliant friend)
331 pages

Goodreads wrote:A modern masterpiece from one of Italy's most acclaimed authors, My Brilliant Friend is a rich, intense and generous hearted story about two friends, Elena and Lila. Ferrante's inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a touching meditation on the nature of friendship. Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighbourhood, a city and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between her two protagonists.


Mario Vargas Llosa: Tiempos recios.
353 pages

In the bookstore, I thought this would be a safe choice. When I got home and checked Goodreads, however, it seems to only have been translated into German. But since I already bought the book, I’m going to suggest it anyway. This is the Spanish presentation of the book:

Goodreads wrote:LA NUEVA NOVELA DE MARIO VARGAS LLOSA, PREMIO NOBEL DE LITERATURA
Una historia de conspiraciones políticas e intereses encontrados durante la Guerra Fría. Una mentira que pasó por verdad y cambió el devenir de América Latina.
«¿Era la historia esa fantástica tergiversación de la realidad?»
Guatemala, 1954. El golpe militar perpetrado por Carlos Castillo Armas y auspiciado por Estados Unidos a través de la CIA derroca el gobierno de Jacobo Árbenz. Detrás de este acto violento se encuentra una mentira que pasó por verdad y que cambió el devenir de América Latina: la acusación por parte del gobierno de Eisenhower de que Árbenz alentaba la entrada del comunismo soviético en el continente.
Tiempos recios es una historia de conspiraciones internacionales e intereses encontrados, en los años de la Guerra Fría, cuyos ecos resuenan hasta la actualidad. Un suceso que involucró a varios países y en el que algunos verdugos acabaron convirtiéndose en víctimas de la misma trama que habían ayudado a construir.
En esta novela apasionante, que conecta con la aclamada La Fiesta del Chivo, Mario Vargas Llosa funde la realidad con dos ficciones: la del narrador que libremente recrea personajes y situaciones, y la diseñada por aquellos que quisieron controlar la política y la economía de un continente manipulando su historia.
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Mista
Blue Belt
Posts: 608
Joined: Wed May 11, 2016 11:03 pm
Location: Norway
Languages: Norwegian (N), English (QN). Studied Ancient Greek (MA), Linguistics (MA), Latin (BA), German (BA). Italian at A2/B1 level. Learning: French, Japanese, Russian (focus) and various others, like Polish, Spanish, Vietnamese, and anything that comes my way. Also know some Sanskrit (but not the script) and Coptic. Really want to learn Arabic and Amharic.
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... =15&t=7497
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Re: Vote for the July book club book

Postby Mista » Sun Jun 28, 2020 4:10 pm

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kanewai
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Re: Vote for the July book club book

Postby kanewai » Fri Jul 03, 2020 1:17 am

Well, I wasn't paying attention! I didn't realize Mario Vargas Llosa had a new book out. I just ordered Tiempos recios. I can try and hold off on reading it until August if others are interested in it as a future selection.

L'amica geniale is a great choice. Over the years I've read the book, listened to the audiobook, and watched the HBO series ... so I don't need to read it again! But I'll probably join in with the discussion.
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