Fiction is good...a cada cual lo suyo

Reading is one of my primary past times. I would not be at ease with myself if I did not have the opportunity to read. Therefore, I make it part of my routine. I read exclusively in Spanish and have had many book discussions in the forum. My perception is that here on DR1 there are very few avid readers of Spanish books both fiction and non fiction (or least they don’t post their reviews and/or opinion). The threads I started are almost monologues however, I prefer that than frivolous conversation.

There's plenty of good fiction to choose from. You would be surprised. You just need to find an author whose style suits your taste. Sometimes it takes time and trial and error. IMO, the classics are less appealing than contemporary literature.

There's a wealth of good Spanish books on the market. Anyone who reads avidly would agree with me. If you prefer DR specific authors IMO, your choice is automatically lessened as compared to other countries. The DR output when it comes to Spanish literature is not up to scale with the rest of the Spanish-speaking countries. I would like to read more literature from the island however, I find the choice is very limited abroad. Junot Díaz and Julia Alvarez are not what I consider 'true' DR authors since they do not produce literature in Spanish. It's just a whole different dynamic that's subject to personal opinion and preference. Some literature from the island written by a renowned contemporary author or an upcoming author is what I would like to read from the DR.

For those who want to know what literature is popular in the DR currently, I suggest you consult Librería Cuesta's website. Look at the tab libros nacionales or los 10 libros más vendidos to start. The site should definitely give you a feel for the type of literature you are looking for.

For what's hot in Spanish literature in general, fiction and non fiction there's plenty of options and sources to consult.

1/ El Nuevo Herald (Miami)- monthly 'los libros más vendidos list'- fiction and non fiction

2/ Libros para el verano. This was posted a few weeks ago in ADN (de España)- Cultura - Libros para el verano - ADN.es

3/ Consult some old threads I started on DR1

4/ Visit the website of the successful publishing houses (las casa editiorial) for Spanish books- for example Alfaguara, Santillana, Planeta, Plaza & Janés, Anagrama, Seix Barral

5/ Go to the books store (another past time of mine) to just browse and discover. If you live in a US city with many Spanish-speakers go to Barnes & Noble or Borders



-ldg.