Mi evolución lectora

Nuestros gustos están constantemente cambiando y, personalmente, me resulta curioso mirar atrás en el tiempo y ver cuánto hemos evolucionado en este aspecto. Por esta razón hoy os vengo a hablar sobre la transformación que han tenido mis gustos a lo largo del tiempo y, para no dejar a un lado la temática del blog, me voy a centrar en los libros, en mi evolución lectora.

De pequeña no me gustaba demasiado leer pero no tardé en cogerle el gusto. Leía todo lo que pillaba y la biblioteca era mi segunda casa (rara era la semana en la que no me pasaba por ahí). Mención especial a Kika Superbruja, Gerónimo Stilton, Ulysses Moore, Fairy Oak y Cornelia Funke. Sin duda, las aventuras y el misterio eran mi tema preferido sobre los que leer.

En la adolescencia, el género romántico me pegó muy fuerte: Moccia y sus Tres metros sobre el cielo y Perdona si te llamo amor, Blue Jeans con Canciones para Paula... Si tenía amor (amor de ese adolescente), no podía resistirme.

Hoy en día los libros románticos siguen gustándome aunque me suelo decantar por literatura algo más adulta como la de Jojo Moyes, Sophie Kinsella, Rachel Gibson o Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Nacionalmente, destacaría a María Martínez o Alice Kellen, muy pero que muy recomendables las dos. Y no solo la contemporánea, la romántica histórica -que descubrí gracias a Sarah MacLean- también se encuentra entre mis géneros preferidos. Algunas otras autoras a las que tengo especial cariño son Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas y Judith McNaught.

Pero, si os soy sincera, ya no disfruto de las historias románticas tanto como antes, me parece que todas están cortadas por el mismo patrón y la trama es una copia más de lo anteriormente publicado; todo es demasiado típico, hay demasiados tópicos, todo demasiado predecible... No se si leer tanta romántica me ha saturado o cuál es la razón pero últimamente no logro terminar ningún libro romántico-contemporáneo.

En cuanto a mi temática actual favorita... la fantasía. Los libros fantásticos me atrapan desde la primera página, tienen mapas maravillosos, mundos increíbles e historias llenas de aventuras. En resumidas cuentas, están llenos de magia y originalidad. Si también os gusta este género, tenéis que leer a V. E. Schwab, Naomi Novik o Iria G. Parente y Selene M. Pascual.

Y en vuestro caso, ¿cuál ha sido vuestra evolución lectora? ¿Tenéis un género preferido? ¿Alguno que antes os gustase y ahora no? Contadme.

Tea Time with Lhya | Reading in the original language vs. reading the translation

Last year I started this section to talk about anything related with books or blogging. But... why in english? As I said in the presentation of the section (you can read it here), it's because, as we read and watch films and series in english, I think it's a good idea to discuss them also in english, to improve our language skills... and, most importantly, because it can be really fun!

My idea was (and is) to do kind of a guest post, written in english, but with two of us (me and anyone that wants to participate) taking part on it.  So, how can you participate in this section? It's really easy; you only have to send me an email to flywithpaperwings@gmail.com with the topic "Tea Time" and, if you have, with some ideas to talk about. The email can be written in english or in spanish, it doesn't matter.

Today I'm here with LHYA, form the blog All rare girl (by the way, go visit her blog, it's really lovely and beautiful). We'd be talking about the pros and cons of reading a book in its original language or reading it in your language (in our case, spanish). LHYA explains it very well: As you may know, a important number of us reads in English too. I would like to discuss how an English reading differentiates of an Spanish reading. Almost all the books we read in spanish are original written in english, so it would be great to know what other people think about it. If it's the best to read in the original language, if the translation sometimes doesn't catch the real essence, if it makes the reading harder to understand, etc.

Let's get started!

Reading in English could be different and maybe even better. But of course, like everything, it has its good sides and bad ones. So, to explain our point of view of this topic, we decided to center in the differences between reading a book in its original language or reading its translation.

For most of us reading in english is, above all, a way to improve our vocabulary, our grammar... and to be able to discover new stories without having to wait for their translation. But, in general, we always would prefer reading in spanish. Because it's easier and because it's what we are used to. Moreover, i you're deeply enjoying the chapter you're reading, having to search for a dictionary and look up for a word that you don't understand can get you out of the book and the story, and it can be hard to get into that trance again.

Maybe for that reason, one of the fears and doubts you can had when you started reading in English, is thinking that you may not enjoy reading in english as much as you do reading in spanish. But that is certainly not true. We thought this before we started reading in english but we surprised ourselfs when we realized we enjoyed it, even more than usual, and that not understanding sentences or words it's not bad. It only makes reading more exciting, and it's a big help if you want to increase your grammar. 

 

Now is your turn! Do you usually read in english? Do you prefer reading in english or in spanish?

Tea Time with Patricia | Let's talk about books in English

Finally I'm here with the first (well, second?) post of this section written in English, I hope you enjoy it! (If you don't know what is this section about, check out here).

Today I'm here with Patricia from the blog Cada libro un mundo and we'd be talking about reading in English, when we started, our experience, a few advices that may help you... But, before we start, I have to say that it's been a pleasure to collaborate with her, she had some good ideas which have been very helpful for me.

MARINA: Yay! I'm really excited to start up this little section, I hope you find the tea and the little biscuits delicious ;)

So, tell me, do you usually read in English?

PATRICIA: And I'm excited to be a guest in your fantastic blog and, especially, in this lovely section. Thank you for let me participate. And yeah, the biscuits are so yummy ^^.

Well, I read a lot in English but not as much as in Spanish, because it usually takes me longer read the books in English. I started reading in English in the high school, with the typical adapted books, and I really liked it so I continue reading in that language. What about you, do you usually read in English? Can you tell me when and how you started reading in English? :)

MARINA: I also started reading in english at school jaja. But, it was after opening the blog when I discovered the huge amount of books that are in English and when I started to have interest in reading them. It was like discobering another bookish universe! Of course, at first there were a lot of words that I've never heard of but more or less I was able to figure out their meaning from the context. You know, I've never been those people who read with the dictionary next to them. In the beginning it could be difficult, but eventually everyone improves.

Related to that, which is the best advice you would give to someone who is starting to read in another language?

PATRICIA: The best advice I can give to someone who is starting to reading in another language is that you should avoid translate it. At the beginning it could be difficult, but if you don't translate it you gonna get fluency reading, and it is better because you going to get the meaning from the context. I think this was the most difficult part for me when I started to read in english.

Other advice for someone who wants to start to read in another language is that you maybe want to start with a light book, something contemporary or young adult. That type of books have an easy vocabulary so you don't go to feel the necessity of look for the meaning in the dictionary. Or, if you prefer it, you also can read a book that you have already read in spanish.

MARINA: Oh, those are really good advices!

And I totally agree with you; contemporary books are a really good option to begin with. As you said, their vocabulary and the story are easy to understand so they are very helpul to take confidence. For me, some recommendable contemporary authors are for example Kasie West and Kelly Oram (I've seen you have some posts about her in your blog jeje).

However, to those who are not afraid of reading in english, I would recommend giving a try to a book they really want to read. Maybe the vocabulary won't be as easy but they will put more interest on it and they will enjoy it more.

PATRICIA: Yeah! I'm agree with you.

I highly recommend Kelly Oram's books, they are easy peasy (to read), and I really love her. Also I recommend Kody Keplinger's books, she is a young adult writer and all her books are very recommendable, over all The Duff and Shut Out.

MARINA: The DUFF has been in my wishlist for ages jaja, someday I will read it.. Someday..

And I'm sorry to say that our little tea party is ending. But, before we finish, I would like to thank you, Patricia, for joining me in the first entry of this section; I'm very glad you'd send me an email! And I hope you enjoy it! 

PATRICIA: It's my pleasure! It was fun.

Now is your turn! Do you usually read in english? When did yo satrted reading in that language? What is your best advice?

Tea Time | Let's talk about a new section

Fuente

No, you're not in the wrong blog. And yes, I'm writing in english (or at least, trying to). That's because I've decided to start a new section called Tea Time (with ...) | Let's talk about ... and it's going to be in english! Woohoo!

Ok, so what is this about? My idea for this section is to invite you, reader, blogger, unicorn or whatever you are, to have a tea with me, here, in this blog. We can talk about anything related with books or blogging (in english, of course), we can recommend each other books, discuss about a book/book adaptation/an interesting topic/... It's kind of a guest post, written in english, but with two of us taking part on it. However, take this clear, it's not a way to get free publicity for your blog.

And why in english? Because, as we read and watch films and series in english, I think it's a good idea to discuss them also in english (to improve our language skills...) and, most importantly, because it can be really fun!

Finally, how can you participate in this section? It's really easy; you only have to send me an email to flywithpaperwings@gmail.com with the topic "Tea Time" and, if you have, with some ideas to talk about. The email can be written in english or in spanish, it doesn't matter. And, of course, there is no problem if you're not very good at english (I know I'm not). That is another reason to make the post between two, we can help each other. And if not, we'll always have Google Translator.

Even if you send an email during the month of August, the section does not going to start until September or October (I know many of you are on holiday right now and I prefer to prepare the entries unhurriedly). And, until then, I'll see the acceptance the new section has and if it's worth doing  it or not.


I hope to receive a lot of emails! (Two or three at least...)