time to read......
I hope I haven’t bored you a lot in my last post.
I’m waiting for your comments about whether you know any of the people in the list….After having gathered your answers, I’ll tell you something about those celebrities :)
I’ve to admit that I’m very fond of reading, and it has always been one of my hobbies. I like Christmas time because it means that I've much more time to read, relax and have a cup of tea peacefully (I'm a tea lover....how british I'm!).
As reading is my favourite hobbie, I spend a lot more money in books than I'd like to…and, of course, a lot of time reading them afterwards. However, from my point of view, all that money has been well-invested.What I really enjoy is going to those huge book stores, and coming across books of authors I didn’t know before, since I like reading different kinds of books, from novels to art books, including those ones more technical, though my final choice often depends on the mood I’m in that day.
My biggest problem is that I get hooked by books, and I can’t stop reading. I literally eat one book after another. Honestly, I’m not fan of any particular writer. I prefer to vary across all sorts of possibilities, and ‘taste’ different writing styles. I sometimes follow the word of mouth, and I get some books that someone has recommended me. But that technique won't assure you of the success in the purchase.
One of the last books I’ve read is The shadow of the wind, a novel written by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It’s been a worldwide bestseller, and it’s translated into English and other languages. So, don’t miss the opportunity to read it for Christmas! It’s a thrilling and a spellbinding novel, in which I got immediately immerse, and I finish reading it in just a couple of days.
Another writer that I like is Arturo Perez Reverte. In his beginnings, Reverte worked as war correspondent, and wrote lots of good articles for national newspapers. From then on, he became a well-respected writer.
As you imagine, I’m always expecting a new book of him to be released. He’s very prolific, and he’s the author of many well-known novels, such as The board of Flandes, The Dumas Club and the Adventures of captain Alatriste, which were eventually adapted for the screens. The other two were adapted, as well. The American film The Ninth Gate, by Roman Polanski , is based on the Dumas Club, and the board of Flandes is another American film which was directed by Jim McBride. Have you seen any of the film that I’ve just mentioned?
Tomorrow I’ll tell you about Spanish cinema, and who are currently its more important figures.
By the way, oranges grow in the Comunidad Valenciana, which is my region, and also most of almonds trees grow here (that’s why it's so tradicional the turrón and the almonds cake).You’re right Christine, it’s time for oranges. I suppose that the ones you buy in summer come from South America and not from Spain.
Now I’m too tired to go on typing…so,tomorrow I’ll drop you some lines about some of your suggestions, questions and my own thoughts about what you’ve said…Thanks a lot for being there!
To end with for today, I’ve tried to correct the mistakes….It’s been rather difficult! I hope I’m not too mistaken.
1. I get always confused when I’ve to write a sentence like that.
2. Thank you for the information about Warsaw, I knew very little about it.
3. On that day folks groups usually drop in the houses.
4. The smell of the orange blossom at night
5. Italy is in the run-up to Christmas
6. It’s impossible to stop the trend
7. Their factories sell quality shoes at cheaper prices
8. Do you like jogging? So do I
9. Job cuts in footwear industries have been compensated by a growth in construction and other industries….
10. Above all, people are happy
11. There are traditional cakes of the region
12. Your explanation about Valencian was very interesting
13. For Christmas I often make a delicious soup
14. I’m completely in the dark about Christian culture
15. Some people were sunbathing
16. It reminds me of other books
Bye for now,
Comments
Good Morning Silvia! I forgot to mention Juan Carlos I in my last comment. He is the reigning King of Spain. So I know two of the personalities that is Picasso and the King and I will be looking forward to knowing about the others. Hummm...Oranges! That means Spain is also in the winter season. Oh well, we are also eating oranges right here in Pakistan. Speaking of Olives and Saffron, Spain also cultivates a great deal of the two, doesn't it? Best wishes, Naheed
Hi Silvia, I have no much time now because end of year work overload but just a few words. I know, as Spaniard, most of the personalities you proposed I am going to indicate only those who are not familiar to me : Alejandro Amenabal and Pedro Duque, I did not know Arturo Pérez Reverte but you have talked about it today and I’ll try to find a book when I am in Spain from end next week. Well done with this concise but clear introduction to the Spanish culture. Read you soon. Antonio
Yeah, Silvia, you are right, I could hardly stifle a yawn when I was reading your previous blog. I am kidding. But yes, I admit that one can hardly find this sort of info particularly exciting unless they really are into the subject. Surely you were not being serious when you said that being hooked on books was your problem? I can assure you, as long as you don't sell things from home in order to buy some books, you are not in trouble. By the way, what do you normally do with the books you have just finished reading? Put them on a shelf (if there is still some room there, given your «excessive» reading) or give them away or reread them some time later? Sincerely, Ana
Hello again Silvia, Interesting to know people who most influenced the history of Spain and its culture. I know Miguel de Cervantes, Dalí, Picasso, Miró, Gaudí... While about our days ... I know Pedro Almodóvar (He is a director) Antonio Banderas (He is an actor) Penélope Cruz (She is an acretess) Juan Carlos I de Borbón ( He is a King of Spain) José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (He is a politician Spanish) Fernando Alonso (He is a pilot automotive Spanish Formula 1, winner of the World Championships 2005 and 2006 with the Renault team.) Plácido Domingo (He is a tenor and director of Spanish Orchestral)... Italy and Spain are near, therefore it is easier to know the famous personalities. All right?? Bye for now Mariangela
Hi Silvia, I’ve read all your blogs and it’s really interesting to read about Spain.I really like your country and recently I’ve started learning Spanish.Spain has and had so many worldwidely famous people.So let me try to guess what they do for living.Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz are actors, Pedro Almodóvar is a film director,Rafael Nadal a tennis player, Fernando Alonso is formula 1 pilot(maybe Carlos Sainz too?), Plácido Domingo is a singer,and , Juan Carlos I de Borbón sounds like king,right?Has Spain a king?:) Dear Silvia,I’m very interested in Spanish music.Can you recommend any good groops or singers?:) Take care See you
Dear Silvia, First of all, I don’t hesitate to inform you that I almost know nothing about foreign writers. I spend most of my time reading course books before graduating university. After that I have started to read course books in different fields like economics, sociology and others. When I started my job, I focused all my studies in job related matter. Your reading hobby is a step toward success and all the investment in reading is very valuable. In my opinion, you should write “As reading is my favourite hobby” in stead of “As reading is my favourite hobbie”.
Hello Silvia, nice to hear from you. I kow some of the people you mentioned yesterday:Antonio Banderas, Penelope Cruz, Fernando Alonso, Placido Domingo and Juan Carlos de Borbon. I love books like you, so do my husband and my daughter. We had a lot of books , but one day we took the decision, not to buy any book, if it isn't possible to lend it in the library, because we haven't enough place in our flat.We visit the library regularly and we get there also aktuell books and bestsellers.Best wishes for you, see you soon...
Hola, Silvia! Wow ,I really need to catch up on this blog,reading your past posts was very interesting silvia. I´ll try to read this blog more often, lately I don´t have enough time to do it! and that angers me because I really enjoy to learn English and this site is magnific for that,don´t cha? By the way I know all the people you have mentioned on your post but as you say I´ll wait for your answers...!Adiós,cuidate. Greetings from México!!!
Hi Silvia!!! I love reading too. Unfortunately, I didn´t know the writers you´ve mentioned, but for sure I´ll look for them :-). In answer to your question I´ve seen the films you´ve mentioned, moreover I´m looking forward to your blog about Spanish cinema. I enjoy very much watching Spanish films. So, see you tomorrow, Ana Paula.
Hi Silvia, This is the first blog i read in bbcworld. i think this is the best way to improve english. you wrote very intresting about your hobby. And i am wondering that how you finish books in couple of days. Ok. You write like this only its intresting to read. Bye
Certainly you are reading-addict!But I should confess that I and my 8 year-old son are infected the same sort of virus. We often use a public library to borrow books for saving money and space and talk about interesting books through the night. Now I am reading the original version of Michael Crichton's "Next" which deals with genetics(I purchased it).I can not say I fully understand the book due to my ignorance of the field. Nevertheless I enjoy reading it. After finishing the original one, I will check the Japanese version at a book shop shelf to make sure some crucial points. Am I an illegal reader? Love from us.
Hi Silvia! I know several of the Spanish artists you mentioned a couple of days ago. Almodóvar, Amenábar, Bigas Luna are very popular over here as well. As for the actresses, I like Penélope Cruz (she totally deserved the Oscar last year) and Candela Peña. Marisa Paredes, Victoria Abril, Carmen Maura, and María Valverde are popular in Italy. As for the writers, I really liked “La Familla de Pascual Duarte” by José Cela. Nadal is my favourite tennis player. Do you find German difficult? I cannot speak it, but I plan on attending a German course one day.
Hi Silvia As you imagine, I'm a new blogger. I speak English a little and wich improve it toward the BBC's blog. I'm very glad to read yours texts. Anyway, what I can say about spanish, in general, is sport: my favourite football club is Barcelonna and I like the tenis player Raffael Naddal as well bye
Hi dear Silvia and all others readers , How are you all feeling ? Dear Silvia , I must confess that I 've just rememberd the name of Picaso , but I 'll surf the Net to be familiar with other artists you listed . As one of the main ingrediens of Paella is rice , there is a question in my mind that if you use rice in other foods as a main ingredient ? As you know rice is a main part of Persian cuisine and we often eat rice with many different stew in our main meal .And we have some special way to cook rice that I suppose is typical . Have a nice weekend So long
Hi silvia!This is the first blog i read in bbcworld like sudheer from korea.I love reading too,sometimes i read book in worktimes.I am reading this book of The Kitf Runner by Khaled Hosseini recently.
silvia, that is great!Your love of reading is just the same as mine. I cant help myself bying an interesting book,and there's nothing better than having a good book with a cup of hot tea, and reading it peacefully. But i want say "how british i am", as tea is a traditional drink in our country. I didn't hear about the writers that you mentioned above, as i too don't really follow after the writings of any certain writer. But i should say that I like Theodor Draiser.
Thanks for all your contributions. This blog has now closed and can no longer accept new comments.
