Up to a reasonable level of fluency isn't too difficult for an English speaker, and much easier if you have a bit of Latin or French behind you. I decided to use the Easy Reader series from European Schoolbooks Publishing. They do four languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. Wait- that's five. Anyway, they publish each language in 4 series: A (600 words), B (1200 words), C (2000 words) and D (2500 words). After finishing all four levels, you are more or less ready to set off on newspapers and, starting with fairly easy ones, proper novels. I already used this series when I was learning Russian, several years ago. I decided to work on my Spanish, of which I knew a few basics, at the beginning of this year. I have now read, let me see...13 of these books, although that's less than half the range available in the Spanish series. What's great about these readers, in my opinion, and what sets them apart from other graded readers, is the wealth of great literature that has been adapted from classic and contemporary authors. This means that whilst you are learning a language, you are also getting a great overview of foreign literature, so that you can carry on reading the authors you liked when you get to a better standard. Each of the books is illustrated, usually quite well, and helpful vocab is supplied, along with exercises at the end of each chapter. Anyway, here are quick reviews of all the titles I read, just in case you want to try them out.
Level A
Las Tres de la Madrugada - Miguel Bunuel
Considering the limited vocabulary we have to work with here, Las Tres is a pretty gripping read. It all takes place on a train and the vocab is pretty essential for modern Spanish. 8/10
Los Carros Vacios - Francisco Garcia Pavon
Probably the most difficult in the A series that I read. A murder mystery introducing the character of Police chief Plinio, who pops up in a couple more books in the series. Recommended 9/10
Marcelino Pan y Vino - Jose Maria Sanchez Silva
A bizarre and probably touching religious story about a boy who keeps a statue of Jesus in the attic that he talks to. Bizarrely, it also talks to him. It's a bit boring, and my Spanish was so bad, I wasn't sure if I was reading it right or it was supernatural. 6/10
Level B
Lista de Locos y otros alfabetos - Bernardo Atxaga
A series of surreal stories based on letters of the alphabet by a Basque writer. I have to admit, I found this a grind. The language is a lot harder than the A books, and the subject is random. At one point, the author has a debate and watches a football match with the letters of the alphabet. At least I think that's what was happening. I certainly learned a lot from reading this, and it was probably the most difficult 'B', so you should read it last, not first. 6/10
Las inquietudes de Shanti Andia - Pio Baroja
This was probably my favourite book of the whole series. It is the story of a boy who grows up to be a ships captain, and the adventures he encounters on his travels, and back at home. Even in this easy reader, bowdlerised version, the writing was lyrical, impressionistic, and the story was very exciting. I fully intend to read the original one of these days. 10/10
Amnesia - Fernando Lalana
From the sublime to the ridiculous. After reading this I wish I had amnesia. For a start the language in this book is so simple it really ought to be in the A section. Secondly, the plot is so far-fetched, it makes most Hollywood blockbusters seem like a Ken Loach film. It's something about a secret agent losing his memory and then meeting a girl and then... oh, you can make up the rest yourself. 3/10
Lazarillo de Tormes - Anon
This is one of those really old Spanish classics that has been adapted for the series. It's the story of a young man and his apprenticeship to a succession of awful, awful masters, the things they do to him, and the tricks which young Lazarillo learns to cope with them. The stories are ironically written, and full of bawdy, cruel humour. Somewhat old fashioned vocab. Recommended 9/10
Raro - Benjamin Prado
Raro means 'strange', and this book is a bit. Another tough one - or maybe it's modern literature that I'm struggling with. To start with, the vocab notes were all exactly one page out of sequence, which became extremely irritating. The story is a melancholy and ironic perspective of a young man who has little faith in Spanish society or his parents generation. I didn't really take to it, although the language was satisfyingly difficult, and I learned a lot of vocab. 6/10
Level C
Cuentos - Ignacio Aldecoa
I get the impression that Aldecoa is a big name in Spanish fiction of the 20th century. These stories are acutely observed vignettes about life in the lower classes in Spain. They are slow and lyrical, and nothing much happens, but the poetic beauty of the language is evident, and the stories have a touching truthfulness about them. The one about the old man whose dog gets run over made my cry over my cappuccino. I've ruined that one for you. 8/10
El Conde Lucanor - Don Juan Manuel
Another highlight of the series, and another classic from the 14th Century, no less. The Count Lucanor asks his advisor, Patronio for advice to help him govern, and the wise advisor gives him guidance, in 10 stories, each of which points a moral. The stories are great in themselves - like Aesop or La Fontaine, but with a more human and humorous touch. You get hooked after two or three, and wish there were a lot more. Another to come back to 10/10.
Papel Mojado - Juan Jose Millais
A detective story with a difference. A man's friend is murdered, so he decides to track down the killer in order to help himself finish the novel he always wanted to write. He finishes the novel, and finds the killer, but neither is what he, or the reader, expects. The tone of the book is deeply cynical, and darkly humorous, and the author likes to play tricks on you, but with your Spanish at level C, you can cope with that, can't you? 8/10
Las Hermanas Coloradas - Francisco Garcia Pavon
Hooray, it's the return of Plinio, everyone's favourite Spanish detective. Here, he comes to Madrid to investigate the disappearance of the crimson twins. It's standard police procedural stuff, but then I love standard police procedural. This is a bit like Maigret in Spain, but no worse for all that. 8/10
Level D
Tres Cuentos - Luis Mateo Diez
As I write, there are only three books available in the D echelons. Perhaps few venture this far, or maybe people just go on to newspapers or whatnot. The other books available are Don Quixote parts 1 and 2, which need no introduction, and which I didn't read, and one other. This is the only D I partook in. 3 short stories (10 pages or so each) but with a lot of new vocab. Tres Cuentos is one of only two in the series which are complete works, without any adaptation for easy reading. Not surprisingly, the level jump is a bit of a jolt, but after this, you can pretty much read anything.
Level A
Las Tres de la Madrugada - Miguel Bunuel
Considering the limited vocabulary we have to work with here, Las Tres is a pretty gripping read. It all takes place on a train and the vocab is pretty essential for modern Spanish. 8/10
Los Carros Vacios - Francisco Garcia Pavon
Probably the most difficult in the A series that I read. A murder mystery introducing the character of Police chief Plinio, who pops up in a couple more books in the series. Recommended 9/10
Marcelino Pan y Vino - Jose Maria Sanchez Silva
A bizarre and probably touching religious story about a boy who keeps a statue of Jesus in the attic that he talks to. Bizarrely, it also talks to him. It's a bit boring, and my Spanish was so bad, I wasn't sure if I was reading it right or it was supernatural. 6/10
Level B
Lista de Locos y otros alfabetos - Bernardo Atxaga
A series of surreal stories based on letters of the alphabet by a Basque writer. I have to admit, I found this a grind. The language is a lot harder than the A books, and the subject is random. At one point, the author has a debate and watches a football match with the letters of the alphabet. At least I think that's what was happening. I certainly learned a lot from reading this, and it was probably the most difficult 'B', so you should read it last, not first. 6/10
Las inquietudes de Shanti Andia - Pio Baroja
This was probably my favourite book of the whole series. It is the story of a boy who grows up to be a ships captain, and the adventures he encounters on his travels, and back at home. Even in this easy reader, bowdlerised version, the writing was lyrical, impressionistic, and the story was very exciting. I fully intend to read the original one of these days. 10/10
Amnesia - Fernando Lalana
From the sublime to the ridiculous. After reading this I wish I had amnesia. For a start the language in this book is so simple it really ought to be in the A section. Secondly, the plot is so far-fetched, it makes most Hollywood blockbusters seem like a Ken Loach film. It's something about a secret agent losing his memory and then meeting a girl and then... oh, you can make up the rest yourself. 3/10
Lazarillo de Tormes - Anon
This is one of those really old Spanish classics that has been adapted for the series. It's the story of a young man and his apprenticeship to a succession of awful, awful masters, the things they do to him, and the tricks which young Lazarillo learns to cope with them. The stories are ironically written, and full of bawdy, cruel humour. Somewhat old fashioned vocab. Recommended 9/10
Raro - Benjamin Prado
Raro means 'strange', and this book is a bit. Another tough one - or maybe it's modern literature that I'm struggling with. To start with, the vocab notes were all exactly one page out of sequence, which became extremely irritating. The story is a melancholy and ironic perspective of a young man who has little faith in Spanish society or his parents generation. I didn't really take to it, although the language was satisfyingly difficult, and I learned a lot of vocab. 6/10
Level C
Cuentos - Ignacio Aldecoa
I get the impression that Aldecoa is a big name in Spanish fiction of the 20th century. These stories are acutely observed vignettes about life in the lower classes in Spain. They are slow and lyrical, and nothing much happens, but the poetic beauty of the language is evident, and the stories have a touching truthfulness about them. The one about the old man whose dog gets run over made my cry over my cappuccino. I've ruined that one for you. 8/10
El Conde Lucanor - Don Juan Manuel
Another highlight of the series, and another classic from the 14th Century, no less. The Count Lucanor asks his advisor, Patronio for advice to help him govern, and the wise advisor gives him guidance, in 10 stories, each of which points a moral. The stories are great in themselves - like Aesop or La Fontaine, but with a more human and humorous touch. You get hooked after two or three, and wish there were a lot more. Another to come back to 10/10.
Papel Mojado - Juan Jose Millais
A detective story with a difference. A man's friend is murdered, so he decides to track down the killer in order to help himself finish the novel he always wanted to write. He finishes the novel, and finds the killer, but neither is what he, or the reader, expects. The tone of the book is deeply cynical, and darkly humorous, and the author likes to play tricks on you, but with your Spanish at level C, you can cope with that, can't you? 8/10
Las Hermanas Coloradas - Francisco Garcia Pavon
Hooray, it's the return of Plinio, everyone's favourite Spanish detective. Here, he comes to Madrid to investigate the disappearance of the crimson twins. It's standard police procedural stuff, but then I love standard police procedural. This is a bit like Maigret in Spain, but no worse for all that. 8/10
Level D
Tres Cuentos - Luis Mateo Diez
As I write, there are only three books available in the D echelons. Perhaps few venture this far, or maybe people just go on to newspapers or whatnot. The other books available are Don Quixote parts 1 and 2, which need no introduction, and which I didn't read, and one other. This is the only D I partook in. 3 short stories (10 pages or so each) but with a lot of new vocab. Tres Cuentos is one of only two in the series which are complete works, without any adaptation for easy reading. Not surprisingly, the level jump is a bit of a jolt, but after this, you can pretty much read anything.
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