Caray, Caray!

Sylvia: As soon as I saw the title I knew it was yours. Brillant. Your recaps are always fresh, clever and creative and this was no exception. I enjoyed every word.

"Star of the Harlot's tale", "go-to-meeting headband" and "pithed off" were only a few of my favorite lines.

I haven't kept up with the show but it seems as though these characters continue to regress (if that is truly possible). If there has been a more loathsome or pitiful bunch of characters, I can't recall.

So, I will simply thank you for starting my day off with a smile. I truly appreciate your efforts as well as those of the other recappers. While I may not be watching, I want to express kudos to all of you for your diligence and fine work.

Happy Friday!

Diana
 

Oh Sylvia...it just isn't fair that all you bright talented people have to watch and recap this dreck.

The title is great and there were so many gems scattered throughout.
"Gregorio waddles in",
"(100% empty threat)"
"couldn't understand what it was and I don't really care" and Carlos' old fave
"pithed off"

Even with your clever resumen, the whole episode sounded to me like it was disjointed, rambling and boring. I'm reading a mystery novel in Spanish and looking up vocabulary during the 8 pm hour, rather than enduring this, but all you recappers deserve high praise for hanging in there.
 

In short, the bard has left the building and I’m feeling a little surly.
----
I was out late celebrating with friends last might and have a parent conference this morning so I haven't even seen the episode. I didn't get past this line and I wanted to comment. I know this feeling well lol. Alas I will be unable to read the entire recap until after 4 today (no planning period today) but I look forward to it.

I so appreciate the work of the recapper even moreso when the recapper is stuck trying to make guacamole from the plaga infested aguacates which these episodes often are.

Later taters and Feliz Cumple Dr. Seuss!
 

Thanks as always, Sylvia. This one was a bit more dialogue-heavy than usual, and so I completely missed Renato threatening to have Tracy's family deported...then again, I have to admit I was distracted by the realization that Braulio Castillo Jr. looks exactly like a silver-haired Charlie Chaplin in this show (and now there's another character I can no longer take seriously).

Best scene of the episode: a tossup between Tony murdering the safe and the shouting match in the hospital waiting room (mainly for the "What the hell is going on?" extras stuck in the middle of it.

And on a random note: what exactly is the significance of "el Viejita," a.k.a. the ancient Chevy pickup Pedro tools around in? Is it supposed to signify his salt-of-the-earth origins and status?
 

Jijí. So many gems!

“Doc agrees to a parent/teacher conference in his office.”

“I know, I’ll kill the safe!”

“Tony is standing in the hallway talking at volume 11.”

“Geno gets a good double eye-roll in before the commercial.”

“Elvira, clad in go-to-meetin’ headband…”

“Dang, girlfriend’s face is kinda ugly when she doesn’t get her way.”

“The elevator door opens and out walks the Belt Buckle.”

“Uh oh, phonus interruptus”

“Camila’s brain speaks…trigger the kiss impulse NOW!”

That Geno can really rock the eye-roll, can't she? And I think Meester R's girlfriend is wicked funny-looking pretty much all the time, although she did carry off the canary-yellow dress at the Boredom Ball, which is hard to do.
 

For NovelaMaven, "La Plaza de Caray" is what Anita said. Go to https://plus.google.com and put La Plaza de Caray in the Search Google+ window. I believe you can use your Blogger user id and password there if needed. You'll know you're in the right place if you see the pic of Colunga & Navarro at the top left.

Now to read Sylvia's recap!
 

Holy Guacamole, one of the first things I thought when I woke up was What in the heck did I watch last night? Half the characters seem to have had personality transplants. The other half were either drugged or sleepwalking. (Except for Antonio who is under the influence of the belt buckle and must obey.)

Sara, you nailed it, making guacamole from plaga-infested aguacates. The whole episode was a weird combo of lazy writing, desultory acting, and wretched editing.

Bill, when Meester R was trying to act evil and threatening I couldn't take my eyes off his teeth. He, too is a bit of a woodchuck. It totally cracked me up. When he and Elvira start figuring each other out I expect the fur will fly.

JudyB and Diana, you two are so sweet for checking in even though you are not watching. Amigas, thanks for the moral support! JudyB, what are you reading? Is it good?

Blue Lass, I really cannot figure out the attraction between Rita and Renato. She keeps saying she could get someone else and he keeps telling her to do it, but she can't seem to pull herself away from him. He must have some mad lovemaking skillz or be some sort of svengali.

Significance of La Viejita...I dunno. It was the truck that Mariana's dad drove around and Pedro inherited it. I half wish it would go all rogue and Christine on us and begin a reign of terror, the likes of which Fresno's avocado empire has never seen.
 

Aw, Sylvia, that was really, really good. Particularly in light of how this one did hop, skip and jump, mince and slice. Editing by Ginsu knife, maybe.

Where you wrote, "la vieja then" my mind's eye saw "leviathan." Shame on me. La Vieja Elvira is not that, whatever else is true.

Sara, Blue Lass, is there a multiple word for "lounge lizard" to describe Renato? That guy gives me the creeps.

Bill, I don't know about significance or symbolism, but a 70's vintage Chevy pickup in that condition is a prize. Not mad about the color, but there's been some restoration work there.
 

Sadly, I don't know the word for "lounge lizard," but I'd be happy to make one up: how about "chupaviudas"?
 

What Blue Lass said -- as usual, clever, witty and a little wicked. A pleasure to read! Thank you, Sylvia.

Did you notice the feathers in Cami's hair? And was there a feather amidst the other crap hanging around poor Geno's neck? Methinks many of these scenes were in the can early on in the filming. (Continuity Department was let go for budgetary reasons. You can find them -- along with the disaffected writing staff -- scanning the Telemundo Help Wanteds while they wait for their unemployment benefits to kick in.)

What does it say about me that I loved seeing the Belt Buckle do battle with the safe? And Camila's throwing herself on the Piedro? (or Rocky, as I've started to think of him for his stony passivity, his intellectual level and the actor's professional future in the US.)

I revel in the drivel -- I guess I'm just easily amused.

JudyB -- What mystery novel are you reading?

BillC -- the ancient Chevy is fraught with symbolism. It belonged to Mariana's late father. It was the pick-up that saved Rocky from la migra. And it is product placement with a capital "P" -- Chevy is like a rock. And yes, I think it does underline Rocky as salt of the earth too.

Mike, thanks for the info on La Plaza. I'll give it a try.
 

NMaven, La Vieta is supposedly her own character. (Trucks are "she" right? Just like boats?) Thanks for reminding us about her role in rescuing Pedro. Also, La Vieta is like the one stable character in this whole bowl of guacamole. Maybe the lure of El Talisman is personified by La Vieta?

Scene with the Best Buckle vs the safe, wasn't it awesome? I had to do a rewind. Aaron Diaz was so into it I think he really did scare the actress who was playing the maid. The way she jumped and twitched when he yelled at her seemed oh, so real. The dude can chew up a scene with the best of them. And they way he sashayed out of the elevator belt-buckle-first, his hips must be detachable or something. Very impressive.

I liked Camila last night. First going after Pedro for the lip lock and then ambushing LooKrazia in the big house? You go girl!!

Finally, "or Rocky, as I've started to think of him for his stony passivity, his intellectual level and the actor's professional future in the US." Well said. Poor Blanca Soto was doing all the work in their kissing scene. She's really trying to make this work. Rafael Novoa...not so much as far as I can tell.
 

Sylvia,

" Also, La Vieta is like the one stable character in this whole bowl of guacamole. Maybe the lure of El Talisman is personified by La Vieta?"

Yes, es el hueso del aguacate, perhaps. (the pit -- really, the seed -- of the avocado)

Blue Lass,
Your "chupaviudas" for lounge lizard is a thing of beauty. I looked up synonyms for "vividor" and found:

aprovechado
gorrón
sablista (from sablear, to sponge off someone)
abusador
parásito
sacacuartos
frescales

I hear Tal*Mart is giving out a free tiara to the first person who spots three of these words in one episode. (But that may be only a rumor.)

Hey Sara,

"...trying to make guacamole from the plaga infested aguacates..."

Yes! As Sylvia said, you nailed it.
 

Thanks, Blue Lass! "Chupaviuda" would also work for the Gigolo vulgaris, too.
 

Sylvia, in your retelling, it almost made sense. Well, it made entertainment anyway. Great title, and lots of funnies sprinkled in. I love the repeating "¡¿Qué qué qué?!" theme. Can I get that on a t-shirt?

I think La Vieta HAS gone rogue. Look what was in front of me on my way to work this morning!

I LOVED Belt Buckle vs. Safe. That was an awesome scene. Antonio may be evil, but at least he isn't boring. Needless to say, he is my favorite character in this manicomio and I'm rooting for him to throw over BadDad.
 

Thanks for the recap, Cap'n! Most excellent. Not to mention, the title made me choke and laugh in my coffee haha. :)

Was it just me, or did Tony (a.k.a. Belt Buckle) seem to be reliving a past life where he was a matador last night? Especially when he pulled that gun on the maid -- butt cheeks in, leading by the pelvis/buckle, back smartly arched, a smart pause in each step... all he needed was a red cape thrown over his shooting arm and a snorting bull in place of said maid. Dude really believes in punctuating his melodramatics with a flourish, eh? Hm. Okay.

Cami honey, if you lay a smoldering lip-lock like that on a guy and he's still gotta go rescue some LOOny dame, just give it on up and run -- don't walk -- to the nearest exit. Girl, it ain't happening. That look you gave Pedroooo, though, made me think you were going to give him a shot to the jugular.

Elvira, clad in go-to-meetin’ headband... LMAO

It was probably because of the results of her face-wallopin', but when LOO threw that smug smile while traipsing upstairs with Pedrooooo, I was strangely reminded of Jack Nicholson as the Joker. "Wait'll they get a load a'meeeeeee....."

Cami and LOO in the Big House. DOH!

Sylvia, thanks again for the terrific witty-isms, hilarious insight, and all around tele-goodness. *applause, applause*
 

I just watched the very first episode of this tn and didn't like it, but all of you recappers are fantastic on this tn. I read your recaps every day and they make me laugh so much.

About the feather thing. Believe it or not, the feather thing is very in right now. My daughter is 24 and all her friends are wearing it. She has a necklace of a metal feather with faux diamonds running down the middle with earrings to match.lol. Also the hair ornaments like all of you describe on here. lol.
 

And lawd, were you right about the weird editing and disjointedness.

When LOO suddenly strolled through the doctor's office in her short gown, I was like "What the que???"
 

Sylvia and NovelaMaven...I blush to admit that it's a Spanish translation of a Swedish murder mystery. Nadie lo conoce by Mari Jungstedt.

My buddies Cheryl and Carlos would never read something like that. They'd always go to an authentic Hispanic author, but I cheat because I'm better off with a writer I know I'll like, so for now I'm sticking to translations of mystery writers who amuse me. No Merit Scholar yo, but I'm making headway nonetheless. And have learned some interesting words for the topography in Sweden and Gotland!
 

Sylvia: This is absolutely priceless--I'm glad Will and Doris took the night off. I wouldn't have missed this recap for anything.

Shades of the Shootout at Alcatrash Corral. Best scene of the evening. Stupidist scene of the evening, Tony chasing Alberta around the office waving his gun (the metal one, not the other one).

Speaking of continuity. Lookymee's face looked pretty good Tuesday in a scene in the middle, while at the end she was pretty banged up again.

Didn't Lookymeecrazy mention (to herself) that she had to do a self-face-rearrangement before Cabeza de Piedro came to pick her up? The make-up from Tuesday must have been wearing off.

As to the azure blue Corvette. Either our little all-gone-mushy Tracy didn't really have much money stashed, or The Only Car Rental Co. in Fresno has everyone by the short hairs.

I thought (before the Ballo Sin Mascara) Ren had put a deposit on the 'vette, but when he said (either to himself or Rita) that he didn't have enough money to rent it for a second day, that it must have been a rental. Maybe renting the tux took the rest of his unearned earnings.

New Theme to explore:

JUST SAYIN’ IT IN LATIN,
--Phonus Interruptus
--Gigolo vulgaris

Loungelizard vocab:

Gorrón was definitely new to me, since a gorro is a cap. My does gorrón have a lot of interesting other definitions--
*round, smooth pebble
*spindle
*pivot of a gate or door
*UNHEALTHY SILKWORM

The next entry--gorrona means...ta.da...PROSTITUTA
Anita
 

Julia, your new picture is A Thing of Rare Beauty, and almost sixty years old.
 

Oh, yeah, and that scene of Elvira trying to stiff the cabbie was about as trashy as anything we've seen so far. Oh, Julieta Rosen, how far you've fallen since CME.
 

Mike, my parents had an old Chevy truck similar to that when I was little, although I don't think it was quite that old and it wasn't so beautifully restored. Same color, though!

Evilra is a real piece of work. I'm waiting for Camila to tell her to get a job if she wants money.
 

JudyB,

"My buddies Cheryl and Carlos would never read something like that. They'd always go to an authentic Hispanic author, but I cheat because I'm better off with a writer I know I'll like, so for now I'm sticking to translations of mystery writers who amuse me."

I get it. I know how much it hurts to fall off the high horse of cultural authenticity. Even if you're wearing padding and a helmet.

Right now I'm trying to fan the dying embers of my 'it wasn't all that great to begin with' French. I was in a second-hand librería while visiting my kids and was thrilled to find these bargains: "La Meurtrière", a translation of "Innocent Blood" by P.D. James, one of my faves; and a volume of three short novels by French icon, Hervé Bazin. Both are sitting on my coffee table. I'm up to p218 of "La Meurtière" and p.13 of Bazin (which I'll have to start over because I won't remember what I have already read.) Ouch. That smarts.

Besides, those of us who are watching this particular show and WRITING ABOUT IT (!!!!) are in no position to judge other people's taste.
 

Oh and Mari Jungstedt sounds interesting. Maybe I'll look for the French translation. :)
 

Thanks for another of your hilarious recaps, Sylvia. Your title is priceless.

"As Pedro escorts LooKrazia upstairs she turns around and smiles very sweetly and triumphantly at Auntie."

My favorite scene of the night.

I can't believe that last night I found myself longing for the good old days of ruthless unprincipled unethical telenovela doctors. I guess this reflects the differences in the medical educations offered in Mexico and here. Mexico turns out crooks and here we turn out idiots...

Heyyy... wait just a minute... I went to medical school here...

Judy, the first full length book I read in Spanish was a translation of The DaVinci Code... fun, but not something I generally brag about.

I loved the murder of the wall safe. I'm surprised there weren't a few ricochets.

Carlos
 

BINGO GAME
How goes the Bingo game? No self-declared winners yet.

For me there haven't been enough a) hospitalization of galán; b) kissing on beach (or in water); c) automobile accident; d) coma; e) need for blood donor; f) galán believes he has been intimate with villainess (somehow, I think this one is COMING SOON to an Episode Near YOU); g) faked pregnancy (will follow f) SEE above); h) fall down stairs (will follow g) SEE above).

There have just been too many Sueltames, and No Puede Sers for my card to fill up.
Anita
 

NovelaMaven...a fun way to get back into French is to read L'Élégance du Herisson by Muriel Barbery. It's a great read.

Carlos, I'm such a sludge that I WOULD brag about reading the Da Vinci Code in a foreign language. Heck, it ain't easy learning a new lingo.

I've got a lot of bright friends here in Columbus but none are reading fluently in a foreign language, regardless of the material.

So whilst I blush in this rarefied group, I'm kind of cocky otherwise.
 

I need some good-guy hospitalizations and pregnancies for my Bingo card. I'm playing #5.

I read all the Harry Potter books in Spanish. I'm trying to read El Conde de Monte Cristo but it's slow going...dude is still stuck in the Chateau d'If.
 

Sylvia:

A surly Cap'n is a fine Cap'n is all I have go to say. Thank you so much for this fine recap of yet another boring episode. i love that you used the "Kelly outline". I plan on using it myself,next time.

Sylvia, these two sentences back-to-back are ab fab, "She calls the hunky policia over to watch her back as she gives Tony the stink eye. Gagorio waddles in and he gets in Tony’s face saying if it weren’t for Doris and Panchito he’d still be stuck in jail."

The TN may suck, dear Capitan, but your surly work is awfully good.

More recappers gold in them thar hills,

"Cejijunto (Unibrow)
Gagorio waddles into LooKrazy’s hospital room to bleat that he got his fat a** thrown in jail and she put him there!"

I can just picture a fat ol'ram at the hospital in that word picture.I also love the device of "Conversation Spread Out over Several Scenes". Way to edit and tell the story without endless repetition! Perhaps your mad skilz are just more evident when there is nothing to work with.

Finally, Que, Que, Que? What did I say? And NM just thought I was indulging in a girl-crush on the lovely Genoveva!

"At first I thought Camila was talking to some guy but it’s Geno decked out in her stylish man-wear. I wonder what she did to pith off the wardrobe staff?"

They ARE dressing her as a pretty boy/girl. Now she is my favorite couple. Jajajaja...

Geno asks Cami if she ever actually asked Pedro about the details of when he was accused of Mariana’s murder. Uh, No.

Finally, why does Camila do a kiss takedown of Pedro every time they suck face? Perhaps it's her ag background. She goes after him with the energy of an entomologist pinning a slippery bug to a specimen board. A little seduction might be in order here with the big Pedro lug.

Thanks again, amiga, for this entertaining lunchtime read.

ElnaJune
 

Sylvia - You sure do our Talismaniacs Raisin' Hell Club proud! Others have gotten in here before me with their favorite lines, but I wanted to point out the funny "chapter" titles:
I Hate Yous
Crazy Evil Scheme #1
Cejijunto (unibrow)
Obey the Belt Buckle
I Don't Trust Yous!
Smirk
Sacadineros (scams)
Crazy Evil Scheme #2
En la inopia (clueless)
Drat!

Thanks so much for your hard work and super charged brain!

I thought it was sad that Gag didn't have any compassion for his daughter's face. Any other dad would have been horrified and heart-broken to see his daughter banged up like that.

Aaron Diaz really did some good acting this episode. I love Stephe's comparison to a matador. lol. I liked when he tapped Horis' forehead with the envelope then did that almost kiss before sashaying out.

Mike - I like your "lounge lizard" call on Renato. So fitting. I bet he even wears a Christopher Walken SNL-like bathrobe.

Although I was happy to see Camila in the bedroom there at the end, I am a little tired of her lunging at Pedro with a kiss. I loved Jim walking up to Pam for their first kiss, and when Ben Stiller walked up to kiss Cameron Diaz in There's Something About Mary, but I just ain't feelin' it here.

Last night my daughter and I were watching the Utes play Oregon State on tv, and the OSU dance team came out at halftime wearing short short cutoffs with pockets hanging out! I told my daughter that "my study group" spent days hashing over Slutcrecia's same shorts. My daughter said "What DON'T you guys talk about?" lol lol

Did anyone else notice how Slutcrecia walked on tippy toes in the drs office? Yes, high heels make a woman's legs look prettier, but if you aren't wearing shoes, don't go for that look.

Her look back to Tia while going up the stairs was awesome!

Thanks, Sylvia. You are my reason for saying TGIF!

Rosemary la Otra
 

Judy B., Novela Maven, Carlos and Julia:

Carlos got me started on 'Tres Picos' several years ago. Then I went on a Perez Reverte kick because I has already read to Capitan Alatriste novels in English, so they were easier than starting from scratch. Julia, you are not going to believe this but I am currently slogging through, "El Conde de Monte Cristo".

I was inspired to try to read "El Conde" by the new American series, "Revenge", which my sister adores. Until I started wading through the novel I had forgotten how LONG and repetitive the story is. (Yep, I know, I just dangled a participle).

Good heavens, I can keep up with my English grammar let alone the Spanish!

EJ

EJ
 

Estoy celosa hearing about the books you guys are reading! I am still trying to get through Ramona the Pest. Seriously.

Julia, my Spanish teacher, says the Harry Potter ones are so good for really getting the preterito down as it is all written in past tense. It took me WEEKS to get to page 7, so that's why I went to something easier, like my Ramona la Chinche, and I've been on it for months now. Sigh.
 

EJ,

"They ARE dressing her as a pretty boy/girl. Now she is my favorite couple. Jajajaja..."

Maybe Mick and Bianca in better days? (Earlier someone noted a resemblance to Bianca Jagger.) Androgyne, hermaphrodite -- you decide. At least when it comes to Geno, we're fairly certain of species -- which is more than we can say of certain other characters. (Ears burning, marmota?)

JudyB,
Sara isn't the only one who follows people's advice here. (It's just I have better taste in choosing whose advice to follow.) A ver, sin rodeos -- I just ordered my copy of L'Élegance du Herisson. Thanks for the tip!
 

I bought a copy of El Conde years ago but hardly ever got any reading done in it because it was SO big and heavy. I wasn't about to tote it on the bus. My mom gave me a Nook last Christmas so I downloaded it, thinking I would finally read it, but I keep getting distracted by other reading. Right now I'm reading Moloka'i, a novel about a girl sent to the leper colony a century ago (reading in English). It's pretty good. But now I want to get the Ramona books in Spanish, so El Conde may have to chill in the dungeon awhile longer. Monte Cristo is actually one of my favorite books, but I've read it a few times in English so I'm not compelled to keep reading to find out what happens. I want to read "Tres Picos"...maybe I'll get that next.

Why is Pedro so unresponsive when Camila kisses him? It's odd. Maybe he doesn't like being lunged at.
 

OK, R la O:
Harry Potter in Spanish for me. There are tons of irregular preterite verbs I still have to look up. I am headed to Amazon right now. Of course that is just an excuse for my ADD/hyperfocus brain to glom onto some new thing.

Big, grin and thanks for sharing.

EJ
 

lol Julia - I don't suppose you mean the Beverly Cleary Ramona books, like I'm reading?
 

Of course; I was inspired by your mention of Ramona la Chinche.
 

You are welcome, EJ!

Now I want to re-read Ramona in English. I loved that book. For years I was going to name my son Alessandro. I guess I forgot to do that. Maybe my next pet?
 

Rosemary la O, yes, Renato is much like "The Continental" that Christopher Walken channeled on SNL. I remember my mother talking about The Continental's show from the early days of TV with his opening comment, Don't be afraid, my darling. You are in a man's apartment.

Strong vin is recommended to go with this cheese.
 

Yay, Julia! We can start a Ramona book club! Just give me a few more months to finish it.
 

There's tons of free stuff online. Here's a site with cuentos, many in the original Spanish, others translated into Spanish.

http://www.ciudadseva.com/bibcuent.htm

Personally, I love short stories or books with discrete chapters when I'm reading a foreign language. Tomes are daunting.

Poll/encuesta: Click your mouse if you move your lips while reading Spanish. Double-click if you actually read aloud in public.
 

I've been thinking I should read more in Spanish to work on my grammar. I got El León, La Bruja y El Ropero (The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe) from interlibrary loan, but I just couldn't get into it. I'm really only interested in dialogue, not description -- I guess it's back to García Lorca.

I've never been able to read entire books in French, but if you like quirky European murder mysteries, NM, I'd recommend Fred Vargas' Inspector Adamsberg series. I read them in English, but I'm sure she's just as fascinating in French. (Fred is a girl.)
 

I am home again and, Sylvia, this recap is wonderful. Everyone has already mentioned all of my favorite lines. I guess that's the risk of waiting so long to comment.

Please, for the love, never use Gag and parent/teacher conference in the same phrase. Horrors!! *shudders* ;-)

Truly that is a scary thought.

I'm almost afraid to watch the episode, but I really want to see Tony shoot the safe.

I'm going to go back now and read comments more thoroughly, but I noticed everyone talking about their reading habits. Surely we all know that I *have* to add my two cents. (I'm like that geek that desperately wants to be part of the group lol)

I kind of like "trash" in English. I don't really want to tax myself when I read. So I tend to make the same sort of choices in Spanish. Trashy Harlequin Romance mainly.

I remember having to read El Reino de Este Mundo and El Túnel in college...but the memory is hazy and I can't remember anything else I had to read.

Como Agua Para Chocolate is a great read and I highly recommend it. It's not that difficult.

I just finished "Hablando Bien Se Entiende La Gente". It's an entertaining little guide for native speakers encouraging them to use the language correctly (mainly aimed at eradicating "Englishisms.") It's published by the Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Espanola. It is not difficult to read, either. I recommend this one, too.

I've got the first Harry Potter in Spanish. I will have to read it. I've been teaching Spanish I for so long I think I've forgotten some more "advanced" concepts...like preterit. lol

And finally I leave you with this compound:

tontiloco: adj. foolish; harebrained. But RAE has the best definition "tonto alocado"

Surely LOO is tontiloca?
 

Thanks, Blue Lass. Fred is now on my wish list. (I have to BUY foreign language books because I can never finish them in time to get them back to the library. Besides, I like to feel free to scribble in them.)

Speaking of quirky European crime novels, if you haven't read Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti series, you might want to give it a try. These are short, and snappy, always intelligent novels. Leon writes in English but the stories are set in Italy, almost always in Venice. (I've been in love with Brunetti for years. What's that you say? He's just a fictional character? Pshaw.)
 

After reading that comment... I am not a native speaker, I just happened to read the book.
 

Can any of you think of the easiest adult book you've read in Spanish? Would Como Agua Para Chocolate be easy enough for me, Sara? I don't know how to rank my level. I can read/understand about 80% of our cc's. But, if it weren't in context it would probably go down to 50%.

Ah, one of my word verifications is cherib.
 

"Of course that is just an excuse for my ADD/hyperfocus brain to glom onto some new thing."
---
Oh, I feel the same! "Glom" is the perfect way to describe it!

*Sara places Moloka'i on her Amazon wishlist in addition to placing Ramona La Chinche in her cart along with Capitan Alatriste.*

In addition to the other books I previously mentioned: Jorge Ramos has written several books about Immigrant issues that are fairly easy reads: La Ola Latina, La Otra Cara de America, Tierra de Todos. (Note: I am recommending these because of the ease of the Spanish. I don't mean to make any political statement by mentioning these books.)

And finally, my copy of Mr. Butt's "A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish" arrived today (Amazon Prime member means free overnight shipping!.) Squee!
 

R la O-Go for it and give Como Agua Para Chocolate a try. If you feel it is difficult try something else. As I just mentioned: Jorge Ramos is pretty easy, too.

I do seem to remember in Como Agua Para Chocolate there being some "Mexicanisms" and I had to look up a lot of the ingredients. Wordreference.com was great though because most of the time when a phrase tripped me up, someone had already asked it on the forums and I was able to quickly find the info I needed.
 

R la O, I think Gabriel García Márquez reads very easily in Spanish. I wouldn't start with Cien Años de Soledad, though -- one of the short ones, like Crónica de una Muerte Anunciada (loved that one) or El Colonel No Tiene Quien Le Escribe. And I wasn't kidding about Lorca -- beautiful, beautiful Spanish, if a little old-fashioned.

BTW, we are one square away from Bingo in several directions on card #8. ;}
 

NM:

I adore Brunetti as well. But—we might have to arm wrestle Paola for Guido? Huh? You say that Paola is an Venetian Countess and a Profesora?

I am headed to the gym and hairdresser, right now.

EJ
 

Blue Lass:

Verde, Verde, Verde...I adore Garcia Lorca. I guess you could call me a Lorca fangirl. His were the first poems I memorized in Spanish. Sigh.

Stainton's "Lorca, A Dream of Life" is a fine biography. I also had a chance to see the WONDERFUL Nilo Cruz play, "Lorca in a Green Dress" at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.



EJ
 

EJ, Guido would never be unfaithful to Paola -- that's one of his greatest charms. Lo nuestro es un amor imposible, caray. Well for that and for the fact that he doesn't exist. :)

R la O and Blue Lass,
I'm not so sure about García Márquez. Even native speakers have trouble with the vocabulary in his work. There are lots of regionalisms to trip over when you are still working on getting the basics.

What about "Cuentos de Eva Luna" by the Chilean Isabel Allende. These are jewels, really. Here's the first line of one little tale, "Ester Lucero":

Le llevaron a Ester Lucero en una improvisada camilla, desangrándose como un buey, con sus ojos oscuros abiertos de terror. Al verla, el doctor Angel Sánchez perdió por primera vez su calma proverbial ...

You can decide if it's comfortable for you.
 

Really enjoyed the book discussion and mystery recommendations, guys. And Rosemary la Otra, I cut my español teeth on Ramona books and some other children's books for the elementary school set. It's the best way to start.

Off to read now because I'm finding Familia unbearable these days and much as I enjoy these recaps, ditto for your show.
 

Just watched the final episode of LHdM. Wow, I'm really going to miss that show.

Enjoyed reading the comments about discovering Spanish literature. I'm not ashamed to admit that I've read a fair amount of very good and very varied Spanish literature.

A very good contemporary book that I can heartily recommend is La Sombra del Viento by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It is a mystery set in Barcelona and one of the main characters is a library known as el Cementerio del Libros Olvidados. It was a book that was difficult to put down and I mourned when it ended.

I found it to be fairly easy reading after getting familiar and comfortable with the author's style and vocabulary. I think an English translation of this book was a best-seller here in the US.

Carlos
 

OK -- hittin' the Lorca tonight. Jealous of your trip to Ashland, EJ!

NM, I think I probably just glided right over those regionalisms -- for me it's all about the plot and dialogue (although I do appreciate a nice turn of phrase.)

Carlos, I bought The Shadow of the Wind in the airport on the way to a library conference, and I walked around hugging it to my chest for four days. It was mesmerizing. There's a sort-of sequel (prequel?) out now -- The Angel's Game -- not as good, but still pretty atmospheric. And with Barcelona, as with Venice, you can't really go wrong.
 

Blue Lass, doña Adriana (my beloved tutor) and I spent several months on Lorca. We read and discussed a great deal of his poetry (my favorite, Romance Sonámbulo) as well as his famous (and depressing) trilogy of plays. I was happier while we were reading and discussing works of Gabriel Garcia Márquez.

I also have read Juego del Angél which I enjoyed but not nearly so much as La Sombra del Viento which was truly magical for me.

Carlos
 

Thanks for all the book suggestions, Talismaniacs!

Blue Lass - we are waiting for "Main Couple Break Up" for our BINGO, right? The way they are so off and on may make it hard for us to decide what is actually a "break-up".
 

Hey all, so sorry to disappear on y'all today. Family emergency and I had to drive to my cousin's about 4 hours away. I borrowed a laptop for a few minutes so I could check in.

I love the conversation about some good recommendations to read in Spanish. I'm so embarrassed I haven't read anything notable in Spanish. But I'm inspired now by all of you.

Novela Maven, good luck with your recap tonight. I'll read the comments and check back in with y'all in a day or two.
 

I hope things are ok.
 

Am just now seeing your comment about Slutcretia, Rosemary. LOL! Yeah, I noticed her on her tippy toes in the doc's office, slinking about in her invisible stiletto pumps. Hahaha

(Cap'n Sylvia, just wanted to say I hope things are all right.)
 

R la O, we'll have Bingo in R5 with "Main Couple Break Up" -- but as you say, how can we tell? I think we may already have it in R3, though, if we've got "Te Amo Tanto." Otherwise, we're one square away in either 3 or 5 directions, depending on whether or not the doctor told Pedro that Mariana could die.

Not that I'm obsessing or anything.
 

http://www.americareadsspanish.org/

Just discovered this site. In all likelihood this is old news format of you. I'm always behind the times. :)
 

That should read "for most of you". Pardon my spellcheck.
 

Sylvia - Best wishes.

Thanks for that link, Sara! I will look it up this afternoon.

Blue Lass - I do see "Te Amo Tanto" and Automobile Accident as giving us the win. Let's hope it is not an accident with F1 or F2.
 

Let's hope it's NOT...? Oh, right, of course: it would be unspeakably tragic if their young lives were curtailed before they had a chance to say anything interesting.
 

Lmao Blue Lass!

If there is a Bingo winner declared will there be a second round? I haven't been playing but like the pesky little sister I want to play with the big girls now. Lol. Or is it to late to just pick a card and start playing?
 

I think we could start over new with Bingo -- none of the old fires/comas/fistfights/etc. would count. Clean slate! What do you say?
 

Rosemary la O,

I do see "Te Amo Tanto" and Automobile Accident as giving us the win."

Since the cars and trucks are all Chevys and are given such prominence and almost character status, I think we have about as good a chance of seeing Pedro killed (hmmmm) as seeing one of those beauties wrecked.

Carlos
 

Good point, Carlos. Was the Lounge Lizard's car a Corvette? It probably has protected status, too.

I think we already have bingo on Row 3 with Gun Fired, Hiding in Closet or Bathroom, Protagonista Talks Out Loud to Self, and Fistfight -- I'm just waiting for a ruling on "Te Amo Tanto." Does it have to be an exact quote? (If so, I'll listen more carefully -- and hold out for Fake Pregnancy, which I feel sure is coming.)
 

Blue Lass Birthday Buddy - I am fine with clearing the slate, or Sara could print off any card and X out retroactively. Should we ask Julia for a ruling?

I hope Carlos is right about there not being an accident with the Product Placement. I'd hate to scream BINGO as F1 and F2 plunge off a cliff.
 

I hope Carlos is right about there not being an accident with the Product Placement. I'd hate to scream BINGO as F1 and F2 plunge off a cliff.
----
Hee hee!

I'll wait for Julia's ruling. Retroactive marking sounds good. I've only glanced at a few of the boards and can't remember their contents. There is no need to worry that I will pick a board based on what has already occurred. If it is decided I can play retroactively I publicly state now that I will use board number two.