Yzabelle Bostyn
EVERYONE has heard of Don Quixote, but book lovers who expand their reading lists beyond the classics will be rewarded with an indepth look at this diverse country.
That’s why the Olive Press has compiled a list of lesser-known novels that best represent each region of Spain.
From mysteries to adventures to historical fiction, there’s something for every bookworm.
Andalucia
Andalus, by Jason Webster
This book delves deep into the Moorish legacy of modern Andalucia, as the author embarks on an adventure accompanied by Zine, a Moroccan immigrant, who has recently escaped from slave labour at a fruit farm. A ‘rollercoaster’ ride through the region, it unveils Spain’s Arab ancestry evident in its food, language and culture.
Mallorca
Tuning Up at Dawn, by Tomas Graves
Capturing the joy of Mallorcan summer days full of music, it celebrates the island’s traditions to a soundtrack of international stars including Jimi Hendrix, Bob Geldof and Sinead O’Connor. Tomas Graves is the son of legendary I, Claudius writer Robert Graves, who ended up in Mallorca by a happy accident. Tomas’ love for the island shines through the pages with his delightful musical escapades.
Galicia
The Carpenter’s Pencil, by Manuel Rivas
A haunting reflection of the Spanish Civil War, The Carpenter’s Pencil sketches the destinies of a cast of unique characters caught in a national tragedy. Narrated from both sides of the conflict, the book offers an unflinching view of this complicated period of Spanish history through the eyes of the Galicians. Despite horror and hardship, the book captures the enduring tenderness of the human spirit and in 2001, it was adapted for the big screen.
Catalunya
The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruis Zafron
This magical novel will transport you to the winding streets of Barcelona’s Gothic quarter as 10-year-old Daniel uncovers the secrets of the ‘Cemetery of Lost Books’. A labyrinthine library, the boy is allowed to pick one volume from its collection of dusty novels, choosing ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ by Julian Carax. As he grows, so does a mysterious stranger´s interest in the book. Daniel must race to find the truth before it is too late under a continual backdrop of Catalan monuments and geography.
Madrid
The Hive, by Camilo Jose Cela
Banned for many years during Franco’s dictatorship, this book captures the stark reality of post Civil War Spain for Madrilenos. Featuring over 100 unique characters whose lives intertwine, the novel is a social documentary filled with violence, longing and unexpected tenderness.
Valencia
Lake of Dreams: Cañas y Barro, by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez
Set at the turn of the century, this prolific writer tells the story of a Spanish family living on the shores of the now famous Albufera lake. An honest depiction of life as a working class Spaniard among the radical changes of the industrial revolution, the novel is now considered to be one of the top 100 Spanish novels of the 20th century.
The Basque Country
Obabakoak by Bernardo Atxaga
Dubbed the Basque writer, there is no one who captures this unique region like Bernardo Atxaga. Obaba, the novel’s fictional town, represents the Basque country with its typical pelota court, fountain and church. The story is told through the peculiar tales of the town’s inhabitants, a geography teacher holding onto an old love, a boy lost in the forest, a young woman trying to get through the long winter alone. The novel has won many awards and been described as the ‘novel of the 20th century’.
Aragon
The Yellow Rain by Julio Llamarzes
High in the Spanish pyrenees, the last remaining resident of a deserted town, Ainielle, reflects on his life. Written as a monologue, Ainelle has only his words to keep him company as he conjures up ghosts of past friends and neighbours. As he reflects on the joys and tragedies of his life, Ainelle’s story is a heartbreaking tale of sorrow, solitude and memory.
Cantabria
Bueno by Christy Esmahan
After his brother dies in Northern Spain, an American headmaster decides to discover the place his brother loved for himself. Pressured to make changes to the school, he meets much resistance. Set against the mountains of Santander, this is a tale of resistance, sympathy and multiculturalism.
Extremadura
Iberia by James Michener
Any traveller to Spain would think to start their trip in the famed cities of Barcelona, Madrid or Sevilla. Not James Michener. He cared little for kings and cathedrals, searching instead for the humble shepard. In this novel he retraces the steps of conquistadors who set out from the Extremaduran towns of Trujillo and Medellin in search of the ‘new world’, returning to these sleepy, agricultural areas to find the true spirit of Spain.
