¡Hola chicos/as! The world has been under lockdown for what feels like a very, very long time now, and some of us are starting to run out of activities to do whilst we are stuck at home. Banana bread? Done. Home workout? Done. Sourdough starter? Done. So what next?! Luckily, our Quarantine Book and Film Club is back with two new literature and cinema recommendations to keep you entertained and help you improve your Spanish!

Book: Relato de un náufrago (The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor)

Up first is this week’s book recommendation, Gabriel García Márquez‘s short novel Relato de un náufrago (or, using the full title, Relato de un náufrago que estuvo diez días a la deriva en una balsa sin comer ni beber, que fue proclamado héroe de la patria, besado por las reinas de la belleza y hecho rico por la publicidad, y luego aborrecido por el gobierno y olvidado para siempre).

Synopsis:

The story, based on a real-life event, is written in the first person from the perspective of a 20-year-old sailor who was shipwrecked for 10 days on the Caribbean, alone in a life raft, trying to survive the vast ocean. Márquez retells the survivor’s amazing tale of endurance, from his loneliness and thirst to his determination to survive.

Level: Intermediate

You can find a free online version of the book here.

Film: Ocho apellidos vascos (Spanish Affair)

Ocho apellidos vascos (2014) is Spanish comedy film directed by Emilio Martínez-Lázaro. It is the second biggest box office hit ever in Spain, behind Avatar. The film is a light-hearted romantic comedy based on the stereotype that people from the southern city of Seville are outgoing, quick-witted, sociable and wear hair gel – none of which applies to the grumpy, defensive and fiercely nationalistic Basques, from northern Spain. Full of local references, it will make you discover the wonderful cultural diversity of Spain.

Synopsis:

Infatuated with a young Basque woman, Rafa, an Andalusian man who has never left Seville, follows her into the north and ends up pretending to be Basque himself.

Trailer:

The film is available on Netflix.

We hope you’ll enjoy this week’s recommendations – feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you thought! And, if you’re looking for more fun activities to help you practice your Spanish, socialise and have fun, don’t forget that our online social activities are free for all our students enrolled on a course. Puzzles, quiz nights, cooking classes… You can find all of this (and much more!) at www.letslearnspanish.co.uk.

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