china_cat

I love reading fiction set in the place I'm traveling to. I'm already working in Robert Hugh's nonfiction, history book "Barcelona". So can anyone recommend some good fiction? I like atmospheric mysteries, historical fiction, or anything. a readable biography or memoir would also be good.

inspiredexplorer

One of the most famous novels set in Barcelona is "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Will definitely check you boxes in terms of atmospheric mystery and historical fiction (set in the 1920s/30s). Recommended!

ribeirasacra

http://www.dccomics.com/comics/batma...agons-knight-1

IMDonehere

I purchased The Shadow of the Wind and my version started on page 26 in the middle of a word. There was no frontispiece or copyright. Since I was unfamiliar with Ruiz Zafon I thought it could have been experimental or absurdist.

It was a production mistake which they exchanged at the bookstore.

Robert2533

Watch Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona".

Christina

It's a bit dated, but I loved the movie Barcelona, it's hysterical and has a lot more of the city than Woody Allen's film https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona_(film)

Here is a list of some good books set in Barcelona, a few fiction
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...celona-burgess

Here are some memoirs I ran across when looking for the same thing
http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Voices-S...s=lucia+graves

I want to get that one, she is the daughter of the poet, Robert Graves.

I did read the autobiography of Pablo Casals, as he was born there and lived there started his career there. He ended up in Puerto Rico, of course, but his autobiography had a lot about Barcelona and Spain under Franco. But I'm very interested in classical music and know Casal's work, if you weren't, you probably wouldn't be so interested in that book. http://www.amazon.com/Joys-Sorrows-R.../dp/0671204858

kimhe

Carlos Ruiz Zafon's trilogy, spanning much of 20th century Barcelona. Rare examples of high quality best-sellers.
"Shadow of the Wind": http://www.carlosruizzafon.co.uk/the...w-of-the-wind/
"The Angel's game": http://www.carlosruizzafon.co.uk/the...e-angels-game/
"Prisoner of heaven": http://www.carlosruizzafon.co.uk/the...ner-of-heaven/

Eduardo Mendoza's: "The city of marvels": http://articles.latimes.com/1989-01-...duardo-mendoza

Ildefonso Falcones one-dimensional best-seller "Cathedral of the Sea". http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...or-810752.html
Perhaps just go see the church: http://www.santamariadelmarbarcelona.org/home/

And of course Manuel Vázquez Montalbán's legndary 15 Barcelona crime novels, "the most widely read record of Barcelona's transformation from seedy port to tourist metropolis": http://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/may/18/crimebooks

And when we are into Javier Bardem (Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona), I would also include Bardem in he far less glamorous Barcelona tale "Biutiful", directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman): http://www.biutiful-themovie.com/

kelsey22

bm

rialtogrl

Here's another one - The Spanish Bow, which was "inspired" by the life of Pablo Casals.

http://www.harcourtbooks.com/SpanishBow/default.asp

"Biutiful" is brilliant but it is not exactly uplifting. Watch it for Javier Bardem's performance more than pretty shots of Barcelona. He will break your heart.

BigRuss

<<Will definitely check you boxes in terms of atmospheric mystery and historical fiction (set in the 1920s/30s).>>

Uh, considering that the main villain is a Francoist rooting out enemies of the Franco regime, The Shadow of the Wind is NOT set in the '20s and '30s. Flashbacks, maybe, but not the story itself.

inspiredexplorer

Thanks, BigRuss, I should have clarified that most of the mysterious parts are set in the past pre and during Civil War, and the present is under the Franco regime in Barcelona.

china_cat

I clearly have to get Shadow of the Wind. There are some other great ideas here too, thanks.

Unfortunately, I really hate Woody Allen movies, so I'm not sure I can handle Vicky Christina Barcelona. But I may check out Christina's recommendation of Barcelona. Amazon seems to have that available for rent.

Batman in Barcelona...that wins for most unexpected recommendation

Thanks very much. Any more suggestions would be most welcome.

emily71

Yes, La sombra del viento is a wonderful book even if you aren't going to Madrid. The Guardian newspaper also had some recommendations for books about Barcelona.

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...celona-burgess

IMDonehere

Not that anyone asked, But Ben Lerner's highly acclaimed Leaving the Atocha Station is an annoying, unfunny, self-indulgent, piece of solipsistic pretense.

Besides that I highly recommend it.

kimhe

"La sombra del viento is a wonderful book even if you aren't going to Madrid".

La Sombra del Viento is set in Barcelona.

And for anyone going to Madrid, I second IMDonehere's suggestion of Ben Lerner's "annoying, unfunny, self-indulgent" and highly acclaimed Leaving the Atocha Station. Among other things, some powerful parts about Madrid around the 11-M terrorist bombings on the Atocha station in 2004.

nanabee

China cat, I'm not a Woody Allen movie fan particularly either but Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona is really outstanding. I loved it. You might try it if for nothing else the great shots of the city.

I also loved Shadow of the Wind by Zafon.

immimi

China Cat - I'm not a Woody Allen fan but CVB is well-worth watching just to catch Penelope Cruz' amazing meltdowns. Barcelona isn't too shabby either.

Christina

I've seen the Woody ALlen movie several times so know what scenes are in it. I'm not a big Woody Allen fan, actually.

emily71

"La sombra del viento is a wonderful book even if you aren't going to Madrid".

La Sombra del Viento is set in Barcelona.>>>>>

yes-massive brain fart. Now I know I'm getting to be a viejacita!

Keren

I read 3 of the books mentioned in the Guardian article: Colm Toibin's first novel, The South, Orwell and Rodoreda. All fantastic reads (very different from each other) that should not be missed.