Title: Ms Pascual on light-hearted reading, social dynamics, and the joy of language.

Interview conducted by Adelheid Ye.

What kind of a reader would you describe yourself as?

Casual. Unfortunately I don't have time during the term but I read a lot during holidays.

What do you like to read during the holidays?

Anything that I find. I am firstly attracted by the title and then I read the synopsis and read a page in the middle of the book to see if I like the writing style.

What are some of the best books that you’ve read using this method?

“Bajo la misma estrella” by John Green - Under the Same Star/The Fault in Our Stars

Los Bajo la Misma Estrella is the Spanish-language version of the John Green YA classic “The Fault in Our Stars.” In short, it follows a teen dying from cancer who falls in love with another teen with cancer. It is both funny and sad. Reading the Spanish version of a book you are already familiar with can make the book feel less daunting and easier to follow. So it is often helpful to find translations of English-language bestsellers such as “The Fault in Our Stars” (or “The Hunger Games” and “Harry Potter,” discussed below) as a stepping stone to reading works you are less familiar with. “Bajo la misma estrella” is intended for grades seven and up. The reading level is appropriate for intermediate and advanced Spanish students, though beginning students who are familiar with the original English-language novel or movie may also be able to follow it.

“Los ojos de Carmen” by Verónica Moscoso - The Eyes of Carmen

Los ojos de Carmen is a novella intended for intermediate-level teenage Spanish students. It follows a teenager who travels to Ecuador and wants to participate in a photography contest. Because it is intended for Spanish learners, it offers fairly simple language and has an easy-to-follow plot. This makes the book ideal for anyone intimidated by longer novels. While it is intended for third-year high school students, the simple language is also approachable for beginning students.

“Marina” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón - Marina

“Marina” is a Gothic mystery set in Barcelona in 1980. A fifteen-year-old boarding school student goes to a seemingly deserted part of the city. He ultimately meets Marina, who shares his love of mysteries. Together, they go to a graveyard and witness a woman laying a rose on an unmarked grave. Trying to trace her leads them to an eerie greenhouse and eventually a number of creepy and eccentric characters. “Marina” is intended for grades eight and up, making it an ideal choice for intermediate and advanced Spanish students looking to dive into an intense teen novel. 9. “Hacia el fin del mundo: Trilogía del Malamor #1” by José Ignacio Valenzuela “Hacia el fin del mundo: Trilogía del Malamor #1” (“Towards the end of the world: Trilogy of Malamor #1”) is the first book in Valenzuela’s “Malamor” series. When a university student’s best friend goes missing, she must find her friend and uncover whether the legend of “Malamor,” a town whose residents are cursed to be forever loveless, is true. “Hacia el fin del mundo: Trilogía del Malamor #1” is great for intermediate and advanced Spanish learners.

Books I enjoy using the above method: The know by Martina Cole, Murder with a cherry on top, the unpredictable consequences of love, ....

What are these books about and why did you enjoy reading them?

I used to live in England and I enjoy reading about places there and remind myself of some of the terms/ language used there. The last 2 are romantic, light-hearted novels, predictable but I don't always want to follow complicated plots, as this is for entertainment. They are about people leaving a life in the city to move into their childhood holiday or family places and how they meet people they knew. 'The Know' is a novel I started when on holidays and i could not put it down, when back in Auckland I searched to finish it. It is about a prostitute mother of 3 children, her younger child disappears and there is a maze of people and situations that do not allow them to see who is telling the truth. it gave insight into the world of mafias, prostitution, etc. Sometimes it was hard to read.

What do you learn from reading these sometimes 'hard-to-read' books? T

The language was not difficult, it was good to learn new words and particularly slang, I was not familiar with, but I could understand in context. The content, this is the story itself, was at times upsetting. Although novels are often fiction, they also reflect reality. With these sorts of books, I learnt about the greatness of the human spirit, our ability to overcome difficulties and the social divide it exists.

What do you take from reading the same books in both Spanish and English?

I either read them in Spanish or in English but never the same book.

How do you apply the knowledge you retain in reading to everyday life?

I read mainly for entertainment; however, there is always learning in each book one reads. In my case, I learn new English words and expressions that I am not familiar with or I would not come across in my daily life. On other occasions I get 'to go' to different cities. Yet, what I really enjoy is the characters' development and the psychology behind their decisions.

Do you think that reading has helped you explore new perspectives and develop a well-rounded world view?

I would not go that far as most of what that I read is fiction, and often easy reading, this is, lighthearted inconsequential content. Having said that, authors often base their characters in real people with real lives that they dramatise to a particular effect, therefore in a way that has helped me to gain a greater understanding of cultures, people, etc.

Finally, what do you think is the most crucial ingredient to being an avid reader, and to enjoy reading?

Time. I mostly read when on holidays as during the year I am very busy with work and family. Many will think that an inquisitive mind, curiosity are necessary components and to some extent they are, but I don't always read to learn but to disconnect and without being the main focus you end up learning.