This is why I’m addicted to Juan Manuel de Prada. Yes, he’s far-far-right but his novels are not remotely political. It’s the language that I’m obsessed with. People say his writing is too ornate and yes, it very much is. But that’s why I love it.
Under the fold, I’ll place an excerpt from Prada’s novel Lucía en la noche that I’m currently reading. It’s a thinly veiled mockery of the Spanish writer Lucía Etxebarria and it’s ridiculously funny.
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I love ornate writing. It’s too bad the pernicious influence of Ernest Hemingway still looms large over American writers (I don’t hate a more “plain spoken” style but minimalism almost seems to be mandatory.)
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“sus noches de discotequeo y tortillamen”
tortillamen? I tried looking it up and couldn’t find anything. Is this some new pattern of slang or a typo?
Otherwise, very funny (if you’re not Sandra or the narrator….).
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Tortillera is a swear word for a lesbian. And amen is amen. 😆😆😆
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“Tortillera is a swear word for a lesbian”
In Spain? It would make more sense in Mexico… I learned pescadora a long time but I forget where… my Spanish slang is very deficient (partly because I haven’t committed to a single variety which makes learning/understanding slang from other types easier) so I just have randomized unsystematized bits and pieces….
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In Mexico it’s used more in the literal meaning of a woman who makes tortillas, creating lots of funny situations with visitors from Spain.
“Mi abuela fue una tortillera famosísima en toda la comarca.”
“Oiga, hombre, un poco de respeto con la señora su abuela, por favor.”
😆😆😆
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“creating lots of funny situations”
How long can speakers from different countries talk about everyday life before one uses a word that’s completely innocent in their country and obscene in their interlocutor’s? Five minutes? Two?
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There’s the famous “necesito coger una guagua” that for Cubans means “I need to take a bus” while for Argentineans …. khm khm.
Or my favorite when a Spanish professor was loudly informing us that “apenas pude coger el avión en Barajas” and an Argentinean student deadpanned, “o sea que la tiene así de larga, profe. Ya me lo figuraba.” We all collapsed.
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There is also a bit of judgement in the excerpt, but I love the style and the overall joke!
On a related note, I said to the chair that I would teach our “legacy” course on Cervantes next year. My only goal will be for students to read Don Quijote as much as they can.
Ol.
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A bit is an understatement. He despises that poor woman.
Good for you on Cervantes! Students love the novel. You are going to have a great time.
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