International Institute Staff Recommendations for Summer: Books and Movies

Summer vacation has always been a great time to read or watch movies and catch up on that to-do list we all have. Recommendations are a good way to guide our choices and often the best way to discover authors and works. With this in mind, we present the Institute staff's suggestions for this summer.

Andrew Bennett departs from the American literature that he knows so well, and surprises us with the proposal of a classic of Latin American literature Aunt Julia and the Scribe. He is reading and enjoying it these days because it is, in his words, "good and fun, not too heavy or complicated and very easy to read." It is a work in which Mario Vargas Llosa combines autobiographical facts with radio serials but which come together in a unique work of fiction.

Another work of fiction suggests Pilar Piñón, with the recommendation of unusual splendor, third novel by Eduardo Gallarza, Pilar's friend since university. “It is a phenomenal intrigue set in the Madrid of the eighties, which travels through different countries, including the Kingdom of Cenatara“. Nicole Rosow, bet on an icon of American literature Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance of the recently deceased Robert M. Pirsig. For Nicole, this autobiographical reflection on the values ​​of the XNUMXs still resonates today and, in fact, has recently been republished in Spanish. It is a book about a journey but also a philosophical inquiry into his own theory of the metaphysics of quality.

As for the cinema, Maria José Cotarelo is encouraged to recommend a little-known film: “Clara Campoamor: the forgotten woman”, directed by the latest generation actress, screenwriter and director Laura Mañá. It is essential to approach from fiction to the recent history of the feminist struggle in our country. For those who prefer television series, María José enthusiastically recommends the series “Treme”, created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer. Music is the true protagonist of its 36 episodes without forgetting a whole choir of different characters who, free of stereotypes, tell us what life was like in New Orleans after the passage of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

From the library, Nuria Segui recommends My name is Asher Lev. by Chaim Potok, one of the most liked books in our reading on North American literature dedicated this course to "The American Dream". Also autobiographical as Aunt Julia and the Scribe, contains an excellent description of the creation process. For her part, Ana Alonso recommends the recently published Women in science: 50 fearless pioneers who changed the world by Rachel Ignotofsky, both for children and adults. The different biographical profiles are beautifully illustrated, and bring us closer to women who are almost unknown in many cases and who in all cases deserve greater recognition. It is also an easy way to practice English and learn about science and history.

Be these or others the readings that you choose to spend the summer, from the Library of the International Institute we want you to enjoy them.