Greetings friends of the Silver Blogger community, I am once again participating in the memoir monday , proposed by @ericvancewalton, which reaches its 40th presentation, this time with a topic that fascinates me: what was my favorite story book when I was a child?
I was about 11 years old when reading became another companion in my life. Two books marked my beginning and made me an avid reader. I must admit that I am currently more dedicated to writing, painting and movies than to books. Some themes seem like I already know them; but when I get one that captivates me, I don't let it go.
On that occasion, some Peruvians came to the school who were selling four books. This was my first debt. My parents were not upset with me, they gladly accepted and paid for these books at a modest price. I didn't get a taste for the debt, but I did get a taste for the reading.
One of these books was El Lazarillo de Tormes, by an anonymous author, although its authorship is attributed to several writers, there is nothing definitive. A Spanish book from the 16th century, which narrated the adventures of a homeless child, after his mother threw him out for not being able to support him. It really is a very extravagant and gruesome story for a girl, but somehow I had a kind of affection for that child, who kept changing masters, depending on the circumstances.
I still remember stories from the many times I read this work. Every time I was organizing my books and this one fell into my hands again, I stayed reading it, on seven occasions I read it completely again, something I don't usually do with others, even I denied rereading, now I have recognized that by rereading we get elements that we didn't see the first time.
I recently saw a survey on a social network, where they asked which book had killed our reading taste. I did not participate but I read some comments. Someone posted this book, and considered it heavy, because it was written in old Spanish, and having to read the translation seemed tiring; but that element did not bother me, I read each story with real pleasure. I remember that in fourth year I was attentive to when this topic was touched on in literature classes; but the teacher ignored it, and I never had the opportunity to talk about this work. Years later.
I studied Spanish and literature and trained as a teacher, and on many occasions I commented on stories from this book to my students, recently I did so with a grandson.
These are stories that show the sharpness and insight of a child, mixed with innocence. The character narrates in the first person the events that occur to him with analysis and reflections, developed with mischief, which sometimes moves to laughter and other times to compassion. It is a book that was banned at the time for touching on aspects that went against the church.
Nowadays, every time I see a funeral procession, I remember a part of the book where they were bringing a dead person in his coffin and the wife cried out: (paraphrased),
Oh my husband! Where are they taking you? To the dark, gloomy and sad house where no one eats, where no one sleeps.
Lazarillo, in one of his adventures with a squire, a man who lived more than appearances, and in very deplorable conditions, where he went hungry, thought that the dead man was being taken to that house and he ran back, scared, to tell the squire, he arrived shouting and closing the doors. Which caused the squire to laugh and mine too.
I realize that it was not a suitable book for me because it was about a child with anti-values, vengeful, given the circumstances and with a painful reality, but where innocence, the way of leading a life of austerity and the continuous reflections, which can be extracted from it, gave rise to a non-discriminatory reading habit that produced many of the best moments I have lived.
Thank you for your kind reading.
My content is original.
I have used Google translator.
Image designed in Canva. I do not have the book available at this time.
Hello @charjaim
This is @tengolotodo and I'm part of the Silver Bloggers’ Community Team.
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Thanks!
I do love reading what books we read in different parts of the world and in different languages!
This practice leaves us with knowledge of the experiences of other people in other parts of the world, this cultural relativism has an impact and when there are coincidences in our behaviors, it also has an impact.
This is one of the wonderful ways to have a memory of childhood brought back to us. I remembered my childhood and I smiled
Yes, it is good not to forget that part of our life where we were excited by everything we saw, and reading filled those spaces where curiosity was present.
I know that El Lazarillo de Tormes left its mark on you. I like to listen to your version and imagine the characters from your point of view. Hugs
That book filled many moments of my childhood and youth, I enjoyed it very much, just imagining Lazarillo's cunning in the face of so many things that happened to him.