Book Description

Harry es húerfano de padre y madre y vive con sus tíos odiosos y su primo insoportable y malcriado.Por suerte Harry puede ir a un colegio especial de magia.Ágil y divertida, esta novela entretiene a grandes y chicos. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

How can you miss?
I had read the complaints about the translation, and so I didn't buy it, but it is now at our local library in Spanish! Ha! And I wondered, is my Spanish good enough to read this book? And is my Harry Potter quotient high enough to smooth that over? Will I even understand why people don't think the translation is great (since I had not seen any specific criticisms)? After reading through it (and only stumbling over what it is Mr. Dursley sells for a living -- I'll never forget "taladros" now!), I can pinpoint what I think the weaknesses are. Tiny flourishes are left out. The vocabulary used isn't as rich as the English. There are small interpretive errors (Filch is the one who says "Bien, bien, bien ..." when he catches Harry and Hermione out of bed, not Harry). But I think the Spanish language publishers did not understand how wide a target audience was available to them. It's a children's book, right? How complicated does it have to be? As the "Piedra filosofal" stands now, it's ... enchanting! I would recommend it for a classroom where students can see the use of real grammar in sentences they might actually enjoy reading or as a gift for the Pottermaniac in your home who is waiting waiting waiting for the next installment.

harry potter y la pieda philosofal
i am american.. spanish is my third language. i have actually surprisingly never read the book yet in english(i will eventually) but i read it first in german, which is also not my mother language, but i think also with some of the critics that the translator could have done a better job. the gnome thing for example...no clue how they thought that one up..and i dont know if its just me that found this to be odd...but when mcgonagall reads the names off for the sorting hat...even in the narration are the names reversed(not just the dialog)..last and then first name....is that normal in spanish?? and they could have translated some of the names..like fluffy as someone already mentioned. i think the german version overall though was more captivating...the language was more lively...for example..the part when harry and friends let norbert go at the top tower, in the text in spanish it says...se iba..se iba...se había ido....in german..fort..fort...verschwunden..the german version there made me laugh out loud....the spanish version didnt have the same feel at all......otherwise..the translation was still good enough to increase your vocab immensly if spanish is your second language..and the grammar is not near bad enough to make you pick up any bad habits or anything. its good to read harry potter as a foreign language because its not an impossible text, but yet its not really easy either.

Harry Potter y la piedra filosifal
This book was excellent. The high school I attend doesn't have any Spanish classes past Spanish IV, so I am taking and independant study AP Spanish class. I am reading this book over the summer to keep myself thinking about Spanish, and it is increasing my vocabulary greatly. I understand more words the more I read. Since it is Harry Potter, it is fun to read and is not a chore. Everyone who has ever read a Harry Potter book knows they are impossible to put down, and Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal is no exception!

The Wizard es Magico.
Since I had already read this book in English, I was bascially looking for something easy in Spanish to keep my skills up. The book follows the English version word for word. Some of the words they choose for translation I found a little odd, but all in all, es un libro que es fácil leer y usted va a gustarlo mucho. Lo recomiendo.
Oz
WizardIsland.NET

Great for non-native Spanish speakers!
I studied Spanish in high school and university. I am far from a fluent speaker, though I don't think I'd get myself killed wandering around in Mexico or Spain. Having read all of the Harry Potter books in English many times, I decided to give this a try to brush up on my Spanish skills. I am only about 50 pages into it (reading Spanish takes me a lot longer than English!) but so far I am enjoying it immensely. Of course, it helps that I know what is happening, but that has also helped me with my understanding of the Spanish. I've really enjoyed this experience. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent language practice
I'm an adult with a reasonable command of Spanish as a second language. I can read a newspaper fairly easily, and I can hold mutually interesting conversations with people, so long as their speech isn't too slangy, to regional, or too fast. I found Potter #5 in spanish translation to be an entertaining way to do some "continued reading". If you're an adult who feels sheepish about reading kid's books, trying to improve or maintain your command of Spanish, this will give you a good excuse.

There's nothing like reading a book like this to make you realize that there's many different kinds of vocabulary. Compared to say, magazines, newspapers, or more technical books, Potter #5 is chock-full of everyday dialogue, human relationships, colloquial expressions, and words having to do with emotional states, facial expressions, noises, and such. Not to mention the more specialized vocabulary, like, "spell", "dungeon", "sorting hat", or "dark arts". I certainly found a good dictionary to be useful.

Although this book is published by a press in Spain, the characters speak a Spanish closer to the Latin American than the iberian variety (e.g, the "y'all" second person plural verb inflection is not used, and "coger" is avoided). This is, I suppose, a reflection of the demographic weight of Latin America vis-a-vis Spain, and, for all I know, is standard practice in one-size-fits all translations. I suspect it is a careful translation, although my Spanish really isn't good enough to tell.

If you think that reading a translation from the English is a poor way to learn about hispanic culture, I would reply that 1) the Potter books are hugely popular in spain, 2) This is a european, not a north american book. whereas we have not a single authentic castle, Spain has hundreds of 'em. And 3) who cares, if it gets you reading spanish?

Absolutley Awesome
The Harry Potter books are so amazing even in Spanish. The translation is awesome and it's really nice for me too because i'm fluent in Spanish. It's really fun to read and i'm sure you'll enjoy it

harry potter 5
this book is 1 of the best books i have ever read. it's exciting and entertaining and it gets your imagination started. it's a great thing to read when you have nothingto do.

Absolutely Amazing and Compelling
Well when i buy the copy of the Order of the Phoenix in Spanish i was amaze about how good the translation was. This is indeed one of the best chapter of the Harry Potter saga, the story is great and the challenges, that are young Potter has to face are very compelling and indeed harsh reality that he has to fight,and i recomend this book to anyone you won't dissapointed.

Harry Potter in Spanish!
As soon as I got my copy of this book I was thrill.The translation is great and it retained the original enthuciams that the english version has.I recommed this book to anyone that knows spanish or is learning,this will be the ideal gift. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Magia para adultos
¿Quien dijo que cuando uno crece tiene que perder la magia? Una obra saga increible de historias para chicos y para adultos que conservan la magia en el corazón.

Information missing
I'm missing informations about that book In whitch language is it written ? "y el caliz de fuego" seems to be written in Spanish or Portugues ? Don't you have a short overview over this book ? I don't want to by another wrong book It's too expensive to send it back. So I dont by this book

¡muy bien!
¡Quiero Harry Potter libro numero uno!¡Me gusta muchisimo! Todos queren Harry Potter. Es fantastica.

Es realmente bueno
Siempre, a medida que avanza una saga, el tema se vuelve repetitivo, canson y aburrido. Sin embargo, este episodio es el mejor. Esta lleno de muchos sentimientos, lo que hace que sea mas interesante que los anteriores. El que espero para tenerlo en español, que no espere mas, en solo 4 dias se devora un libro del mismo tamaño que el Quijote de la Mancha!.

Excelente
Es una excelente continuación de la serie de Harry Potter, la trama es tan buena como las anteriores y la sorpresa al final del libro nos hace pedir a gritos la continuación de la serie. Ampliamente recomendado para todos los fanáticos de Harry Potter y para los no fanáticos también, pues les abrirá las puertas de este pesonaje tan fascinante ... Read more

Book Description

Harry está en su segundo año en la escuela de magia y hechicería.En este episodio Harry tiene que defender la escuela de los malvados que pretenden destruirla.Se tiene que enfrentar con arañas gigantes, serpientes encantadas y fantasmas enfurecidos. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Fascinante la serie de Libros de Harry Potter
Ahora Harry Potter se encuentra en segundo año de la escuela de Magos. Este es un libro que una vez lo comienzes a leer no podras parar como si realmente tuviera un hechizo. Ya he comenzado a leer el Prisionero de Azkaban que es el tercero de la serie y espero ansiosa que el cuarto libro salga en español. Definitivamente la narrativa es increible,la forma en que JK Rowling describe a los personajes es impresionante. Te los puedes inmaginar tal y como son y a la misma vez te transportas a la camara secreta con Harry. Es una serie de libros completamente fascinante, tanto para adultos como para niños.

Muy Bien
Esta novela me esta gustando aun mejor que la primera. !Que divertida es!

The translators and publisher are Spanish. There is much vocabulary from Spain, just as the English version has much British vocabulary. I really enjoy learning about regional vocabulary differences, whether in English or Spanish, so this was a big plus.

A friend claims the American editions have been Americanized, although I don't know if it's true. (The American editions still have many British words, but do use some American words, like "sweater" instead of "jumper".) It's funny how the Brits understand us from seeing our movies/television, but we don't understand their vocab or accent as well. It's great to be exposed to different forms of languages we already know.

The translation seems very good, but some things seem wrong, such as "?QUE TE TENGO DICHO?" on the second page of text. I think this should be "?QUE TE HE DICHO?" Maybe this is a form with which I'm not familiar, because I can't imagine a native speaker and translator would make such a gringo ("guiri" en Espana) mistake.

Wrong review (above)
I just LOVE this book, and all the harry potter books. I wanted to say to Eric J Justice, who wrote a review above, that your review was incorrect. It DIDNT have a mistake; saying QUE TE TENGO DICHO es right. In fact, im pretty sure what you said was right too. But anyway, anyone who hasn't read this should, but read the SORCERER'S STONE first, because it's really best to read them in order.

Decente
Aconsejo no prestar demasiada atención a las críticas que se quejan del vocabulario castizo en contraposición al vocabulario americano. No hay prácticamente nada que un lector castellanohablante educado no pueda entender, y el castellano utilizado en el libro es adecuado a la trama. La traducción en sí, exceptuando algún resbalón con el subjuntivo, es gramaticalmente correcta. No conozco el original en inglés.
El argumento abunda en lo descriptivo con un ritmo de la acción lento durante casi toda la obra, concentrando el la mayor parte del desenlace en los últimos 3 o 4 capítulos. La sensación de desasosiego que algunas críticas mencionan en este sentido es legítima.
En general, la obra es medianamente entretenida y contribuye a adquirir vocabulario.

A Great Learning Tool
I'm a high school student taking Spanish as my foreign language. I decided one day to buy Harry Pooter y la Cámara Secreta to help with my Spanish. Though some of the words aren't what I'm use to I still understood it and it helped my Spanish greatly. Many of the higher level Spanish classes are reading this also. For students taking Spanish this is a great way to help with your Spanish. It puts your knowledge to use and it helps you to remember things better. They're just as great as the English version! ... Read more

Book Description

Harry Potter no es un chico común, extraña el colegio en el verano.Pero su colegio es un colegio de magia y Harry es un mago.Este es el tercer episodio de la serie de novelas que ha causado un impacto mundial. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

great story, horrible translation
The third Harry Potter book is awesome. The author really lets the characters evolve and be more real than the previous two books. She lets them have more emotional depth and it's great.

The translation, however, is not that great. There are parts where I simply do no understand why the translators chose one word instead of some other, much better, alternative.

I agree with the first reviewer. The Spanish language can lend itself really well to certain things, and children's literature is definitely one of them. This translation could have been so different. There was such potential and it was just completely ignored.

Here's an example:

The title of the first chapter is "Lechuzas Mensajares," which means "Messenger Owls." The title of the first chapter in the English book is "Owl Post." I simply don't understand why the translators didn't translate it as "Correo de Lechuza" or even a less grammatically correct "Lechuza Correo" or any other variant of the two words.

It really is a good book, it's just sad the translation doesn't do it justice. The publishers really should retranslate it.

desapointing
after reading all the Harry Potter books in english wich i enjoyed extreamly, was looking forward to find how much fun would it be to read them in spanish (my first language) also. i'm so desapointed with this "dictionary" translation, the book lacks feeling, fluidity, i find it choppy and to my amaizment was to find SO many gramar incorrectness in the book, this translation shows no real effort to capture the spirit of the caracters. it's a shame that the translators did not take advantages of all the posibilities that such a great language as spanish offers to give this book the same feeling and fun to read as the english versions.

Amazing!
Out of all the Harry Potter books, this would be my favourite! I loved how Sirius was so nice to Harry! I also liked how there was so much about Harry's Parents. I loved this book especially when they all found out that his dad was a Animagus along with everyone else.. I was so upset when I found out that it was ***** who dies in the next book! I haven't even read it yet and I'm sad anyway!

Harry Potter Review
I am reviewing the book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The author of this book is J.K Rowling. I thought this book was very interesting. It all starts out when Harry's parents were killed by Voldemort. They said that Sirius Black betrayed Harry's father by being Lord Voldemort's spy. Harry hears about this and wants to go and kill him. His friend Hagrid is losing the case against his animal Buckbeak. Harry, Ron, and Hemione go to Hagrid's house the day of the execution, but he tells them to go back to Hogwarts. On their way back, Ron gets stuck on the Whooping Willow, the tree. To Harry and Hermione's surprise, theyfind Black in there. Read this book to find out what Black has to say and do about what he is being accused of.

Excellent
I LOVED this book I already read it twice in English and I've tooken spanish for 7 years as well but even if you don't know spanish you can still understand whats going on in the book if you've already read it in English J.K.Rowling has written another wonderful book taking you to the 3rd exciting & mysterious year of Hogwarts so kick back! and enjoy this EXCELLENT book by J.K.Rowling. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

? Es verdadero espanol?
Lo disfrute en espanol, lo que me sorprendi que podia. Me pregunto: a lectores espanoles y latinoamericanos, suena la traduccion como espanol en verdad o mas como ingles traducido palabra por palabra? Espero seguir con El caliz de fuego, y quisiera encontrar otros libros de esta nivel de dificultad para desorollar mas mi capaz de leer. Gracias, J. K. y traductores.

4 ESTRELLAS PARA EL PRISIONERO DE AZKABAN
Harry va para su 3er año en Hogwarts, como siempre, con problemas con su parentela muggle (mortales sin magia), huye de la casa y el mismo ministerio de magia se encarga de llevarlo a al colegio. Sirius Black, el presunto complice de Lord Voldemort, ha escapado de la cárcel de Azkaban... Los guardianes de la carcél seres que absorben la fecilidad de las personas, tienen en jaque y mate harry; Hagrid tiene un nuevo monstruo, Hermione tiene su primer gato que entra en conflicto con la sospechosa rata de Ron. Más intrigas y verdades a descubrirse... leanlo... es bueno. Debilidades: Mucha descripción pictórica y detalles inconcluyentes que dejan un final parco.

A great book!
Harry potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a great book! I enjoied it very much in spanish. Harry Potter is once again having many adventures, but one could cost his live. Who will help him with his troubles, what obsticles will he meet, but most important will he come out alive? They only way to find out, is to read this facinating book! Now people of all languages can enjoy all books in the HARRY POTTER seires! ... Read more