La versión en español

SHAKIRA

SHAKIRA Woman Full of Grace (Simon & Schuster, New York)

by XIMENA DIEGO English translation by Francheska Farinacci.

READ ENGLISH LAST

I don’t know much about pop music and even less about Latin American music. So I hope it doesn’t seem rude if I say that I knew knew very little about Shakira, superstar daughter of Colombia, before arriving in Colombia in 2003.

After a few months here I knew very well who she was, but it was not until I saw her on television and listened to her speaking that I really paid attention.

This, I thought, is a woman who has worked very hard and has an ear for languages. In fact, the author says of her:

'Although Shakira was reputed to be obsessive with everything about her music, nothing showed how meticulous she could be until she started studying English.’

CONGRATULATIONS TO SHAKIRA

Well, good for her. It paid off. This article is not a book review of Shakira Woman Full of Grace. I have chosen this book because it fits very well with my argument that, for purposes of study, you should read any book in your own language before reading it in English.

So when I say 'Read English Last' what I mean is, read the book in your own language first. The book should be readily available in both languages, it should be interesting and enjoyable, and it should be written in acceptable English.

Which leads me to Shakira.  I got my English version of this biography from Amazon when I was in England. I assumed that the Spanish version would be easily available in Medellín (it was).

Is the book accessible? Yes. Is it enjoyable? Well, obviously the more you like Shakira, the more you will like the book. The more you identify with and support outstanding Latino success, the more you will like it.

NO INPUT FROM SHAKIRA HERSELF

The story is exceptional and the author makes great efforts to explain that the talent, too, is extraordinary. It is admitted from the outset that the book is compiled from published articles and interviews with people who know the artist, but it does not contain information from Shakira herself, nor from her close friends.

This makes it difficult for the author to be 'up close and personal’ but it doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not.

It is a very professional work and you can trust its English; it won’t confuse you. Read it in your own language first. Leave it for a few weeks and then read it in English.