1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8   

Ismael Serrano

Ismael Serrano

Spanish singer-songwriter 

Spaniard Ismael Serrano has made a unique mark on his country’s music scene with his exploration of social realities and hymns to love and human solidarity. Ten years into a career that has seen the artist establish himself as one of Spain’s leading contemporary singer-songwriters, Serrano – who got his start in the early 1990s playing at bars and cafes in Madrid – continues to bring renewed passion to his work as a full-time musician.Serrano has begun touring in the United States for the first time in support of his 2005 album “Naves ardiendo más allá de Orión.”  

Which book are you reading at the moment?

"Antonio Machado" by Juan de Mairena. 

Which book has had the biggest impact on you in your lifetime?

My connection with Latin America comes from Latin American literature, above all the poetry of Mario Benedetti, Pablo Neruda, Jaime Sabines, César Vallejo. "Los Heraldos Negros" by César Vallejo is one of my favorite books of poetry. Something I’ve read recently, "El ensayo de la ceguera" by José Saramago, I loved because it does a good job portraying the world in which we live – (made up) of people who don’t see or don’t want to see. There’s one book I really liked a lot and that was Jack London’s "El Vagabundo de las Estrellas" (The Star Rover). A great reflection on freedom! 

Who is your favorite author and why?

It’s difficult to choose just one author. I could mention anyone from Antonio Machado to Gabriel García Márquez, who introduced me to Latin American magical realism, or Julio Cortázar. There are many more. 

What advice would you give parents and educators about encouraging young people to read in Spanish?

Reading prepares us for life, for the future, it make us feel less alone, stronger in difficult times, because it lets us see we are also protagonists of our own story. It opens our minds, makes us more tolerant, makes us question ourselves; literature may not give us answers but it does make us question ourselves. It prepares us for daily actions in life. Reading is essential, it enriches us and makes us better understand others and that’s crucial. It puts us inside another person’s skin. You need to stimulate your curiosity.