56 pages • 1 hour read
Carmen LaforetNada
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1945A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Nada by Carmen Laforet chronicles Andrea, an orphan who moves from a provincial convent to Barcelona to attend university, living with estranged, impoverished family members in a cramped apartment. The novel depicts domestic strife, artistic jealousies, and evolving friendships, culminating in Andrea's departure for Madrid to seek a new life. The narrative sensitively addresses themes of abuse and prostitution.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Reviews for Carmen Laforet's Nada highlight its evocative portrayal of post-Civil War Barcelona and its Gothic atmosphere. Readers praise Laforet's nuanced depiction of youthful alienation and the powerful, introspective narrative voice. However, some note that the storyline can feel disjointed and the pace slow at times. Overall, it's a poignant and haunting debut.
Who Should Read Nada?
A reader who would enjoy Nada by Carmen Laforet is likely someone who appreciates coming-of-age stories and post-war settings. They may also enjoy works like The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath or The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, which similarly explore themes of personal struggle, identity, and familial dysfunction within a sociopolitical context.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
860L