56 pages • 1 hour read
Nada
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
272
Novel • Fiction
Barcelona, Spain • 1940s
1945
Adult
18+ years
860L
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.
Melancholic
Mysterious
Dark
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
31,807 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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.
31,807 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
272
Novel • Fiction
Barcelona, Spain • 1940s
1945
Adult
18+ years
860L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.