Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? Are you looking for a novel set during a time other than WWII? If so, then this week’s book pick is perfect for you. Take a break from social media and Covid-19 prognostications and pick up a good book!
Synopsis
Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother’s birth through the lens of his camera. Photography—and fate—introduce him to Ana, whose family’s interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War—as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel’s photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city. Click here to watch the book trailer.
About the Author
Ruta Sepetys’s award-winning historical novels are published in over fifty countries and have received over forty literary prizes. The average Goodreads rating for her books is 4.32… that is incredible!
Review
I fell in love with this author after reading Salt to the Sea several years ago and her latest novel, The Fountains of Silence did not disappoint. Before reading it, I knew little about Franco’s brutal dictatorship after the Spanish Civil War, and what I learned was truly eye opening. I alternately read and listened to the book and the voice talent was exceptional. The characters are well developed and complex; the conflict is delicious, and the writing is superb. I could feel the humidity in the air, sense the despair of the Spanish people, hear the sounds of Madrid, and smell the local cuisine, the dust, and the squalor of poverty. Unlike many authors in the young adult space who present their characters as hormonal and simpering, Sepetys’s are strong and heroic. She definitely deserves 4-1/2 stars for this one. Trust me, you will love it!
Audience
Although Sepetys writes primarily for the young adult market, this book will appeal to adults of all ages.
Quote
“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.”