Comments (6)

By bethany (dreadlockgirl), 17,November,2009 00:43

(I liked both covers for this book so I just HAD to include them!!)

Guernica
by Dave Boling
372 Pages
Literary Historical Fiction
Spanish Civil War
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
September 2009

This is the narrative of the Basque life through several generations. By starting out the novel showing the beauty and strength of the Basques it allows the reader to fall in love so that we care about the people when we dive into the historically accurate battle of Guernica. More than a battle it is a massacre, a test that Germany uses to figure out if these planes and weapons could cause total devastation. When the screams quiet and people crawl out into the light again they see the complete flattening of all they knew. And soon the one thing that they hate, the shooting in Guernica is what unites them. This common bond of humanity brings culture from the shattered buildings and the people out of their lonely homes.

I found this book to be incredibly historically accurate and loved that it filled in the human aspect of the whole conflict. I love history but more than history I love the social aspect of history (history’s impact on humans) and I loved this book because it did just that, gave a face to the Basque nation and also a voice to their past. I have recently read several others on this time period and about this location which are amazing reads as well (links posted below). There is so much to learn from history, and so much that we just can’t bear to repeat. Spain during the civil war was destroyed, and then the dictator Franco brought even more horrors to the people.

Guernica Painting by Picasso

Dave Boling is accurate, intricate and completely detailed in his re-telling of this devastating time. Having lived in Spain I could feel the hardship as I read his words. The characters he created were to die for, they were versatile, lifelike and entirely relatable.

This is a great book, it made me cry and laugh and realize that after the valley of pain we are able to feel joy better than we could before. I highly recommend that you pick this one up for any history lovers, or anyone who wants to read an amazingly hopeful and insightful book about this dark time in Spain. Yes, it gets my highest praise Stellar Five Chicken Book Award -enjoy!

Two other books I have reviewed about the Spanish Civil War and the Basque Nation:
The Return
Plants Don’t Drink Coffee

Want to get your hands on Guernica by Dave Boling??

I am a Powell’s affiliate and I do receive a percentage of the sales of any book you buy using my links. Thank you!

Comments (6)

By bethany (dreadlockgirl), 19,October,2009 23:57

The Return
by Victoria Hislop
416 Pages
Historical Fiction
Spanish Civil War
October 2009
Harper Collins
Advanced Reader’s Copy

Sonia’s life is dull and passionless in the midst of what most would consider a dream. She is married to a dashing Englishman, has a great job, and lives in an exquisite apartment. No matter how much she tries though, she feels something is missing. Stumbling upon dance is the most important thing Sonia does for herself. There is no question that it immediately fills that longing inside her. When her childhood friend Maggie books a trip to Spain, the land of Flamenco for her birthday and buys a ticket for Sonia as well, she is in dreamland.

Sonia thinks she is going to Spain for herself, but what she doesn’t know is that dance and Spain is in her blood- secrets her mom took with her to the grave will be laid bare. An unlikely stranger will tell her of a family history of life in the Spanish Civil War riddled with loss, love and tragedy. Up from the turmoil, come clapping hands and stomping feet to the elegant picking of a Spanish guitar. Flamenco is the heart and soul of survival for Sonia’s mother could it be what saves her as well?

Goodness, The Return was amazing! I seem to be obsessed with Spanish Civil War books as of late and I am thrilled by the history of that time period. I can’t believe I didn’t know more about the history growing up, since it is pretty much my patria or homeland. Vicoria Hislop outdoes herself in this brilliantly penned historical fiction take on the events that shaped Spain into what it is today. A book filled with deep emotion, and love that stand the test of history, The Return will give the reader history in bite sized morsels, while best of all telling of the human will to live during that dark period.

The Return is a book that like the Flamenco dance evokes emotion, does not shy from expressing pain, and yet snaps its heels to a dramatic finish that will leave the reader open-mouthed (and wondering how long their mouth has been open for). I highly recommend this book, to everyone- which is why it will get my supa cool Stellar Five Chicken Book Award! It is perfect for the dancer, the historian, the lover of books or any person who wants to spend hours in a far away land hearing the perfectly clickety-clacking of well worn dance shoes in their thoughts while they read. Loved it.

Remaining TLC Tour Stops:

Wednesday, October 21st – Write Meg

Thursday, October 22nd – Literate Housewife

Monday, October 26th – Diary of an Eccentric

Tuesday, October 27th – Drey’s Library

Wednesday, October 28th – Book Chatter and Other Stuff

Comments (0)

By bethany, 7,April,2009 22:34

The Triumph of Deborah
by Eva Etzioni-Halevy
368 pages
Historical Fiction
Plume (February 26, 2008)

Deborah is a woman who rises above the deep sadness in her life, that her husband just decided to dissolve their marriage, and gives all she has within her to protect her people, the Israelites. The Israelites are God’s chosen people, but because of their lack of faith and obedience they are forced to wander throughout the desert and hope that they will be provided for, for rulers during this time they had a series of judges, Deborah being one of those judges.

It was her duty to make the major decisions for her people as well as to resolve conflicts and make settlements amongst them. In a society where women were not educated, her father believed that she deserved the education just as much as her brothers did and she was taught the Torah at an early age. Even as a youth people would come to her from far away places after having heard of her wisdom and fair hand.The Triumph of Deborah is about love and war and most everything in between. Deborah suffers from the choice of her husband and is torn when a young dashing warrior beckons to her. It would be acceptable by law, but she still feels tied emotionally to her husband.

I ended up enjoying this read more than I thought. I fell in love with Deborah, and I think if I had been a little older I would have loved her even more, she is strong and true and really gets things done. Of course, like all women she is riddled with emotion, but who can count that as a fault since we are all plagued by it!? I felt that Eva Etzioni-Halevy did a pretty good job with the writing, it isn’t dazzling in its artistic appeal but it is still alive and fresh to read. The storyline had me intregued and involved. This is certainly a great book for any reader, but I specifically recommend it to those who enjoy a good Historical Fiction read. The Triumph of Deborah will be sure to please!

Eva Etzioni-Halevy’s Website