Wonderful find from Tammelantori market place from last summer. Somebody was selling piles of English paperbacks and this gem was found among them. I thoroughly enjoyed Hislop's The Island, so this was a nice surprise find for me.

A paperback by Headline Review, 2009, 578 pages.

Synopsis:

"Beneath the majestic towers of the Alhambra, Granada's cobbled streets resonate with music and secrets. Sonia Cameron knows nothing of the city's shocking past; she is here to dance. But in a quiet café, a chance conversation and an intriguing collection of old photographs draw her into the extraordinary tale of Spain's devastating civil war.
Seventy years earlier, the café is home to the close-knit Ramirez family. In 1936, an army coup led by Franco shatters the country's fragile peace, and in the heart of Granada the family witnesses the worst atrocities of conflict. Divided by politics and tragedy, everyone must take a side, fighting a personal battle as Spain rips itself apart."

Hislop is a great storyteller! I was pretty strongly transfixed with this book and ended up staying up until the very early hours when finishing it. This book made we wish to see Alhambra myself one day even more, we were planning to go there last spring but then chose Catalonia instead.

This was a moving journey into the soul of one large Spanish family torn apart by the Civil War. To me it also was a story of flamenco, passion and growing self-confidence. The author has gathered lots of detailed historical information about the Franco's regime and I felt I also learned a lot via this emotional reading experience. It was great to see this historical romance with sharp cultural observations to be so effortlessly tied to a foreign modern woman of the next generation.

The mid-part of the book was probably a bit longish compared to the plot's ending, but otherwise I felt this was a well-balanced novel much deeper than your basic chick-lit paperback.

This book now continues to a friend who also enjoyed the The Island, hopefully also The Return will be a memorable reading experience for you!

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas time!

Many, many thanks for this book and great company, Bookgeo! I enjoyed a lot The Island, so I'm really happy I got this! :)

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas time, too!

Edit: next to lukutuoli...

I enjoyed the way the historical family tale was set within the modern day story. Hislop is such a great storyteller that these two stories just sprang to life and the book was atmospheric. Hislop's historical narrative was well-researched, and the book provided a very moving and sad insight into the life in Francoist Spain. Some of the story was perhaps a little predictable but I found this novel very captivating.

Many thanks, Bookeo! :)

Many thanks, Bookgeo! The Return travels next to lukutuoli as it was planned. Enjoy! :)

A lovely surprise, thank you so much! I also enjoyed The Island by Hislop, so can't wait to read this one...

This book wasn't perhaps as captivating as The Island, but showed the talents of Hislop as a storyteller again! I liked the way the history of Spain was connected to the story of Sonia, but as I'm not much into historical fiction, the middle part of the book describing the Civil War was perhaps too long. I enjoyed the story and certainly learned a lot about Franco's time in Spain.
I have a special plan for this book to be sent as present to a fellow-bookcrosser, who is in the Birthday Group of the BC forum... I hope no one will fulfill her wish before the birthday time :)

The book has been wrapped in paper and some surprises added... :)
Happy Birthday !!

KTMC 2014 # 5

Thank you for this birthday surprise all the way from Finland! This sounds like just my cup of tea. Thanks for sharing!

(Loved the envelope, & wrapping paper, & all the cool stamps, too! =D )

Received from the estate of Iwillrejoice. She is is rejoicing in heaven. I will find a new home for this book.

Enjoy! KTM For the THE release challenge in honor of Iwillrejoice