The Fountains of Silence
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray comes a gripping, extraordinary portrait of love, silence, and secrets under a Spanish dictatorship. 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. Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history's darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel about identity, unforgettable love, repercussions of war, and the hidden violence of silence--inspired by the true postwar struggles of Spain. Includes vintage media reports, oral history commentary, photos, and more. Praise for The Fountains of Silence "Spain under Francisco Franco is as dystopian a setting as Margaret Atwood's Gilead in Ruta Sepetys's suspenseful, romantic and timely new work of historical fiction . . . Like [Shakespeare's family romances], 'The Fountains of Silence' speaks truth to power, persuading future rulers to avoid repeating the crimes of the past." --The New York Times Book Review "Full of twists and revelations...an excellent story, and timely, too." --The Wall Street Journal "A staggering tale of love, loss, and national shame." --Entertainment Weekly
* "[Sepetys] tells a moving story made even more powerful by its placement in a lesser-known historical moment. Captivating, deft, and illuminating historical fiction." --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW* * "This gripping, often haunting historical novel offers a memorable portrait of fascist Spain." --Publishers Weekly, *STARRED REVIEW* * "This richly woven historical fiction . . . will keep young adults as well as adults interested from the first page to the last." --SLC, *STARRED REVIEW* * "Riveting . . . An exemplary work of historical fiction." --The Horn Book, *STARRED REVIEW*
* "[Sepetys] tells a moving story made even more powerful by its placement in a lesser-known historical moment. Captivating, deft, and illuminating historical fiction." --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW* * "This gripping, often haunting historical novel offers a memorable portrait of fascist Spain." --Publishers Weekly, *STARRED REVIEW* * "This richly woven historical fiction . . . will keep young adults as well as adults interested from the first page to the last." --SLC, *STARRED REVIEW* * "Riveting . . . An exemplary work of historical fiction." --The Horn Book, *STARRED REVIEW*
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Community Reviews
While this was very good, I was disappointed.
But first! The good things, because there were many.
1.) Damn, Ruta Sepetys is a great author. I get so totally absorbed in her books. Every single one I've read, after a certain point, won't let me go. They're usually pretty memorable and stick in my thoughts for several months afterward.
2.) WHAT AN INTERESTING TOPIC. I hardly know anything about Spain under Franco, so this was really interesting and made me want to read more about it.
3.) I wanna go back to Spaaaaaaaaaaain. I went. It was lovely. I wanna go back. :( Even though the only place I've really been that the book mentioned was the Prado, it made me want to go back. I had such a great time in Spain, even though I went with students.
4.) The audiobook narrator was so great. I will be saying "Purificacion" to myself for weeks, hahahaha.
What disappointed me was that it wasn't sadder, gonna be real.
ALSO DANIEL IS KIND OF THE WORST
But seriously, when I read Salt to the Sea I managed to finish it on a puddle jumper from the Big Island to Oahu. Somehow, I cried through that whole ten minute flight and my husband was thoroughly embarrassed. And when I read Between Shades of Gray the whole thing was just horrific. I was expecting more... violence? Heartbreak? This ending was... kind? Satisfying? Neat? Ugh. I don't know. I just wasn't expecting it and I was kind of soured on it, not gonna lie.
Still a great book, still totally gonna recommend.
But first! The good things, because there were many.
1.) Damn, Ruta Sepetys is a great author. I get so totally absorbed in her books. Every single one I've read, after a certain point, won't let me go. They're usually pretty memorable and stick in my thoughts for several months afterward.
2.) WHAT AN INTERESTING TOPIC. I hardly know anything about Spain under Franco, so this was really interesting and made me want to read more about it.
3.) I wanna go back to Spaaaaaaaaaaain. I went. It was lovely. I wanna go back. :( Even though the only place I've really been that the book mentioned was the Prado, it made me want to go back. I had such a great time in Spain, even though I went with students.
4.) The audiobook narrator was so great. I will be saying "Purificacion" to myself for weeks, hahahaha.
What disappointed me was that it wasn't sadder, gonna be real.
ALSO DANIEL IS KIND OF THE WORST
But seriously, when I read Salt to the Sea I managed to finish it on a puddle jumper from the Big Island to Oahu. Somehow, I cried through that whole ten minute flight and my husband was thoroughly embarrassed. And when I read Between Shades of Gray the whole thing was just horrific. I was expecting more... violence? Heartbreak? This ending was... kind? Satisfying? Neat? Ugh. I don't know. I just wasn't expecting it and I was kind of soured on it, not gonna lie.
Still a great book, still totally gonna recommend.
I really liked the historical part! It was really informative and made me want to continue researching the culture and war.
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