El tiempo entre costuras (edition 2009)

I won an ARC of this novel from here at GoodReads. I finally got around to reading it and absolutely enjoyed it. You can read my review (contains some spoilers) on my blog: http://www.rulethewaves.net/blog/?p=2776 ( )

"Fresh Meat" by Victoria Janssen for Criminal Element

I love reading about women spies in exciting settings. The Time In Between’s heroine, Sira Quiroga, journeys from Madrid to Tangiers and thence to Tetouan and to Lisbon in a deeply involving historical saga. The young seamstress grows up poor in Madrid in the shadow of the Spanish Civil War. Her first great romantic adventure leads to her betrayal and abandonment, far from home. But from the depths of despair, she recreates herself, making new friends and a new life for herself in Morocco, at that time a Spanish colony, and rife with intrigue leading up to World War II. The intrigue is lavishly described in deep historical detail; the author provides some of her wide-ranging bibliography at the end of the book.

(Read the rest at http://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/2011/10/fresh-meat-the-time-in-between-by-m... )

3.5 stars. I was generaly captivated by the book and enjoyed reading it, but there are a few aspects that I didn't like or that I question about the book. I like that it is a novel covering WWII from an angle that I've never encountered before -- mainly Spain, but some Morocco, too. It involves people who really existed, but the main story is fictional. The story is epic in that it covers several locations and there are miniplots within the larger framework of the novel. It includes mystery, romance, intrigue, action, politics, and fashion; quite the gamut, really, though its audience is mainly female.
This book could easily become a movie, but I imagine it would need serious adapting.

My criticisms involve details and are more minor, but they contain some spoilers:
a) there's a chapter that provides political info in the third person, but with a "so I heard from my friend" thrown in at the end to fit the novel. I guess it's done for clarity and time-saving, but it was a disonance;
b) the first miniplot is very predictable, but I suppose it serves the purpose of getting Sira to North Africa, penniless; I guess I can accept that.
c) one of the guys from the beginning shows up later in the novel, but I'm not sure why other than to give some temporary suspense. Seems kind of coincidental that the one shadow she has knows her, threatens her, and then ignores her.
d)the final miniplot in Lisbon ends too easily. Wouldn't he have contacts in Spain to deal with her? The Germans would...
e) the author does a decent job of providing opportunity and space for Shira to grow, but she is very polished and brave at the end; not sure I buy it all
f) there are some suggestive details that are included like foreshadowing, and then they come to cnothing. I'm not sure if I apreciate the misdirection, or if it's annoying.

Did it make me rethink my worldview or opinions? No. But it's an enjoyable story with decent writing. ( )

Wow! One of the best I've ever read. I won this as a Goodreads First Read. Maria Duenas pulls us into the life story of Sira. Starting out in Madrid just before the Spanish Civil War, a young Sira meets a man, falls in love, moves to Morocco--from this point her life takes so many twists and turns, some wonderful, some frightening but she is truly a brave soul and comes to the
conclusion of her story triumphant! I savored all 600 pages and was never bored. The writing was superb and the translation to English excellent! Enjoy it! ( )

Couldn't get interested. ( )