I read this book on my first trip to Madrid. Very absorbing and evocative of the time and the place. Highly recommended. ( )

C.J. riesce a creare un legame tra il lettore ed i suoi personaggi, sebbene il racconto risenta di alti e bassi.

Sandy annui'. "Come ho detto al caffe', il futuro appartiene a chi e' capace di afferrare la vita. Non dovremmo mai permettere al passato di tenerci fermi. E il destino non esiste."
(215)

Harry: "Perche', in pratica, non puoi cambiare nulla", rispose stancamente. "Sono tutti troppo forti, alla fine ti schiacciano."
Barbara: "Non ci credo. devi batterti."
Harry: "Io ho perso."
(613)


Ultima nota (polemica): la Sperling & Kupfer dovrebbe cercarsi un correttore di bozze con la seguente esperienza: correttore di bozze! ( )

45

I really enjoyed reading this book for the most part, set in Franco’s Spain (mostly Madrid) just after his fascist forces prevailed in the Civil War. But the ending goes so wrong in so many different ways, it spoiled what had been a gripping story filled with interesting, sympathetic characters in a compelling setting. Worth reading for the historical details about Spain during and just after the Civil War; but be prepared for the story to go spectacularly off the rails and the characters to behave in implausible and unrealistic ways in the end. ( )

I am having a very hard time reading lately. There is the pressure of time, but even more there is the feeling that I cannot at this moment handle anything too emotionally draining. So I chose to read this book – an historical mystery type of book – to get me over the rump. Like other reviewers, I found the book too long, a bit predictable and a tad unbelievable. But 3 stars I gave it!

First of all, it did help me – at least I know that a book can keep my attention, and I might just try another one. But, even if the plot is contrived, the historical research appears to be accurate, and it did leave me with the feelings that I now understand the political machinations of the time period better. Great way to learn history – in a “All I know I learned in Romance Novels” kind of way.
( )