From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray comes a gripping, unforgettable portrait of love, silence, and secrets amidst 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 the country under the welcoming guise of … into the country under the welcoming guise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of a Texas 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 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 post-war struggles of Spain.
more
First of all, Ruta Septeys is one of my all time favorite authors. This book is set in Spain after WW2. It reveals secrets as an American boy and a Spanish girl fall in love. The book switches between lives of a few different people so it can be hard to follow. But overall it’s amazing
Sepetys is YA crossover author for a good reason. Her books are beautifully researched and deal with complicated historical issues and unusual perspectives. This one lets you feel both the heat and atmosphere of 1950s Franco-era Spain as well as the constrictive fear and collaborative silence. Undeniably effective. Excellent historical fiction.
I have vague memories of hearing about the Spanish Civil War and Hemmingway, but it wasn’t until I read Domingo’s Angel by Jenny Twist, that I had some understanding of what really happened.
In Twist’s novel, a tall, thin, pale English girl wanders into a remote Spanish mountain village, meets a young villager and stays. This is not just their love story. It is the story of the personalities and dynamics of a small community and of the worsening conditions under Franco’s rule.
The Fountains of Silence brings even greater understanding of the harsh conditions and tyranny of Franco’s regime. Ostensibly this is a YA or NA novel, bit it doesn’t feel that way as you read. Daniel comes to Madrid with his parents. An aspiring photo journalist, he pokes his nose where he shouldn’t. Through his eyes we begin to see the horrid conditions in Spain in the early 50s.
Well written, informative, with great characters and a nice touch of romance. Includes vintage media reports, oral history commentary, photos, which add depth to the story.
BLURB
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.
http://www.darlenejonesauthor.com
This is why I love Historical Fiction–the chance to learn about a time/place I know nothing or little about. In this case, it is Franco’s rule in Spain. Kudos to Sepetys for the organization of the book. Starting each section with real quotes from people who had to deal with the dictator and his ministers(US presidents and diplomats), is a brilliant way to impart the historical context. The narrative definitively portrays the horrendous treatment of the Spanish people not loyal to him, during Franco’s 36 year rule. A good way for young adults to learn history.
I love Ruth Sepetys books and have fallen in love with this one too. I loved the characters and their stories. It is important to shed light on these things that have happened in the past and she always does it in such a wonderfully written way that can grab the attention of both adult and young adult readers.
This tells about an 18 year old boy who goes to Spain with his parents in the 1950’s. It is well written and brings out the truth about the children who were born in the Inclusa and other terrible things which happened when Franco was the leader. There is also a romance which finally unwinds at the end of the book. It is a a book I am recommending to all my friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed Between Shades of Grey and Salt to the Sea. In fact they are two of the novels I most often recommend, so I had high expectations for the latest book by Ruta Sepetys. I’m happy to say it met them.
Like those other two books, this one sheds a light on a hidden part of history, but it does so more gradually.
Like in Salt to the Sea, there were multiple narrators. I felt they were all necessary for the telling of this story, and I liked them all, though initially I found one less sympathetic than the others.
The danger the characters faced here was not as overt as in the other books, but there was a tension, a sense of it lingering in the air. And while I’d describe the other two novels as being about a struggle to survive, I’d describe this one as being about a struggle to live, for what kind of life is it if you can’t ask questions or even hope for anything better?
I enjoyed this and have already recommended it. I’m thankful for the early read from BookishFirst, and I liked it so much that I’ve purchased the hardback.
This is the second book by Ruta Sepetys that I have read. This book was complex set in Franco’s Spain. Daniel’s father has brought him and his Spanish mother to Spain so Daniel’s father can pursue the oil business that Franco is opening up for American businesses. Daniel is wanting to pursue a career as a photo journalist instead of the career that his father wants him to pursue in the oil business.
Ana works in the hotel and is assigned to take care of the needs of Daniel’s family. She wants the American Life that is shown in the American magazines in the hotel. She helps Daniel by going with him to take photos that tell a story for his portfolio. Through both Daniel’s and Ana’s story we see the pursuit to overcome the roadblocks to achieve their dreams while learning about Franco’s oppressive Spain, Ruta Sepetys does not disappoint. I leaned so much about Spain during this time period and fell in love with Daniel and Ana. Thank you Bookish First and Philomena Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In 1957, after 20 years of fascist rule, dictator Franco is finally allowing tourists into Spain. While 18 year old Daniel’s Texas-American father is busy competing for oil drilling rights, he meets Ana, a lovely young woman who works at the Castellana Hilton where his family is staying. Daniel’s father expects him to join his oil business, but Daniel has dreams of his own and yearns to be a photographic journalist. As Daniel explores Spain with his camera in hand, he discovers that Spain, and its people, are bursting with secrets and that “a secret never stays secret for long.” How will what he discovers change his life forever?
First of all, I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and pretty swirls on the pages, but the story itself is what kept me enthralled. I was unaware of Spain’s tumultuous history and enjoyed learning about its people, its culture, and its secrets. I felt like I was right by Daniel’s side as he did the same, all while flirting and falling in love with Ana. Is it true that the truth will set you free? Read this lovely and romantic historical fiction novel to find out!
“Truth breaks the chain of silence.”
Location: 1957 Madrid, Spain and 1975 Dallas, Texas
I received an advance copy of this book from BookishFirst. All opinions are my own.
This is the first book that I have read by Ruta Sepetys. This book is set in the 1950’s Spain, shortly after the Spanish Civil War, and during Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. It tells the story of Ana and her family, who are trying to survive, having lost their parents, because their beliefs were different from Franco’s. It also tells the story of an American photographer, Daniel Matheson. He is in Madrid, with his parents. He hopes that the pictures he will capture in Spain will help him win a photography contest, so he can go to photojournalism school, and avoid the school his father wants him to attend. But what he captures with his camera, and what he finds in Madrid that summer are more than just pictures to win a contest.
This story is told in several different points of view. Ana, her brother Rafa, her sister Julia, her cousin Puri, and Daniel. Normally so not like a story that has so many different view points. I fell that it makes a story too confusing. But with this story, and the way that the author writes the characters, I feel that it helps to tell this story. With each characters point of view, you learn important parts of the story, and it brings everything together very well.
I feel that this story flows well, and it does keep you interested. The author give a very realistic take on this period in Spanish history. There were things that were told, that I had no idea happened in Spain.
I really enjoyed the little bit of historical facts that were given throughout the book. I learned things that I did not know about before.
One thing in this book that I did not really like was that the author would switch so frequently from Spanish to English, having to translate the words the characters were saying. And even when the characters were only speaking in Spanish, it would have a phrase or two in Spanish, then translate it to English. It made it a little confusing at points, but did not take away from the story. I would definitely recommend this story if you are a fan of historical fiction. This story will pull at your heartstrings, with the way the Spanish people were treated, and everything that they had to deal with during Franco’s dictatorship, and everything that the characters had to go through, throughout the book.