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A review by writingcaia
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Brilliant!
A love story between an American young man with a Spanish mother that travels to Spain with his parents in 1957 during Franco’s dictatorship to do a deal regarding oil, and collaboration between the USA and Spain, and a Spanish girl working at his hotel. A girl hiding who she is, a girl with an older sister hiding more secrets and an optimist brother that wants to help his friend become a matador.
It is definitely a story of secrets, country secrets, shameful secrets, secrets that crave to be known, of people hiding who they are, who their family was, or not even knowing who you are and can be, a story of poverty and repression, of different fates and waiting.
Amazing characters, and the revelation of a secret Spain kept hidden until 2008 that happened since the beginning of the fascist government until the 80’s.
I cannot even explain how completely enveloping and atmospheric this book was while uncovering such harsh realities, impossible dreams, and love. I truly felt the Spain of the 50’s, the shame, the wretchedness, the huge gap between the Americans that there lived and supported Franco dictatorship.
As hard as the story is, it does give you hope, and I loved it. And, recommend it to all that love amazing historical fiction stories, or generally amazing tales that happens to be inspired by true events.
A love story between an American young man with a Spanish mother that travels to Spain with his parents in 1957 during Franco’s dictatorship to do a deal regarding oil, and collaboration between the USA and Spain, and a Spanish girl working at his hotel. A girl hiding who she is, a girl with an older sister hiding more secrets and an optimist brother that wants to help his friend become a matador.
It is definitely a story of secrets, country secrets, shameful secrets, secrets that crave to be known, of people hiding who they are, who their family was, or not even knowing who you are and can be, a story of poverty and repression, of different fates and waiting.
Amazing characters, and the revelation of a secret Spain kept hidden until 2008 that happened since the beginning of the fascist government until the 80’s.
I cannot even explain how completely enveloping and atmospheric this book was while uncovering such harsh realities, impossible dreams, and love. I truly felt the Spain of the 50’s, the shame, the wretchedness, the huge gap between the Americans that there lived and supported Franco dictatorship.
As hard as the story is, it does give you hope, and I loved it. And, recommend it to all that love amazing historical fiction stories, or generally amazing tales that happens to be inspired by true events.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Grief, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, Hate crime, and Violence
Minor: Infertility, Torture, Cancer, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment