The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys | review
Genre: Historical Fiction.
Rating: Four Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Set in Spain in 1957, this novel explores life under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Life for Spaniards is dangerous and scary, but rich tourists and foreign businessmen flock into the country to relax and vacation. Eighteen year old Daniel, son of an oil tycoon, arrives in the country armed with his camera and the goal to connect to his mother’s birth country. He soon connects with Ana- who’s family is facing great hardships after the Spanish Civil War. Daniel’s photographs soon leave him with a mass of dark questions and in a ton of danger.
🔅 I knew nothing about the Spanish Civil War (despite being a history major in college) and was disgusted to realize that the United States government worked with Franco- despite knowing the horrors that were taking place in Spain. I always enjoy learning something new while reading historical fiction and this novel taught me a ton.
🔅 The Fountains of Silence follows Sepety’s standard style- short chapters with a ton of different characters. While I enjoyed this in Salt to the Sea, it made this story seem too disjointed. Plus, there wasn’t a ton of action and it felt like the book dragged between characters.
🔅Even with those complaints, I really enjoyed this book and I’m glad I read it. In the end, the story came full circle and exposed some dark parts of history that deserve discussion.
Genre: Historical Fiction.
Rating: Four Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Set in Spain in 1957, this novel explores life under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Life for Spaniards is dangerous and scary, but rich tourists and foreign businessmen flock into the country to relax and vacation. Eighteen year old Daniel, son of an oil tycoon, arrives in the country armed with his camera and the goal to connect to his mother’s birth country. He soon connects with Ana- who’s family is facing great hardships after the Spanish Civil War. Daniel’s photographs soon leave him with a mass of dark questions and in a ton of danger.
🔅 I knew nothing about the Spanish Civil War (despite being a history major in college) and was disgusted to realize that the United States government worked with Franco- despite knowing the horrors that were taking place in Spain. I always enjoy learning something new while reading historical fiction and this novel taught me a ton.
🔅 The Fountains of Silence follows Sepety’s standard style- short chapters with a ton of different characters. While I enjoyed this in Salt to the Sea, it made this story seem too disjointed. Plus, there wasn’t a ton of action and it felt like the book dragged between characters.
🔅Even with those complaints, I really enjoyed this book and I’m glad I read it. In the end, the story came full circle and exposed some dark parts of history that deserve discussion.