Title: The Fountains of Silence            

Author: Ruta Sepetys                

Genre: Historical Fiction         

Publisher: Philomel Books       

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 512

Rating: 5/5 stars 

Synopsis (Goodreads):

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 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. 

Review:

Thank you @penguinteenca for sending me a copy!

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This book takes place after the Spanish Civil War during Franco’s dictatorship! Families who had opposed Franco during the war are suffering in poverty, and women are oppressed extremely! This we can all see through the eyes of our main character, Ana. She works at an American hotel, but her family lives in poverty and she has to be careful that she is not seen alone with a man, or else her reputation and her family will be ruined! Ana is a character that you immediately feel connected to, as her and her families struggles are so horrendous that you feel a lot of empathy for them! Ana does not want to mess up the opportunity the job at the hotel provides her and her family, but then she meets a hotel guest, Daniel, and she begins to question what she really wants in life!

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Daniel is another very strong character! His family is in Spain because his father is a big oil tycoon and is trying to get rights to drill oil in Spain! His father wants Daniel to take over the family business, but Daniel wants to become a photo journalist! He finds a lot of opportunities to uncover stories in Spain, but he has to be careful to not get in trouble poking his nose where he shouldn’t be!

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I felt like this book is a piece of history that isn’t talked about as popularly as World War Two and such, so this was a breath of fresh air! The characters and their stories were gripping, and I found I didn’t want to put this book down! Highly recommend! 

Happy reading!