Wildcard #4 ~ “A book by an author who has a book on your ‘favourite books’ shelf.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
My opinion in three sentences:
I’m a great fan of Sepetys’ past works – not only does she write with skill and elegance, but there’s always something new to learn from her tales. The Fountains of Silence is again another example of this, offering an insight into the hidden history of Spain in the post-Second World War period, and crafted with Sepetys’ usual expertise. The characters here, however, were a lot less distinguishable than in her past works, feeling less real, and the reliance on these to progress the book (as opposed to an adrenaline-packed, edge-of-the-seat plotline, which would have been extremely out of place and inappropriate for this tale) limited it from becoming the page-turner it could have been.
(Without spoiling anything) the best bit:
When you pick up a book by Sepetys, you just know it’s going to be a well-researched exploration into some hidden history (that you, and the rest of the world, should really know more about). The Fountains of Silence certainly didn’t disappoint. Including extracts from real-world sources and photographs to add an even greater context, Sepetys brought late-1950s Spain to life without overwhelming, bombarding or talking down to the reader.
A warning for the book:
As I alluded to above, the characters aren’t quite crafted to the usual high standard of Sepetys’ works. Rather than being their own distinct entities, several (particularly the minor characters) almost blend into one another, and as such the whole crew feel less real. Being a character-driven novel is the right approach for the story Sepetys is telling, but this weak characterisation drags the whole thing down. The main source of momentum stems from a romantic relationship, and without such strong connections to the characters involved, parts of the story almost drag. It’s a shame, but don’t let it put you off completely, as there’s still a gem of a tale at heart!
Recommended for fans of:
- Prisoner of the Inquisition by Theresa Breslin
- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
- A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman
N.B.: An e-ARC of this book was received from Net Galley in return for a reflective and honest review.
Dreaming With Your Eyes Wide Open 