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Guernica
Guernica: A Novel | Dave Boling
5 posts | 5 read | 1 reading | 7 to read
In 1935, Miguel Navarro finds himself on the wrong side of the Spanish Nationalists, so he flees to Guernica, the most ancient town of the Basque region. In the midst of this idyllic, isolated bastion of democratic values, Miguel finds more than a new life-he finds a love that not even war, tragedy or death can destroy. The bombing of Guernica was a devastating experiment in total warfare by the German Luftwaffe in the run-up to World War II . For the Basques, it was an attack on the soul of their ancient nation. History and fiction merge seamlessly in this beautiful novel about the resilience of family, love, and tradition in the face of hardship.
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TrishB
Guernica: A Novel | Dave Boling
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Pickpick

What a wonderful read ❤️ loved the weaving of the family story with the atrocity of Guernica.
Got lost down the rabbit hole a couple of times reading about the Spanish Civil War generally.
Thank you Helen- a reminder of our lovely day in Manchester, BC 😘

squirrelbrain Oh I‘m so glad you liked it. It‘s one of those books that I keep buying to give to people. 😘 And yes, one day there will be another meet-up....😁 5y
Birdsong28 @squirrelbrain @TrishB I hope there will be a meet up when this is over, would like to come this time 🤞 5y
TrishB @squirrelbrain it had a great family story with enough of the politics to make you interested in what actually happened. I would love to see the actual Picasso painting. 5y
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TrishB @Birdsong28 I would definitely be up for another one ASAP! 😘 5y
BarbaraBB I saw and read about the Picasso. I didn‘t know about this book! 5y
TrishB @BarbaraBB the Picasso but makes it even more interesting. 👍🏻 5y
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Smiffysays
Guernica: A Novel | Dave Boling
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Mehso-so

Slow to get into and had to read up on some of the history to understand the context but a good read.

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Smiffysays
Guernica: A Novel | Dave Boling
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Next on the reading pile after a recommendation from a friend. Hope I enjoy it! 🤞🏻

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Libby1
Guernica: A Novel | Dave Boling
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Bailedbailed

I can't believe I'm doing this so quickly but I'm bailing.

There's nothing at all WRONG with this book. The characters sometimes have interesting (if sometimes one dimensional) qualities, and the descriptive language is frequently beautiful.

But it has been compared with Captain Corelli's Mandolin, which I nearly hated. And 90 pages in it FEELS like Captain Corelli.

Probably a worthy book but not for me.

Aleida What's it about? All I can think of is Picasso's masterpiece. 7y
Libby1 @Aleida - later on in the book it addresses the massacre at Guernica, which inspired Picasso's painting. The section I read leading up to this was a multi-generational family drama, and that's just not always my thing. Also, some of the female characters seemed just a little too perfect. I think a lot of people would enjoy this book as it's well written, but I needed to move on! 7y
Aleida Too many books out there to spend time on books we don't like. 7y
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Libby1 True, @Aleida . True! 7y
kspenmoll Totally agree with @Aleida !!!! 7y
Libby1 Thanks, @kspenmoll . I have no regrets! 7y
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Libby1
Guernica: A Novel | Dave Boling
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And now for something completely different...

I'm going to Spain next month so I've started to read books set around the time of the Spanish Civil War so I can understand it better (as you do).

I'm hoping to get my hands on a copy of Orwell's Homage to Catalonia as well.

hlgreenfield I'd recommend some Hemingway as well. ( But I'm bias because I love his books). 7y
hlgreenfield Also because I forgot - enjoy Spain! It's a beautiful place!! 7y
LeeRHarry This is a light read that is set during the Spanish Civil War - well at least part of it is - it's set in Granada a place I love - enjoy your trip!! 😊 7y
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Laalaleighh Ok but if you're going to Spain and don't need something exactly Spanish civil war have you read Shadow of the wind and it's follow ups Angel's game and prisoner of heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon? Because 😻 7y
Libby1 Thanks, @hlgreenfield ! I read some Hemingway as a high schooler but I'm sure I missed some things. I may revisit him. 🙂 7y
Libby1 Thanks, @LeeRHarry ! I've added it to Mount TBR. 7y
Libby1 Hi, @Laalaleighh ! I read Shadow of the Wind a number of years ago but I'm going to read it again before I go! Or maybe while I'm there... 7y
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