Victoria Hislop, The Return

The Return by Victoria Hislop - Her marriage to a much older Englishman is tedious so Sonia and her best friend Maggie take dancing lessons. When she sees pictures of her mom, Sonia decides to learn more about her maternal heritage in Spain. She and Maggie fly to Grenada for flamenco lessons to escape from the monotony and find the former's roots.

At a caf , the owner tells Sonia about his family in the 1930s. Concha and Pablo Ramirez raised four children while running a caf in town. Antonio is a teacher; Ignacio is a matador; Emilio is managing the caf ; and their only daughter Mercedes is a flamenco dancer, who loves guitarist Javier Montero. Life is good for the Ramirez brood until the Spanish Civil War erupts.

This is a super look at Spain that fascinatingly uses the impact of the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s that killed a half million people in three years on yet unique aspects of the culture survive such as a love of dance and the risk of bull-fighting. Readers will appreciate this tour hosted by the Ramirez family as Sonia finds her maternal roots and much more; symbolized by seven decades old dancing shoes.

Even better than The Island though it followed the same framework. A wonderfully rounded novel which brought the Spanish Civil War with all its brutality and deprivations to life, as well as providing good cultural background on the flamenco and bull-fighting. I love and was gripped by the story - this is the best book I have read this year and I can't wait for her next!!!