Title: The Fountains of Silence
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Release Date: October 1, 2019
Length: 512 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
***My Review***
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
This time, the narrative takes set in 1960s Spain, under Francisco Franco’s tyranny. Ultimately, Spain is a country about which I know a very little history. The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys drew me in and did an excellent job of both teaching and amusing me. That is the definition of a perfect book, isn’t it?
Mr. Matheson, a Texan oil magnate, travels to Spain with his family in order to negotiate a contract with the Spanish government. The son of an oil tycoon, Daniel Matheson, has a passion for photography and hopes to use his time in Spain to take some outstanding pictures to support his application for a renowned photography award. Without it, Daniel Matheson will have to work in the oil industry with his father to support his education.
Daniel meets a diverse group of people while visiting Spain and staying at the Castellana Hilton, where he also finds love. Daniel picks up a lot of knowledge about cultures, post-war life, what true suffering is, and some of the dark and profound secrets Spain is harboring while photographing and touring Madrid.
From the outset, it is clear that this gloomy historical era was marked by a dash of humanity and compassion, as well as a broad expanse of unimaginable sorrow, pain, and despair, as well as the tyranny of a totalitarian state. Sepetys skillfully spins a story out of several threads and then gradually brings it all together. Although it started off quite slowly, as it gathered up speed, I was unable to turn the pages quickly enough.
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys was a quick read because of the short chapters and little cliffhangers scattered throughout. It was a terrible portrayal of Spain’s past, a period of its history that I haven’t read much about.
The newspaper clippings or quotations from political figures and others discussing the time and events between the chapters were what I found to be most interesting. As a wake-up call that yes, this was reality, it was a excellent touch to the fabricated scenario the reader is introduced to.
There were many startling aspects, including child trafficking, the participation of the Catholic Church, and the tendency of selfish businesspeople and nations to just gaze at the opulent lodgings designed to entice the affluent and powerful. One such subject that will keep you thinking for a while and raise many queries about how historical wrongs were let to be done is “the lost children of Francoism.”
Yet, everything was harmoniously balanced and infused with the sweet optimism of a fresh romance. There are so many layers, so many realities, and so many viewpoints…
The writing style of Ruta Sepetys is practically flawless. It is flowing and precise, expressing several feelings and images in a little number of words without ever being redundant. Her writing is among the most impactful I’ve ever read.
Reading this book taught me a lot, and I think that’s what historical fiction is all about—getting readers to understand more about obscure historical topics that are frequently left out of school curricula. Seeing the clash of these two very different cultures was intriguing. American freedom to do practically everything they desire contrasts with Spanish people’s hardly being able to breathe.
The Fountains of Silence’s various talks are opened up by the intentional parallels made between Daniel and Ana, which Sepetys makes the most of. By using these similarities, the author underlines culture as a major theme of the plot and illustrates the concerns people have while attempting to cross cultural boundaries.
Let’s proceed with the characters. There are numerous points of view in this novel, but it was quite simple to tell who was speaking when since each character’s voice differs so much from the others. The contrast between the rich and underprivileged is emphasized by putting some chapters at the Hilton and others in a destitute community.
Also, the location and the mood were brilliantly utilized as comparison points. The warmth of blood spilled during bullfights and attacks by the Guardia Civil stand in stark contrast to Madrid’s beauty.
The two main characters in the novel, Daniel and Ana, were both well-developed and simple to cheer for. It was fascinating to hear from both of their points of view and observe how their perspectives varied because they came from such diverse backgrounds and cultures.
There were a ton of secondary characters who were well-developed and worked into the plot, including Rafa, Julia, Ben, Nick, Puri, Miguel, and many others. Also, they added to the story’s overall cohesiveness.
The romance comes last. Although romance played a much larger role in the plot than I had imagined, I didn’t mind because Ana and Daniel were a good couple and their romance had a purpose. It was amusing to see the romance blossom since it was a slow burn and added a nice dash of freshness and hope to the whole story.
If you’re interested in this time period in Spanish history and you like reading engaging historical fiction, The Fountains of Silence is a great pick. A book that will make you root for your favorite characters and cry at the same time.
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys is both educational and inspiring, and it will stick with you long after you’ve read it. Everyone who appreciates historical fiction must read it.