Rate this book

Guernica (2008)

by Dave Boling(Favorite Author)

3.94 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1596915633 (ISBN13: 9781596915633)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Bloomsbury USA

review 1: I found the first third of the book a little scattered and jumped around to quickly and without a decent segue. The remainder of the book tied most all of the beggining parts back in and began a warm depiction of the family. Enjoyed the saga, and appreciated it wasn't a political platform to rage from one side or another. The author let the actions speak through the devastation of people's happiness. Felt the saga offered around the daughter was predictable, but brought the era put of the Spanish civil war and tied it to WWII with the British tie in.
review 2: I loved this book!I got it on sale for my kindle. Several months went by while I was reading other things. I forgot what this was about. I can't see reviews on the inside jacket, etc. when I have a book ... moreon my kindle, so I just have to dive in and trust that I'll like it.At first, this book seemed like a kind of fluff story about a nice peasant family and their fellow townspeople in the Basque town of Guernica. Then in the middle of a chapter, after some extra space between paragraphs, the author is suddenly talking about Picasso and why he was living in Paris instead of returning to Spain. I was very perplexed at the sudden jump to a different person in a different place. After only a couple of paragraphs about Picasso, the book jumps back to the characters in Guernica. Then after awhile, there is another similar jump to the Red Baron, pilot extraordinaire, in Germany and his relative (nephew?) he's introducing to flying. Back to the Basque folks again. This was not boring, and even though I did not know where we were going with this, I continued on in my usual trusting way for awhile. This book just got better and better as I got to know the characters and their roles in the drama to come. And dramatic it was! I'm just at the tender age of 63 getting interested in world history. This is a fictional story of the bombing of civilians and flattening of the town of Guernica by the Germans at the behest of Franco's rebel forces. Picasso is commissioned to paint a mural depicting the event--hence his famous painting in blacks, greys, and whites entitled "Guernica." I had seen pictures of this dark mural and just went on my way not having any clue what the title or painting meant. And now I KNOW! I learned a lot. My favorite way to learn something about history is to read historical fiction which is enjoyable and at the same time clues me in to events that happened. Then I can look up the events and learn more of the real history.Lives come together in this book, so we have an English pilot and his fiancee who marry. He is then sent to the front. He's shot down and ends up being rescued and smuggled back to England by the Basque smugglers who became part of the resistance in occupied France. The convergence of these people brings about something wonderful at the end. This part of the book was very dramatic and kept me eagerly reading to find out whether my new fictional friends make it out of their dilemma alive.The book has a sweetness to it in spite of the horror of war and the damage done. I loved the small things noticed and pointed out that normal humans do in conversation that we may not notice unless really awake. These moments are sprinkled throughout the book. I loved the character of the priest. He was so caring and realistic--using common sense and love in advising his flock instead of ancient, out-of-date church doctrines. Well there were many very special characters in this book. I highly recommend it! less

Download links for: Guernica

Advertising