The Return

Product Details

Author : Victoria Hislop
Binding : Hardcover
EAN : 9780755332939
Number of Pages : 432
Product Group : Book
Publication Date : 2008-06-26
Publisher : Headline Review

ASIN : 0755332938

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Editorial Reviews

The Times

The Return, 'may be a beach book, but it goes inland and rummages around the cellars'

Review

‘At last – a beach book with a heart’

(Observer )

'A compelling story that has rarely left the bestseller list this year and deservedly so'

(Sunday Express )

Product Description

The mesmerising new novel from the author of the smash hit The Island

Beneath the majestic towers of the Alhambra, Granada’s cobbled streets resonate with music and secrets. Sonia Cameron knows nothing of the city’s shocking past; she is here to dance. But in a quiet café, a chance conversation and an intriguing collection of old photographs draw her into the extraordinary tale of Spain’s devastating civil war.

 

Seventy years earlier, the café is home to the close-knit Ramírez family. In 1936, an army coup led by Franco shatters the country’s fragile peace, and in the heart of Granada the family witnesses the worst atrocities of conflict. Divided by politics and tragedy, everyone must take a side, fighting a personal battle as Spain rips itself apart.

 

Captivating and deeply moving, Victoria Hislop’s second novel is as inspiring as her international bestselling debut, The Island.

Synopsis

The mesmerising new novel from the author of the smash hit The Island"Beneath the majestic towers of theAlhambra,Granada's cobbled streets resonate with music and secrets. Sonia Cameron knows nothing of the city's shocking past; she is here to dance. But in a quiet cafe, a chance conversation and an intriguing collection of old photographs draw her into the extraordinary tale ofSpain's devastating civil war. Seventy years earlier, the cafe is home to the close-knit Ramirez family. In 1936, an army coup led by Franco shatters the country's fragile peace, and in the heart ofGranada the family witnesses the worst atrocities of conflict. Divided by politics and tragedy, everyone must take a side, fighting a personal battle asSpain rips itself apart. Captivating and deeply moving, Victoria Hislop's second novel is as inspiring as her international bestselling debut, The Island.

About the Author

Victoria Hislop is a writer and journalist. She writes travel features for the Sunday Telegraph, the Mail on Sunday and a number of magazines. She also writes regular features on education for the Daily Telegraph, and celebrity profiles for Woman & Home. Victoria lives in Kent with her husband, Ian Hislop, and their two children.

Customer Reviews

A Bit Disappointed (2008-09-04)

I loved "The Island" and as soon as I had finished it I ordered "The Return". I found the parts about Sonia really boring and couldn't wait to get the the Spanish Civil War in Part 2. I didn't think the book "worked" and I doubted if I would even finish it. However, I perservered to the end and found it all very predictable. After "The Island", a very disappointing read.

Dreary (2008-09-01)

I loved the Island with no expectation that I would. It occurs to me that with The Return her publishers asked for the 'same again, different location...and in double quick time' to cash in on the success of The Island. The Return felt very forced, as though the writer's heart just wasn't in the characters or the plot. It was frankly all too far fetched and rather dreary. Hislop is a terrific writer and I look forward to her next book.

What a disappointment! (2008-08-18)

Victoria Hislop has taken a passionate part of Spanish history and turned it into a disappointing and flat novel. Although the book has been well-researched, it appears to have been a hastily written and none of the characters really spring to life, especially Sonia who is rather a pathetic creature compared to her sensual mother! The use of flashbacks does not work at all and there is a complete lack of suspense. My advice - read 'Winter in Madrid' by C J Sansom.

Fantastic read! (2008-08-13)

I thought this book was wonderful. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a book as much and this one kept me up late every night - I just couldn't put it down. The Spanish Civil War has interested me for a long time, but any material I've read on it has been too complex for me. This story gave a remarkable insight into what every Spanish family must have gone through during that terrible time. To me, the characters were very real and I could feel all their pain; particularly that of Concha (being a mother myself). It was heart-breaking to discover such things happened. At the beginning of the story, I thought it strange that Sonia appeared to know very little about her mother's past. I never quite understood why most Spaniards are reluctant to discuss the civil war and their experiences. However, after reading the book, I understand completely. It must have been terrifying to have lived through that; never quite knowing who to trust. Personally, I liked the way the two stories linked together, and having been to Granada I thought that Ms Hislop described the city as it is today, and the people, just perfectly. It answered a lot of questions for me, and at the same time it told a fascinating tale. I would highly recommend it. I'd love to see a follow-up!!

Just awful (2008-08-08)

What a disappointment if you are expecting a good gripping read! Victoria Hislop's previous book 'The Island' was the best book I'd read in a long time but 'The Return' is dreary and the outcome predictable. I skipped whole sections of the Civil War passages as they slow down the narrative and frankly are boring. I think CJ Samson's 'Winter in Madrid' is a more successful fictional account using the backdrop of events and atmosphere of the Spanish Civil War.I was also irked by the rather trite style of writing which detracts from the plot.

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