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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
This isn't the sort of book I'd normally pick to read as I'd probably assume it would be overly sentimental or a romance but my step-father suggested it to me and I'm glad he did. It is really well written and had me gripped like a thriller would do but without being a thriller (yes I know that doesn't make a lot of sense).
C.j. Sansom, author of the Shardlake series, creates a story set in 1940 in Madrid. The Spanish Civil War is over, the Second World War is raging and all of Europe is wondering which way Spain will fall. Will they join Germany or stay neutral? The British embassy is a hotbed of intrigue as they try to anticipate what Spain’s dictator, Franco, will do. Sansom is a master at creating atmosphere, and I was filled with tension and even dread as I read this gripping story.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An astonishingly well-crafted historical novel of the Spanish Civil War, the complexity of beliefs and agendas, and the shady dealings done at the highest levels of government. But within this spy thriller set just after the end of the SCW, and during the early stages of WW2 when things didn't look too hopeful for Britain, are the stories of ordinary Spanish lives, and British people who find themselves caught between factions, loyalties, and class. I did not enjoy the neatness and info dumping of the epilogue, but that is a minor quibble.
I really enjoyed this book despite it being pretty depressing and miserable and knowing it was going to end badly. As good as the Shardlake series.
This was nothing like the Matthew Shardlake books, but it was still really good.
But, the characters are engaging. The characters are engaging. The plot is riveting. I don't like a couple of character aspects, but I do think they were realistic.
But, the characters are engaging. The characters are engaging. The plot is riveting. I don't like a couple of character aspects, but I do think they were realistic.
Goed boek, maar ik had er meer van verwacht. Ook omdat ik het heb gekregen en ze er toen razend enthousiast over waren. Dat kaliber was het dan helaas niet.
3 1/2 stars. I was excited to read this as I’m a huge fan of the Shardlake series. Unfortunately, it just slogged along feeling more like a lengthy outline for a novel instead of the finished book. The last few chapters rushed toward the conclusion at breakneck speed and left, for me, a rather unsatisfying end.
Winter in Madrid is set during a tumultuous period of Spanish history during the early years of Franco's reign post-civil war. This uncertain time for the people of Spain, with question's about potential Spanish involvement in the war in Europe, as well as economic woes and political upheaval make it a fascinating backdrop for what is actually quite a British novel.
The story circles around four British individuals who are known to each other through their past (three of whom knew each other at public school)and find themselves situated away from Britain's own war for three very different reasons.
These connections and differences make for a gripping saga throughout which the attitudes and beliefs of all the protagonists change throughout the novel, perhaps echoing an overwhelming period of soul-searching for many Europeans at the time during which the story is set.
Sansom describes a bleak picture of Spain, and the novel is terrifically atmospheric throughout. The characters are all well-rounded (not always an easy thing to pull off when discussing the British middle-classes of the 1940s).
I didn't know a massive amount about the Spanish Civil War before reading the book, but it has definitely given me a desire to learn more about it.
There are a few areas of the novel that could maybe move a little quicker (the build-up to the final set-piece seems to take a while) but generally, the narrative flows well and I had to get to the end to see the conclusion and what happened to the individuals whose lives all fascinated me whilst reading this book.
A must for all fans of historical thrillers.
The story circles around four British individuals who are known to each other through their past (three of whom knew each other at public school)and find themselves situated away from Britain's own war for three very different reasons.
These connections and differences make for a gripping saga throughout which the attitudes and beliefs of all the protagonists change throughout the novel, perhaps echoing an overwhelming period of soul-searching for many Europeans at the time during which the story is set.
Sansom describes a bleak picture of Spain, and the novel is terrifically atmospheric throughout. The characters are all well-rounded (not always an easy thing to pull off when discussing the British middle-classes of the 1940s).
I didn't know a massive amount about the Spanish Civil War before reading the book, but it has definitely given me a desire to learn more about it.
There are a few areas of the novel that could maybe move a little quicker (the build-up to the final set-piece seems to take a while) but generally, the narrative flows well and I had to get to the end to see the conclusion and what happened to the individuals whose lives all fascinated me whilst reading this book.
A must for all fans of historical thrillers.