Aug 28 2008
Guernica - Review and Giveaway
Guernica is an outstanding novel, and the fact that it is Dave Boling’s first is truly remarkable. I have read a lot about World War II - both fiction and nonfiction, and yet I had never heard of Guernica’s story before. In the run-up to World War II, the Nazis were helping General Franco take over Spain. One of Franco’s goals was to rid Spain of the Basque culture. The Nazis saw an opportunity to align themselves with Franco and, at the same time, perform an experiment in total warfare in order to prepare for the coming war.
On April 26, 1937, the Luftwaffe “Condor Legion” bombarded the Basque town of Guernica. They dropped bomb after bomb, and then fighter planes swooped down and shot down any survivors, even following people into fields and shooting them down. Men, women, children, the elderly - the Nazis did not discriminate. The results were devastating - entire families wiped out, hundreds killed, even more maimed and disabled for life.
I keep thinking that I understand the extent of the atrocities the Nazis perpetrated on the human race, but then another incident of inexplicable evil and horror comes to my attention. The magnitude of the atrocities are inconceivable, truly “The Devil’s Arithmetic,” as Jane Yolen so aptly titled her YA novel of the holocaust.
Boling is a natural as a writer of historical fiction, as he introduces characters that live and breathe on the pages of his book. Justo and Mariangeles; their daughter Miren; Miguel and Dodo, the fisherman’s sons; the blind soapmaker Alaia; Father Xabier, Justo’s brother and an advisor to Spain’s beleaguered President Aguirre - all of these people bring the events of history to life and make the devastation of Guernica personal. As Boling tells the story of Guernica and her people, he also tells the story of human suffering, heroism, and amazing fortitude. The Basque culture is portrayed in all its beauty, and the countryside of Spain is described so well that you can see, hear, taste, and smell it.
One of my favorite authors of historical fiction is Leon Uris. Boling’s writing style reminds me of Uris in Trinity - one of my all-time favorite books. The fact that I thought of Uris as I was reading Guernica is high praise indeed. I will be eagerly watching for any further books from Dave Boling.
5 stars
For more information on Guernica, visit the Guernica Peace Museum.
Now, the really cool thing is that yesterday, when I was about 30 pages away from finishing my ARC copy of Guernica, a beautiful hardback publisher’s copy arrived in the mail. I’m going to be selfish and keep the hardback for myself, but I will gladly give the ARC to one of you! Here’s how it works:
~ This giveaway is open to readers in the US and Canada only, since I am covering the cost of postage myself.
~ For one entry, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 pm PST, Friday, September 5, 2008. Be sure that your comment includes a valid e-mail address so that I can reach you if you win.
~ For an additional entry, include in your comment the title and author of your favorite work of historical fiction.
~ For a third entry, blog about this giveaway. Then come back and leave another comment with the link to your post.
~ I’ll draw a winner sometime on Saturday, September 6th, and then e-mail the winner for mailing info.
Good luck!
Carrie, this sounds fascinating! Not only do I want to look for this book, but you mentioned other books and authors that I’m going to explore. Thanks!
Sounds very good Carrie!! Enter me!!
I wouldn’t know about historical fiction, unless Little Women counts
That sounds really interesting. I heard a radio program about the Spanish Civil War earlier in the year and it is a historical event not much studied. My only knowledge of Guernica is the Picasso painting.
I recently blogged about a very good work of historical fiction (not for kids): Skeletons at the Feast (Steph from Tribe of Autodidacts recommended it). It is also very good and raises some very interesting questions. If you want to stick with a WWII theme.
i would like to be entered! my favorite historical fictional novel is atonement by ian mcewan and the other boleyn girl
btw i love that you have that harry potter and the half blood prince countdown up there is it really that long till the movie comes out? it comes out in november i hope you know that and if you didn’t well now you know! hope that made your day : )
Hi Carrie! I’d love to get this book! I was wondering if you’ve read The Hiding Place by Corrie TenBoom? My mother in law has recommended it to me and I have it on order at the library! I was just wondering what your thoughts were.
I hate to be a copycat, but my favorites may be either Mila 18 or Exodus, both by Leon Uris. I also enjoyed Wouk’s WInds of War and War and Remembrance.
This sounds like a very powerful book. Thanks for the review as I’d never heard of it either.
I’d really like to win this book. I have never heard of Guernica before (neither the book nor the place). It sounds like it would be fascinating!
I like “The Thornbirds” by Colleen McCullough.
Please enter me!
It’s hard to pick one favourite historical fiction so I’ll pick one of my favourite recent reads.
“The Horesman’s Graves” by Jaqueline Baker which I recently gave a 5/5 .
What a wonderful review. It sounds like a great read.
Please enter me in your giveaway.
My favorite historical fiction book would be Exodus by Leon Uris (sorry to list the same as someone else), and Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. That said, I have many other favorites, I just think I’ve read both of those three or four times over the past 20 years or so.
Happy Labor Day! What a fun book giveaway drawing. As of now, my favorite historical fiction book is
“The Last Queen: A Novel” by C.W. Gortner. Please enter me in your delightful drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
I love reading historical fiction. I really liked, “The Good Earth” by Pearl S. Buck.
I like memoirs, too (not fiction), like “Wild Swans” and “The Girl in the Red Coat”.
onlycancan at hotmail dot com
Yes, indeed, this does sound like a book I’d enjoy reading. Oh, it’s so hard to nail down a favorite. My mind goes blank, the perfectionist in me comes out (”yes, yes, that was good, but would you say it was your *favorite*?”) and a layer of sweat beads out on my upper lip.
Killer Angels by Michael Shaara has stuck with me many, many years after reading it. (There. That wasn’t so traumatic…;)
I blogged about it here:
http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/2008/09/book-giveaways.html
Oh, how I would love something new to read that is so highly recommended! One of my all-time favorites is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
I love historically based books, count me in!
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds interesting, I’m not familiar with Guernica but was a frequent visitor to Spain and on my last trip my friend took me around and seemed to keep dropping Franco’s name at every site we visited. Have visited the Holocaust Museum in DC and it is very powerful in demonstrating not just the loss of life but all the suffering that ocurred.
I like the Chinese Gold Murders by Robert van Gulik.
I’d totally love to read this book. I’ve been to Basque Country. And I love the Picasso painting of Guernica. Please randomly pick me!
I was wondering if you could set up some sort of system so when your publish a new article, i get emailed to alert me?