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!























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.
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
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.
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!
thx!. This one is great!!!
Very nice site! [url=http://oieypxa.com/kyrxok/2.html]is it yours too[/url]
this is the test message
please ignore this =)
————
12358294867184757274
Perfect work!
Perfect work!
Perfect work!
Great site. Keep doing.
Perfect site, i like it!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Incredible site!
Beautiful site!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Hello Guru, what entice you to post an article. This article was extremely interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Thursday.
Super-Duper site! I am loving it!! Will come back again - taking you feeds also, Thanks.
thanks !! very helpful post!
I want to say - thank you for this!,
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.,
Very cute :-)))),
Great work,webmaster,nice design!,
Great. Now i can say thank you!,
Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write in my site something like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog?
There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also.
Beautiful site!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Perfect work!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great site. Good info.
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Beautiful site!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great site. Keep doing.
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
I want to say - thank you for this!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Beautiful site!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Great site. Keep doing.
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Perfect site, i like it!
Great site. Keep doing.
Incredible site!
Great site. Keep doing.
Beautiful site!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Incredible site!
Perfect work!
Beautiful site!
Great site. Good info.
Incredible site!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Perfect work!
Perfect work!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Incredible site!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Great site. Keep doing.
Incredible site!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
I want to say - thank you for this!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Great site. Good info.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Great site. Good info.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great site. Keep doing.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great site. Keep doing.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great site. Good info.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Great site. Keep doing.
Incredible site!
Great site. Good info.
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Perfect work!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Beautiful site!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
fqlwyonxgzkasj princeslmgty children books grapes performers beans gods toads young rebuttals stairs trout matrons tasks keys ships arrows lapwings bullfinches goldfinches sticks coots hoodlums hares asteroids martens coins snipe onlookers managers pheasants drummers infantry geologists tests candidates security corgis capons sea physicians jugglers bankers falcons cyclists islands sales tennis directors bullets information girls servants natives curs
I want to say - thank you for this!
Perfect work!
I want to say - thank you for this!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Beautiful site!
Great site. Keep doing.
I want to say - thank you for this!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Perfect work!
Perfect site, i like it!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Perfect site, i like it!
Perfect site, i like it!
Great site. Good info.
Great site. Good info.
Great site. Keep doing.
Great site. Good info.
I want to say - thank you for this!
Great site. Good info.
Beautiful site!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Great site. Good info.
Great site. Good info.
I want to say - thank you for this!
Beautiful site!
Beautiful site!
Beautiful site!
Great site. Keep doing.
Great site. Keep doing.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Very nice site! cheap viagra
Very nice site! [url=http://apxoiey.com/qoxaxt/2.html]cheap cialis[/url]
Very nice site!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
It is the coolest site, keep so!
grace site yaor two.
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
grace site yaor two.
Perfect site, i like it!
hi. I review you site
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Incredible site!
Beautiful site!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Great site. Keep doing.
Penis enlargement products for penis enlargement, male enhancement, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation that gives your perfect sexual health at www.Naturalherbalz.com
hi. I review you site
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Perfect work!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Incredible site!
Incredible site!
Perfect site, i like it!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Perfect site, i like it!
Incredible site!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Perfect site, i like it!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great site. Keep doing.
Perfect work!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Great site. Good info.
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Perfect site, i like it!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Beautiful site!
Great site. Good info.
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Beautiful site!