Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Review: The Vineyard: A Novel

The Vineyard: A Novel The Vineyard: A Novel by María Dueñas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I liked this book, I didn't love it.

I'd heard so many amazing things about the author's other book "El tiempo entre costuras" (The time in between that, although I haven't read it, I was expecting probably too much.

This is the story of Mauro Larrea, a widower who emigrated from Spain to Mexico in the 19th century, worked in the mines, raised his two children and landed himself a place in society, only to lose it all after a bad business venture. From Mexico he goes to Cuba and then back to Spain.

I know this is fiction, but it was way too improbable. Even if money can buy most things, it was too much to believe.

Larrea is neither good nor bad, but he doesn't seem to have much of a conscience.
The other main character, Soledad Montalvo is much like him. They lacked depth. The plot and place descriptions, on the contrary, are extremely good and detailed

For me, it read like a soap opera: too many adventures, a bit of romance and a happy ending.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review


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