The Fountains of Silence

Author: Ruta Sepetys
Genre: Historical Fiction (Spain)
Type: Hardcover
Pages: 512
Source: Local Public Library
Publisher: Philomel Books
First Published: October 1, 2019
Opening Line: They stand in line for blood.

Book Description from GoodReads: A portrait of love, silence, and secrets under a Spanish dictatorship.

Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera. Photography--and fate--introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War--as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.

My Rating: 4 stars

My Review: The Fountains of Silence is set in the 1950's Madrid and focuses on a sweet love story between two teens from different cultures during a turbulent time in Spain's history. I came to learn, after reading the book, that Sepetys wrote this with a Teen reader in mind. I had assumed, as I read, that it had an adult focus. Knowing that tidbit now, makes more sense because it had a much lighter feel than I had expected for a book that focused on such emotional and distressing issues.

This is a character-driven story, told using short chapters and multiple points of view. There are many characters who take the reigns of the story, but they were easy to keep track of and their POVs allow the reader to see many sides of the issues. There are subplots that focus on the abuse, deception, paranoia and persecution that Franco's dictatorship incited in the years after the Spanish Civil War. Some of these subplots added a bit of mystery which kept my interest piqued even when the book seemed to drag a bit in the middle.

This was an enjoyable and engaging read and Sepetys gets full marks for teaching readers about part of Spain's history which will hopefully encourage them to explore more in that area. But even though the book was written with a Teen reader in mind, I still think the book would have benefited with grittier descriptions, emotional connections to the characters and events. While this was a little too light for me, this would be a good pick for readers who want a lighter look at history combined with a sweet romance.