The Time in Between in Around the World

May 26, 2014 Lilisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: translated, morocco, historical-fiction, 2015, portugal, around-the-world-2015, you-ll-love-this-one, spain

Read during my vacation – glad I did so then, which gave me the ability to spend a good chunk of time with the book. Set during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, this novel is aptly described as “sweeping.” Moving from Spain to Morocco, back to Spain, a side journey to Portugal and then returning to Spain, the book follows the life of Sira Quiroga, who we meet as a young, innocent girl as the story begins, then transformed by life and circumstance, into a sophisticated popular fashion desi Read during my vacation – glad I did so then, which gave me the ability to spend a good chunk of time with the book. Set during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, this novel is aptly described as “sweeping.” Moving from Spain to Morocco, back to Spain, a side journey to Portugal and then returning to Spain, the book follows the life of Sira Quiroga, who we meet as a young, innocent girl as the story begins, then transformed by life and circumstance, into a sophisticated popular fashion designer and adept espionage expert. The daughter of a Madrid dressmaker, Sira learns to sew apprenticing at her mother’s employer with a view to following in her mother’s footsteps and marrying her civil servant fiancé Igancio. But infatuation gets in the way. Swept off her feet by 34-year old Ramiro Arribas, she leaves her fiancé and embarks on a heady but short-lived whirlwind with Ramiro, escaping to Morocco where Ramiro fleeces her and leaves her abandoned, destitute and depressed. Emerging from this dark period of her life, Sira with the help of Candelaria, a scrappy and gritty friend, reinvents herself – becoming a well-sought after fashion designer who meets and becomes friends with Rosalinda Fox (a true character historical character), the mistress of one of Spain’s top attaché in Morocco. Recruited by British intelligence she returns to Spain to spy on the unsuspecting German officers’ wives who she caters to – all against the backdrop of a raging World War II. Transmitting vital information by code in the form of stitches, Sira is caught up in a dangerous and risky espionage game that threatens not only her life but another shot at a love that is mired in a web of lies. Maria Duenas has crafted an intriguing, interesting and provocative historical fiction as we embark on the journey with Sira – naïve at the start, followed by self-pity, determination and confidence, how far has Sira come by the end of the book and is she a likable character? Do circumstances dictate her actions and how does she take charge of her destiny? Therein lies the success of a book – many questions to ponder, and I particularly enjoyed learning more about Morocco as a Spanish protectorate and life during that time. Definitely a recommended read. ...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Barbarac rated it really liked it

Shelves: africa, historical-fiction, wwii, europe, tbr2014

I've had this chunky book sitting on my nightstand for a couple of years, but it's volume scared me. Not because I don't enjoy long books...on the contrary, I find myself reading through nights to finish them, and then being a zombie at work and at home. And I can't really function like that any more.
But finally I said to myself, I'll sleep when I'm dead. And boy, I'm glad I did (say that to myself, not sleep while dead).
What a great life adventure to read. I wish it was based on somebody real, ...more

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Jun 26, 2013 Maria rated it it was amazing

Loved this! I always love when you can learn something new and have a good read at the same time.

Great character development as well, Sira starts off young and immature and there's a lot of growth in her character- this is what I loved most of all, that at every point you can understand her motivations and behaviour completely.

The writing moves at a steady pace and there's a lot going on here- set against a background of the spanish civil war and hitler's early regime, it moves in 3 countries, ...more

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