From the Bookshelf of Constant Reader…

Winter in Madrid

C.J. Sansom

Start date: October 15, 2009

Finish date: October 15, 2009

Discussion: Reading List

Discussion leader: Dottie

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Reading List

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What Members Thought

Mar 10, 2009 Laura rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-2009, hf-world-war-ii, buddy-read

This book speaks as itself, in spite the author doesn't employ Spanish characters. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Nov 17, 2010 Rosana rated it liked it

Shelves: 2010, historical

I am having a very hard time reading lately. There is the pressure of time, but even more there is the feeling that I cannot at this moment handle anything too emotionally draining. So I chose to read this book – an historical mystery type of book – to get me over the rump. Like other reviewers, I found the book too long, a bit predictable and a tad unbelievable. But 3 stars I gave it!

First of all, it did help me – at least I know that a book can keep my attention, and I might just try another o ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 21, 2009 Ruth rated it it was ok

I can't exactly put my finger on why this book didn't catch me. I kept plodding along, waiting for something to happen. Then all the action was crowded into the end.

My first reaction was, how come it took such a long book to get us to this not-very-believeable end?

My second was, this book reminds me of amateur stories I've read, where, after a long series of strange adventures, it concludes with "And then I woke up."

It was not a bad book, but not a memorable one, either. Too long a build up for ...more

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Feb 27, 2009 Dottie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ocitylibrary, 2009, spain

While the story definitely moves along and draws us in -- toward the end I must admit I was *expletive deleted* at the developments a few times it was that kind of involvement -- there were moments which took me completely or a tiny bit out of the story -- and those were enough to lessen the effect of this one overall. I do feel there is a great deal of information which is smoothly included in the book though and it has moved me to read more on the history of the times in Spain and the world as ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 24, 2009 Rashida marked it as to-read

Shelves: will-finish-later

Picked it up for a group read, but it really is not subject matter that I would have chosen for myself. I gave it four chapters and it hasn't grabbed me. It will still be laying around before I take it back to the library, so maybe I'll give it a few more page turns. But it's thick, and there are too many books and too little time. ...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Geoffrey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: thrillers

Mr. Sansom has given us a wonderful and sad espionage thriller from Spain 1940. The tale involves three public school friends and a woman, each on a divergent path, yet they all clash together. It unfolds like a winter mist in Madrid, offering readers great characters, splendid historic atmosphere, and a terrific and clever climax. Winter in Madrid is a combination of A Separate Peace and Graham Greene at his best.

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Mar 25, 2009 Jessica rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical, world-war-ii, spain

Sansom does an excellent job here of capturing the feelings of dislocation and loss of identity that emerge from war and the constant upheaval conflict imposes even on those who try to dissociate themselves from it.

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