The Time In Between by Maria Duenas - 4 stars

[Theresa]

This is a wonderful story about a young seamstress and her coming of age in Spain and Morocco between 1936 and 1941. It's also a tale of espionage, with real historical figures, including Rosalind Fox who was believed to be a spy for the British, interwoven. Yes, WWII and Germany are central but this is not your typical WWII story, as most of it occurs during the Spanish Civil War and the very early days of WWII before the British declare war on Germany. It centers on the critical position Spain held and the value of it to Germany vs. the British need for it to remain neutral. Also at play is the devastation wrought by the Spanish Civil War and the political upheavals of Franco's early days. All of this was a story new to me and absolutely facinating.

Sira is the daughter of a single mother, a couture seamstress in Madrid, who herself beomes a gifted seamstress of couturier fashion. Sira falls in love with a man who ultimately abandons her in Tangiers, then an independent city in Morocco, leaving her penniless and pregnant. From there Sira ends up in Tetouen, the capital city of the Spanish Protectorate of Morocco (I had to look all that up -- had NO IDEA that Morocco was at one point carved up between the French and Spanish with Tangiers left 'independent'). That is where the guts of the plot begins, and Sira on a wing and a prayer opens an haute couture shop, setting up a means to survive. Eventually Sira returns to Madrid and opens a salon. The reasons why and what happens - you will just have to read the book.

I, of course, absolutely loved the whole sewing and couture salon and seamstress storyline. It created such a wonderful background.

I thought the translation read very smoothly, There's also an extensive bibliography of the works that the author relied upon in her research. Alas, just about every one is in Spanish (given the author is Spanish and htis was published first in Spain, that's no surprise), so I would have to look for translations but certainly it gives anyone interested a place to start for additional reading.

[Booknblues]

Thanks for the review Theresa. There was a time, in which I was trying to find books about the Spanish Civil War and apparently I purchased it then and promptly forgot about it.

[Theresa]

Booknblues wrote: "Thanks for the review Theresa. There was a time, in which I was trying to find books about the Spanish Civil War and apparently I purchased it then and promptly forgot about it."

Oh BnB, I think you would love it!

Actually, I was surprised I owned this when I decided to read it for a non-PBT challenge. I'm thinking we both purchased it as an ebook deal of the day - and it would have leapt out at me due to the seamstress and espionage angles. One of the bits of info new to me was the German involvement in the Spanish Civil War. Admittedly my reading on that particular war has been very limited and mostly through fiction but I can't remember coming across that before.

Germans are very present in this story.

[Booknblues]

Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Thanks for the review Theresa. There was a time, in which I was trying to find books about the Spanish Civil War and apparently I purchased it then and promptly forgot about it."..."

Theresa, I can't seem to pass up a deal. Checking on it, I discovered I also have The School of Essential Ingredients which I purchased at the same time.

I learned about the German connection in high school, but haven't read books which highlight it. I got in the Spanish Civil War kick with Beautiful Exiles and Love and Ruin.

[Theresa]

Booknblues wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Thanks for the review Theresa. There was a time, in which I was trying to find books about the Spanish Civil War and apparently I purchased it then and promptly f..."

Lordy, we are twins! But we knew that ....

I too bought that book as a deal of the day at some point and I have yet to read it though it floats to the top periodically - like when we had the 'food' tag. Maybe 2024 finds us both reading it.

I too started looking at books set during the Spanish Civil War after reading those 2 books. But I haven't progressed far. What I loved particularly here was the whole Morocco section and the fact that there was a real effort put in to keeping Spain neutral --- both because the recent civil war had devastated and another reason or two that are book spoilers. Reminded me of learning about Turkey's efforts to remain neutral during WWII that also included rescuing Jews from France --- that book was another deal of the day at some point - Last Train to Istanbul.

[Booknblues]

Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Thanks for the review Theresa. There was a time, in which I was trying to find books about the Spanish Civil War and apparently I purchased it ..."

I am going to have to read this. I did wonder after Spain was aligned with the Nazis, why they were neutral in WWII and the whole thing with Morocco is interesting.

A couple of others I read (though neither are great) are The Snow Gypsy and The Girl with the Leica. I haven't read The Fountains of Silence, but it is on my tbr.

[Theresa]

Booknblues wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "Thanks for the review Theresa. There was a time, in which I was trying to find books about the Spanish Civil War and apparently..."

What I really think I want to do to read more fiction set during the Spanish Civil War is to read Hemingway (not an author I like much though I did end up liking [bk:The Sun Also Rises|3876] when I read it after The Paris Wife) and any Martha Gellhorn that's out there set during the Spanish Civil War. But I am not rushing down that rabbit hole at the moment. This read was just enough for now.

This book is long -- over 600 pages -- and though I spent about a week reading it, I was also reading another - a NF - and have not had a lot of reading time. It does read quickly when you settle into it.

[Joy D]

I really enjoyed this one, too. I think Amy and I read it together.

[Theresa]

Joy D wrote: "I really enjoyed this one, too. I think Amy and I read it together."

I definitely saw several here had read it and all gave it high ratings but have not had time to read the actual reviews.

[Amy]

Yes, myself and Joy, and a 3rd, and maybe a fourth. Maybe HayJay and Sally, I remember we read it for the Africa tag. Which I think was right in the middle of Poll Tally. Really loved it. I remember it fit quite a few things at the time. It was like a triple move. Right because the other challenge that year was a horizons, and we were all flying all over the place. So the Africa tag was perfect. I think Joy and I both flew there.

[Book Concierge]

There is a telenovela series based on this book. In Spanish (but available with English subtitles). I haven't seen it, but several people in my F2F book club did and said it was wonderful.

[Theresa]

Book Concierge wrote: "There is a telenovela series based on this book. In Spanish (but available with English subtitles). I haven't seen it, but several people in my F2F book club did and said it was wonderful."

I saw that when I googled something - oh the Delphos dress! I wanted to refresh my memory of the original and scenes from the series popped up. I had not looked yet to see who is streaming it.

[Hannah]

Thank you for the review, Theresa. This was on my Subdue list for a few boards, but I never landed on it. I'm still hoping to get to it by the end of the year.