Calling to mind such timeless war-and-love classics as Corelli's Mandolin and The English Patient, Guernica is a transporting novel that thrums with the power of storytelling and is peopled with characters driven by grit and heart. In 1935, Miguel Navarro finds himself in conflict with the Spanish Civil Guard and flees the Basque fishing village of Lekeitio to make a new start in Guernica, the center of Basque culture and tradition. In the midst of this isolated bastion of democratic values, Miguel finds more than a new life—he finds someone to live for. Miren Ansotegui is a charismatic and graceful dancer who has her pick of the bachelors in Guernica, but she focuses only on the charming and mysterious Miguel. The two discover a love that war and tragedy cannot destroy. History and fiction merge seamlessly in this beautiful novel about the resilience of family, love, and tradition in the face of hardship. The bombing of Guernica was a devastating experiment in total warfare by the German Luftwaffe in the run-up to World War II. For the Basques, it was an attack on the soul of their ancient nation; for the world, it was an unprecedented crime against humanity. In his first novel, Boling reintroduces the event and paints his own picture of a people so strong, vibrant, and proud that they are willing to do whatever it takes to protect their values, their country, and their loved ones.
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"A lovely but sad story set in the spanish civil war. It reminded me a lot of The Return by Victoria Hislop. I liked how it when through the generations at the beginning to bring the characters to life. "
— Emma (4 out of 5 stars)
“Boling threads his way through the stories of his many characters with humor, compassion, and rich details.”
— Washington Post“A first-class romance…That Boling’s first effort has brought so many notable characters to life in such realistic settings is praiseworthy.”
— Los Angeles Times“James handles the material with aplomb, given the atrocities rendered.”
— AudioFile“A very good novel indeed—and a crucial reminder that genocidal folly is never as far away from us as we might wish.”
— Kirkus ReviewsA first-class romance.... That Boling's first effort has brought so many notable characters to life in such realistic settings is praiseworthy.
— Los Angeles Times" I now want to learn everything about Basque history. "
— Dana, 3/24/2011" Very powerful and emotional account of the Bombing of Guernica, enjoyed the passages from picasso's point of view and indeed the narrative as a whole. A passionate and engaging read "
— Tom, 2/10/2011" Very good story set during the Spanish civil war. The piece detailing the German bombing of Guernica describes the undoubted horror of it really well. "
— Martin, 12/20/2010" a little slow getting into ....but i think i had high expectations due to the person who recommended it to me...ahem......but i thoroughly enjoyed it! Esp. the ending:) "
— Shana, 12/8/2010" I had heard good things about this book and although a bit slow at times I was not disappointed. It has a bit of Hemmingwayesque feel and tone to it but does not go overboard. "
— Jay, 10/27/2010" I actually gave this up midway through because the writer spent WAY too long setting the scene. Once the bombing happened, it picked up a great deal and I really enjoyed the end and was glad I went back to it. "
— Maryrose, 10/27/2010" amazing amazing amazing amazing, couldn't say enough about this book. "
— Natascha, 10/4/2010Dave Boling, a veteran columnist for the Tacoma News Tribune, has provided coverage and commentary on sports since 1980. In 1998, he was honored as the top sports columnist in the Pacific Northwest. Boling has covered Super Bowls, Final Fours, and the Olympics. He is the author of Tales from the Gonzaga Hardwood and coauthor of Jim Walden’s Tales from the Washington State Cougars Sideline.
Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been a working professional actor in theater, film, television, and voice-overs for more than thirty years. He has narrated over one thousand audiobooks and won numerous Earphones Awards and nominations for the Audie Award and the Voice Arts Award. He holds a BFA degree in acting from Santa Fe University, New Mexico.