| The Return | 
 enlarge | Author: Victoria Hislop
Publisher: Headline Review
Category: Book
List Price: £17.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 791
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.7
ISBN: 0755332938
EAN: 9780755332939
ASIN: 0755332938
Publication Date: June 26, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New immediat Dispatch
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| Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...
 Gripping account of the Spanish Civil War October 12, 2008
The body of this book consists the story of the Ramirez family of Granada during the Spanish Republic, the Civil War and the ensuing years. It is a tremendously powerful narrative and cannot fail to stir the emotions. The detail reflects the huge effort that the author must have put into her research.
The vehicle for the main story, which is the journey of Sonia, as she tries to fill the gap left in her life by her empty marriage with an adventure into flamenco dancing in Andalucia in the company of her old school friend, is just too improbable to be believable. It is even more incredible that the reader is expected to believe that Sonia hears the whole story of the Ramirez family from the waiter of a back-street Grenadine cafe in a SINGLE day. As if this weren't enough of an integrity challenge, we are further asked to believe the strong connections between the Ramirez family and Sonia, which are inevitably revealed towards the end.
Despite all of this, The Return, is just such a wonderfully moving story, and every single atom of the trials and tribulations of the Ramirez family is totally believable. In fact, it was so believable that I could almost feel the pain and passion that I imagined the members of that family must have felt. I have always been a big fan of historical fiction as it really brings the past to life in a way that dry school books could never do. This story, with all of its sadness and joy, is just SO moving.
I strongly recommend this book to everyone I know, as I am sure that they will not be disappointed. To those of you reading this review who are unknown to me, I say, PLEASE read it! If my review sent you the wrong way, just add a comment to that effect.
 Hidden and heavy depths to a light read October 8, 2008
The reasons I chose this book to read were firstly because I enjoyed "The Island" by the same author, and secondly because I wanted to find out more about the Spanish Civil War, after visiting Spain several times recently and being fascinated by the film Pan's Labyrinth.
It is a perfectly readable story of Mercedes and her family, and how they are destroyed, along with millions of other innocents, in the civil war, which like other civil wars, divided even close family members.
I find it shocking and frightening that the events described happened so recently; but that the name of Franco is not spoken of as frequently and with such loathing as that as Hitler. Also, that the thousands of tourists who visit Spain every year, myself among them, are so sadly ignorant of the horrible, and very recent, events, in this beautiful country.
How can it be forgotten that 150,000 people had to flee Malaga, the same resort famed for its sun and beaches, when it was bombed by Spanish nationalist troops backed up by German, Italian and North African mercenaries, and that people had to walk 150 kms to Almeria, constantly strafed by planes.
That half a million went into exile when Barcelona fell.
And that when Franco entered Madrid he received a telegram of congratulations from the Pope.
The Spanish civil war attracted interest around the globe, with idealists such as George Orwell, Laurie Lee and Ernest Hemingway flocking to help, sometimes naively, in the fight against facism.
So much still remains inexplicable about that time, and I have been recommended another book in my attempt to understand the conflict "The Battle for Spain" by Antony Beevor.
As a story I would have given this three stars, but the historical context and interest boost it up to four.
I love Victoria Hislop! September 30, 2008
The Island was a fab read, and actually inspired me to visit Crete(and Spinalonga),and The Return has done the same thing..Im off to Granada next week!!I just love the way Victoria Hislop transports you to where the story is set in a most realistic way and I was so engrossed in the whole story.It was interesting to find out about the attrocities that happened within the civil war and how it affected normal families. The Ramirez family story was touching, how they were all so different in their views and lifestyles,as would be in any family,but that these differences led to tragedies!Mercedez story showed how her love of dancing helped her through everything during her life,all the sadness and heartache,but she also had happiness.I enjoyed this book thoroughly and though The Island is very hard to beat,The Return comes a close second!Cant wait for the next one Victoria!
Enjoyabloe, intriguing and interesting September 25, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I was eagerly looking forward to this book, and, unlike other readers, was not disappointed at all.
The book is based around the Spanish Civil War, and is incredibly well researched. The 'flashback' sections are very revealing, and echo many of the facts that i have read before about this incredibly traumatic time - whatever side of the war you were on. These fit fairly comfortably with the 'modern day' events, which come together to help us to further understand the traumas inflicted by a civil war. (One only has to hear Michael Portillo or any other Spanish family on the subject to know how families were affected)
One or two events in the story are a little 'contrived', and the final twists are anticipated by all but the main characters, which has reduced it to a 4 star book in my opinion; however, I still feel it to be a good read and worthy of the wait.
The Return September 24, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I found it quite difficult to get into this novel but I was glad I persevered. I only had a small knowledge of the Spanish Civil War but this novel starkly illustrated the horrors of the conflict for me. The problem with the book really lies in the way it's structured. Starting in the present day and going back in history really doesn't work-it made the whole thing very clumsy. It's stretching credibility that Sonia would have happened upon the cafe in Granada where her mother lived by chance. Also would Merceds really have gone wondering around Spain in the middle of the war?. Any why did she go to Bilbao?-there was no real reason to suppose that Javier would be there-this was just a device to get her on the boat to England I think. I found much of the story very compelling and moving but the plot structure was weak.
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