Thursday, January 7, 2016

The Time In Between - The Friday 56 and Book Beginnings on Friday

10836813
The Time In Between by Maria Dueñas has it all - mystery, intrigue, history, exotic settings, romance, and a strong female protagonist, set in the years leading up to World War II. This book grabbed me and wouldn't let go!
     As someone who sews as a hobby, I also enjoyed reading about the main character's profession as a seamstress and the styles women wore during that era. The author lists an extensive bibliography at the end of the book, which tells me she did a mountain of research. It shows in the detail. I highly recommend this book.
FYI: Billed as "Spain's Downton Abbey", the book was made into a miniseries. Subtitled episodes are available on DramaFever and Hulu's Drama Fever Channel. 

Book Beginning:
     A typewriter shattered my destiny. The culprit was a Hispano-Olivetti, and for weeks, a store window kept it from me. Looking back now, from the vantage point of the years gone by, it's hard to believe a simple mechanical object could have the power to divert the course of an entire life in just four short days, to pulverize the intricate plans on which it was built. And yet that is how it was, and there was nothing I could have done to stop it.

The Friday 56 (two sentences from Page 56 in my trade paperback):
     I discovered that there are substances you can smoke or inject or snort that will jumble your senses, that there are people capable of gambling away their mother at a baccarat table, and that there are passions of the flesh that allow for far more combinations than just those of a man and a woman horizontally on a mattress. I learned, too, that there are things that happen in the world that my dim education had never touched upon: I found out that years earlier there had been a great war in Europe, that Germany was being ruled by someone called Hitler who was admired by some and feared by others, and that someone who one day occupied a given place with a feeling of permanence could the following day vanish in order to save his skin, to avoid being beaten to death or ending up in a place worse than his darkest nightmare.

Genre: Historical Fiction / World Literature (Spanish & Portuguese)
Book Length: 609 Pages
Amazon Link: The Time In Between



Synopsis:
     The Time In Between is a word-of-mouth phenomenon that catapulted María Dueñas, a debut author, to the top of Spain's bestseller lists.
     This sweeping novel, which combines the storytelling power of The Shadow of the Wind with the irresistible romance of Casablanca, moves at an unstoppable pace. Suddenly left abandoned and penniless in Morocco by her lover, Sira Quiroga forges a new identity. Against all odds she becomes the most sought-after couture designer for the socialite wives of German Nazi officers. But she is soon embroiled in a dangerous political conspiracy as she passes information to the British Secret Service through a code stitched into the hems of her dresses.


                

Anyone can participate in Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56.
Click HERE to connect to other Book Beginnings posts (sponsored by Rose City Reads) 
Click HERE to join other Friday 56 bloggers (sponsored by Freda's Voice)


Twitter: @SandyNachlinger
Facebook: sandy.nachlinger

28 comments:

  1. You had me at Spain's Downton Abbey! I'm adding this to my tbr right now. And, that trailer looks really good. :)

    Check out my Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings).

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love books set in this era....and what a great cover, too. Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds great. 600+ pages is dedication too. I might have to check this out!

    ReplyDelete
  4. D Lynn: The plot moved forward with every page so the book didn't seem like it was 600 pages long!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This sounds like my kind of book. Wonderful! Thanks. Here's mine. Friday Book Score

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have read a lot of books from the war era, but I don't think I have read from Spain's perspective. Never watched Downton Abbey, but now you have me curious.
    sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would love this book.

    I read something similar but by a different author, but I can't think of the name of the book. Darn.

    Have a great weekend.

    Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  8. OK, Sandra, I WANT THAT OUTFIT! *lol*

    And the trailer was very well done...now I've got to read the book or see the full movie.

    And, last but not least, I WANT THAT OUTFIT! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. This one sounds especially good - Spain's Downton Abbey, oh my goodness. How can I NOT read this?

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think this sounds like my kind of book. Going to add to my pile.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have heard a lot about this one. sounds good!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've noticed this one before, and been curious about it. But it's just too long for me -- I'm really the world's slowest reader, so 600 pages would take me a couple of months to get through! Sounds like a great read, though! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for the visit today.

    ReplyDelete
  13. JLS Hall: I rarely read long books. I always think, "I could read three or four books in that time!" But I'm glad I read this one.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow... riveting trailer and I love to sew. The wardrobe is exquisite. Love it! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi,
    Sounds very intriguing. I'll have to check it
    out. Thanks for stopping by my place. Have
    a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  16. The synopsis sounds interesting. But I'm afraid these sentences just don't sell me on the book.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow...this looks amazing! And yes you had me at Spanish Downton Abbey!
    Adding the book and the tv series to my list. Thanks for visiting my post earlier today!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm in love with the cover for this one and the excerpt sounds super interesting. Hope you enjoy and have a happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I like that opening - very detailed. Sounds like an interesting and exciting read. Hope you enjoy it.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I've never heard of this author, but the writing is eloquent. Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  21. It's probably not my kind of read but you got me curious nevertheless :3

    Our BB

    ReplyDelete
  22. The cover art, the blurb, the era, it all works for me!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow!!! Talk about captivating. I haven't heard of the series but I'm adding it to my tbr. The trailer looks interesting. Typically I don't do subtitled but I may just have to. Thanks so much for sharing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Sandra,

    I'm afraid I am guilty of never having watched Downton Abbey, however the full synopsis of this book has me intrigued and wanting to add it to my list as one to read.

    It sounds as though Sira is very much a woman ahead of her time, willing to embrace just about every change that comes along in her life and willing to learn as much as she can along the way.

    I too would be interested in the seamstress aspects of this story, as that is my SIL's profession and I have become quite involved with her business over the years, although only in a very menial, extra pair of hands way, as my own sewing skills are quite lamentable!

    A great book to share, thanks :)

    Yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  25. What great writing! Now I'm intrigued to read the rest of the book. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  26. You sold me! I love this premise!
    (PS Sorry I was so behind I'm just commenting now!)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting "Writing With a Texas Twang." All comments are sincerely appreciated. Tell me what you think!