Secrets, lies, and oppression: The Fountains of Silence

About the Book

Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera. Photography--and fate--introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War--as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.

---

Abby's Review⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Fountains of Silence was profoundly bigger than her previous works; I was not expecting this novel to be so different, yet so amazing at the same time. As a huge fan of everything Sepetys has written thus far, when I first held this book, simply put, I was shocked, but it didn’t stop there. As I dug into her new masterpiece, I continued to be astounded and impressed. Sepetys begins many chapters with historical context: an excerpt from a news article, a quote from a government official, sentences from printed books and essays of both Spain and America, and the list continues. Through this she gives a deeper historical understanding and alludes to the many factual events from Spain’s story that connect to hers. Her thoroughness creates a deeper connection to their history for the reader. Sepetys has put her life and soul into making these pages feel real and alive. Her chapters are shorter than an average book, dispelling me at first because I was left wanting more. However, I quickly realized that this is her gift to the reader—a strict outline that guides the reader, as though she selects the colors but then hands over the paintbrush and leaves the rest up to the reader. I also love how she introduces a web of characters that require a diagram to follow, illustrating the beautiful reality that everyone is connected through different roads and histories yet has the same destination. She effortlessly changes the character point-of-view nearly every chapter making it feel as though we are the characters, not just a bystander. Sepetys has the ability to create a strong desire to experience a new culture with her artful writing and creative stories. Though lacking before, I now wish to visit Spain, learn the language, and live a story as adventurous as the one Sepetys paints. Her novel was heartbreaking, enthralling, tragic, and everything one looks for in a groundbreaking novel.

Abby