The Fountains Of Silence: Ruta Sepetys

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"Take comfort that this silence is not yours alone, Teresa. In the field, across the mountains, under the streets, and beneath the trees lie thousands of souls, condemned to silence. But one day, far into the future when the pain is less sharp, the voices of the dead will find harmony with the living. They will make a melody. Listen for the music, Teresa. I sing for you, for my children, and for the better day I know will come."
                             - The Fountains Of Silence

Title: The Fountains Of Silence

Author: Ruta Sepetys

No. Of Pages: 495

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Penguin Random House 

Book Description:
Madrid 1957
General Franco's Spain under dictatorship has muffled the screams of poverty and injustice within its boundaries. It has successfully robbed off the citizens of its happiness in the past and is standing gaurd against the dreams and hopes for a happy future. 

Ruta Sepetys weaves a historical fiction with Spaniards of post war years in limelight. Their story of life of forced silence, shattered dreams and broken hearts as Sepetys's notes suggests is an effort to build a bridge to lessen the distance between 'I want to understand' and 'I understand'. 

She not only depicts the post war Spain through her words but also through the camera lens of our protagonist Daniel Matheson. Daniel, a photography enthusiast and son of an oil tycoon was born and raised in Texas in a well sheltered environment. In Spain he encounters General Franco's Guardia Civil and Ana which leads him to witnessing the real Spain with its wounds exposed. Ana is a child of Republican parents and a girl with dreams and desires. The story unfolds in layers gradually revealing the secrets of the characters and their circumstances to the readers while taking readers on an emotional ride of fear, hate, affection, love and heart break. 

Fast forward some years later: Madrid 1975. 
It is no longer a General Franco's Spain. The contrast speaks volumes. The silence has been broken but the years of damage is yet to heal. Will the damages ever heal?

Thoughts:
Slow paced plot with multiple POVs paved way for better understanding of each character and their struggles. Full fledged characters that develop throughout the book is something that totally stole the show for the book. These three- dimensional characters on the two- dimensional pages is worth looking out for. An applause for the author for her well done research. Though the author aspired to make the reader emotionally involved but the atmosphere failed to evoke the desired emotions to its full potential. 

Rating: 3.5⭐/ 5⭐

Would recommend reading this book if you are looking for a character driven historical fiction set in post Spanish Civil War. This book surely won't disappoint you!


When you discover the truth you must speak it aloud and help others to do the same... Truth breaks the chains of silence.... It sets us free.
     -The Fountains Of Silence, Ruta Sepetys

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