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In Diamond Square
In Diamond Square: A Virago Modern Classic | Mercè Rodoreda
Barcelona, early 1930s: Natalia, a pretty shop-girl from the working-class quarter of Gracia, is hesitant when a stranger asks her to dance at the fiesta in Diamond Square. But Joe is charming and forceful, and she takes his hand. They marry and soon have two children; for Natalia it is an awakening, both good and bad. When Joe decides to breed pigeons, the birds delight his son and daughter - and infuriate his wife. Then the Spanish Civil War erupts, and lays waste to the city and to their simple existence. Natalia remains in Barcelona, struggling to feed her family, while Joe goes to fight the fascists, and one by one his beloved birds fly away. A highly acclaimed classic that has been translated into more twenty-eight languages, In Diamond Square is the moving, vivid and powerful story of a woman caught up in a convulsive period of history.
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kwmg40
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Pickpick

This is a beautifully written book about one woman's life in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War, though it is quite slow paced at the beginning.

My daughter found this #VMC edition for me last year, and I'm glad I finished it before my upcoming trip to Barcelona. I hope I'll have time to visit the Plaça del Diamant, where the book is set.

Librarybelle That‘s wonderful! 6mo
TheSpineView Great job! 6mo
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 6mo
Read4life Wonderful! ðŸðŸ‘»ðŸŽƒ 6mo
Catsandbooks 🙌ðŸ¼ðŸ¦‡ðŸ§¡ 6mo
Andrew65 Sounds good. Well done ðŸ‘ðŸ‘👠(edited) 6mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 6mo
38 likes8 comments
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Abailliekaras
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Pickpick

A beautiful book. Set in Barcelona, this is the story of Pidgey, her marriage to Joe and her daily struggles to survive in the civil war. Told in a dreamlike prose, which is not normally my style, but its raw beauty, the urgency of the story and the characters won me over. A wonderful evocation of 1930s Barcelona but Pidgey's quiet strength & the trauma of war have a timeless quality. Very moving. I loved this & will read more of Rodoreda's work.

GatheringBooks we are having a #LiteraturaEuropa reading theme on our website, sounds like this is a must-read :) 7y
shawnmooney I recently acquired this one by Rodoreda, solely because of its gorgeous cover! 7y
Abailliekaras @GatheringBooks how fantastic! I will check it out. @shawnmooney I hope you like it! Do persevere as the dreamy style took me a while to get used to, but she had me in the palm of her hand by the end. 😭😉 7y
Abailliekaras @shawnmooney oh that cover for death in spring is gorgeous! 7y
25 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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alisonrose
The Time of the Doves | Mercè Rodoreda
Mehso-so

So...this was interesting, and really beautifully written for most of the story. I liked seeing the progression of the characters and their lives. But it felt a little distant. Maybe that's what can happen sometimes with a translated work, especially one written so long ago. Definitely a good one, just not quite the right fit for me, perhaps. 3/5 â­ï¸

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Abailliekaras
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"... I said I couldn't care less, I wasn't going to wear them because they looked as shabby as you could get."

Merce Rodoreda is a legend in Catalonia but new to me. The rawness and honesty of her prose reminds me a little of Elena Ferrante.

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alisonrose
The Time of the Doves | Mercè Rodoreda
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I heard about this book from Sandra Cisneros' memoir, which is a pretty damn good recommendation! #nowreading

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Abailliekaras
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On the right, books read so far this summer. On the left, books still to read. Help! #Spain #TBR 😬📚

ReadingEnvy Any favorites from the books you've read? 7y
BarbaraBB You'll know all about Spain after finishing them! 7y
Abailliekaras @ReadingEnvy good question! For non-fiction the George Orwell is a stand-out. No Word From Gurb made me laugh out loud but won't be everyone's cup of tea. And I've loved discovering Montalban, who weaves much Barcelona culture & philosophy into his detective stories. 7y
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Abailliekaras @BarbaraBB yes it's a full immersion! 7y
Abailliekaras @ReadingEnvy the Javier Marias is also incredibly accomplished with more of a Madrid (classical) flavour. I prefer montalban although realise it's a completely different style.. 7y
ReadingEnvy @Abailliekaras thanks! I've read a newer one by Marias but still need to tackle 7y
LubicaP That's a nice collection! I liked Sepharad by Antonio Muñoz Molina. A Heart so white by Marías is great, so is Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me. On a slightly lighter note - Barcelona Shadows. 7y
Abailliekaras Thanks @LubicaP I'll take a look! 7y
34 likes8 comments
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Liedie
Auf der Plaça del Diamant: Roman | Mercè Rodoreda i Gurgui
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"Der suggestive und eindringliche Ton, in dem Mercè Rodoreda die Geschichte Colometas erzählt, hat die Autorin berühmt gemacht."
"Auf der Plaça del Diamant ist der schönste Roman, der nach dem Bürgerkrieg in Spanien veröffentlicht wurde." G. Garcia Marquez Bisher habe ich ein Drittel gelesen und bin sehr begeistert. Die Autorin schafft es Unmengen zwischen den Zeilen zu erzählen. Colometa ist mir schon sehr ans Herz gewachsen.

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