So when she meets wealthy and handsome American, Bennett Van Cleve, she is quickly swept off her feet.
Marrying him and moving to America seems like a great adventure – but life as a newlywed in stuffy Baileyville, Kentucky, is not at all what she hoped for.
Until, that is, she responds to a call for volunteers to start a travelling library, surprising herself by saying yes, before her husband can say no . . .
Led by feisty and rebellious Margery O’Hare, this unlikely group of women travel far and wide on their mission to bring books and reading to those that need it, and Alice finally finds the freedom, friendship and love that she’s been looking for.
But not everyone approves of what they are doing, especially her new father-in-law. And when the town turns against them, will their belief in each other and their work be enough?
Opinión
Conocer a Bennett Van Cleve fue lo más bonito y emocionante que le había ocurrido a Alice hasta el momento. Apenas tenía amigas, para su familia era un estorbo y no perdían ocasión de hacérselo saber. Alice se marchitaba poco a poco en esa sociedad tan encorsetada.
La llegada del joven americano, supuso un cambio radical en su vida. El hecho de que se fijara en ella y le propusiera matrimonio, no hizo más que llenarla de seguridad y confianza en sí misma. Le devolvió la sonrisa y las ganas de soñar. Bennett era joven, guapo y rico ¿Qué más se podía pedir? El amor vendría con el tiempo, o eso era lo que siempre había creído.
Sueños e ilusiones rotos
En ningún momento se imaginó que viviría en Baileyville, un pueblo minero de Kentucky, una de las zonas rurales más castigadas durante la gran depresión americana. Rodeado de montañas, lejos de la civilización y de la vida glamurosa, las fiestas y los espectáculos con los que tanto había soñado.
Muy pronto Alice se dio cuenta, de que, al irse de casa, su situación no solo no había cambiado para nada, sino que era aún peor que antes. Sus días transcurrían en una sucesión de horas sin apenas nada que hacer y en un entorno bastante hostil al que no conseguía acostumbrarse. El único acontecimiento que rompía con la monotonía, era la misa de los domingos. Evento en el que coincidían todas las personas del pueblo.
Por eso cuando surgió la idea de crear una librería ambulante para la que necesitaban voluntarias, Alice no se lo pensó mucho ni le dio tiempo a su marido o suegro a oponerse. Fue una decisión tomada tan a la ligera como la de casarse. Pero necesitaba una nueva ilusión, algo en lo que ocupar sus días.
The giver of stars es la primera novela histórica de Jojo Moyes. Una historia muy ambiciosa que sin embargo ha sabido ejecutar a la perfección. Su estilo es el mismo y además sus protagonistas son mujeres con una personalidad fuerte y muy marcada, algo muy habitual en todas sus novelas, pero hasta ahí llega cualquier semejanza.
Una historia real poco conocida
Basada en la historia real de The Pack Horse Library The giver of stars nos cuenta la historia de 5 mujeres muy diferentes entre sí, unidas en esta empresa tan noble a la vez que complicada. Su objetivo era llevar libros hasta las zonas más inaccesibles y apartadas, hubiera nieve, lloviera o hiciera un calor extremo. Siempre, a lomos de sus caballos o a pie acudían a dejar libros y revistas que pasadas una semana cambiaban por otros.
Es una novela muy bonita y emotiva. Para leer con calma y saborear cada página. Se nota la gran labor de documentación realizada por Jojo Moyes. Las descripciones son muy completas a la vez que precisas, pero sin llegar a aburrir. La autora consigue transportarnos en un momento a Baileyville. Podemos sentir la tierra y el polvo en nuestra piel, el olor del campo y la sensación de libertad que experimentaba Alice o Margery cada vez que se encontraban solas frente a la montaña.
Plantea una gran variedad de temas interesantes
Aunque el tema principal es la librería móvil y todo lo que acontece en torno a su creación y funcionamiento, el libro trata varios temas muy interesantes como son la vida en estos pueblos rurales, la venganza, el matrimonio y el divorcio, la segregación racial, el machismo, la homofobia, la explotación de las minas y las pésimas condiciones laborales de los mineros, entre otros.
Todos los personajes tienen algo único que hace que los ames y odies a partes iguales. Mi favorita es Alice. Su aspecto de mujer inglesa fina, delicada y culta, esconden una personalidad muy fuerte y luchadora, de mujer tozuda, que no se rinde ni en las peores circunstancias. Con una mente muy analítica y resolutiva. En contraste con Margery O’Hare, la otra protagonista y personaje muy potente y controvertido. Una mujer con una mentalidad muy avanzada para su época y que nos deja muchos de los mejores momentos de The giver of stars.
Me ha encantado y no puedo más que recomendarla muchísimo.
El mes de julio viene cargado de novedades literarias de algunos de nuestros autores favoritos. Además, como cada mes os proponemos a autores menos conocidos.
I almost gave up on love. My ex, who called his private parts ‘Nigel’, was enough to put me off men forever. But then I met Joe.
Alice thought she’d found Mr Right. Her blue-eyed boyfriend Joe gives her butterflies, makes her bacon sandwiches when she’s hungover, and doesn’t have a nickname for any of his body parts.
She should have known it was too good to be true. Because one day, Alice and Joe bump into Zoe. According to him, Zoe’s ‘just an old friend’. But Alice saw the way they froze, and heard the strange note in Joe’s voice when he said her name.
Then, out of the blue, Zoe needs a place to live. And Joe has the bright idea of inviting her, and her fluffy ginger cat Frazzle, to stay with them.
Alice tries her hardest not to feel threatened. But the thing is, Zoe doesn’t survive off microwave meals, or go days without washing her glossy copper-coloured hair, or accidentally get mascara in her contact lenses.
Joe’s ex might be pretty much perfect, but there’s no way that Alice will let Zoe steal him. She’s on a mission to prove that three (four, if you count the cat) is definitely a crowd…
After the heartbreak of being jilted by her fiancé, Katie Campbell has been mending her broken heart in Bali. She has local restaurant owner and new friend Agatha to thank for providing a listening ear in her moment of need. When Katie confides she’s worried about going back to what’s left of her life in London, Agatha has just the opportunity for Katie – to manage her old café in the beautiful, picturesque village of Perrinby in Cornwall.
Although reopening the café and making it profitable won’t be easy, Katie is determined to make the most of her fresh start. She quickly makes new friends in florist Jay, waitress Talia and handsome neighbour Oscar, and focuses on making the café a welcoming place for the community – from hosting floristry workshops to pizza-making nights and even the local knit-and-natter group.
But, with the café under threat from the local property developers circulating just as she’s starting to grow closer to Oscar and finally feeling at home, can Katie find the recipe to make her Cornish Kitchen a success?
Circus people don’t ask who you were before, or what god you believe in… when you join the circus, you are family, whatever your past.
Paris, 1940. Twenty-year-old Michel Bonnet lives on the edge of the law, finding work where he can breaking in horses on the outskirts of the city. But when the Nazis invade, Michel takes refuge as a stowaway on a rickety train bound for the rural south. It’s a journey that will change his life forever.
The train is property of Le Cirque Neumann – a travelling circus owned by the troubled and irritable showman Werner Neumann. Neumann offers Michel a job caring for the company’s horses – a lucky break, but with an unusual condition attached. Michel must keep to himself and never speak of what he sees behind the glittering curtain of the big top.
But as Michel finds himself pulled into the strange and wondrous world of the great spectacular it becomes more difficult to keep his promise. Why does the man with the performing monkey never speak, and the sword swallower turn his face away? Who are the silent, shadowy figures who flit like moths between the wagons when the sun is down? It’s clear that Neumann is keeping his performers hidden away… but why?
And how can Michel win the love of the beautiful and exotic trapeze artist Freida – the graceful, green-eyed star of Neuman’s spectacular – when he’s been forbidden to even meet her gaze?
Fast Girls is a compelling, thrilling look at what it takes to be a female Olympian in pre-war America…Brava to Elise Hooper for bringing these inspiring heroines to the wide audience they so richly deserve.”-Tara Conklin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Romantics and The House Girl Acclaimed author Elise Hooper explores the gripping, real life history of female athletes, members of the first integrated women’s Olympic team, and their journeys to the 1936 summer games in Berlin, Nazi Germany.
Perfect for readers who love untold stories of amazing women, such as The Only Woman in the Room, Hidden Figures, and The Lost Girls of Paris. In the 1928 Olympics, Chicago’s Betty Robinson competes as a member of the first-ever women’s delegation in track and field.
Destined for further glory, she returns home feted as America’s Golden Girl until a nearly-fatal airplane crash threatens to end everything. Outside of Boston, Louise Stokes, one of the few black girls in her town, sees competing as an opportunity to overcome the limitations placed on her. Eager to prove that she has what it takes to be a champion, she risks everything to join the Olympic team. From Missouri, Helen Stephens, awkward, tomboyish, and poor, is considered an outcast by her schoolmates, but she dreams of escaping the hardships of her farm life through athletic success. Her aspirations appear impossible until a chance encounter changes her life.
These three athletes will join with others to defy society’s expectations of what women can achieve. As tensions bring the United States and Europe closer and closer to the brink of war, Betty, Louise, and Helen must fight for the chance to compete as the fastest women in the world amidst the pomp and pageantry of the Nazi-sponsored 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
When her loving, free-spirited grandmother Primrose passes away, Victoria is bereft, yet resilient—she has survived tragedy before. But even her strength is tested when a mysterious woman attends Prim’s funeral and claims to be the mother Victoria thought was dead.
As the two women get to know each other and Victoria begins to learn more about her past, it becomes clear that her beloved grandmother had been keeping life-changing secrets from her. Desperate for answers, she still struggles to trust anyone to tell her the truth.
To live a full and happy life, Victoria knows she must not only uncover the truth, but find a way to forgive her family. But after so many years, is trusting them even possible?
After losing her job in New York, Amber Green isn’t looking forward to visiting her godmother in the sleepy village of Cranbridge. With its empty lanes and rundown shops, it’s hardly a place to mend her lonely heart.
But when Amber discovers that Cranbridge Stores, owned by her godmother Cathy and son Josh, is under threat of financial ruin, she realises that her skills as a window dresser might just be able to help save the struggling shop.
When disaster strikes, Amber and Josh must unite to save both the shop and the village from flooding.
Can Cranbridge Stores become the heart of the village once more?
And as the village begins to come back to life, perhaps Amber will discover a reason to stay…
The Alvarez sisters have grown up and moved away—but now their dad is in crisis, the family business is collapsing and it’s time to go home to Lake Chelan.
Carmen Alvarez is the reliable one. When her vulnerable father’s livelihood is threatened, she’s the person her sisters call. Abandoning her job in Seattle, Carmen races home to the family vineyard her dad built up from nothing to set things straight. But soon she’s fallen back in love with the dusty sage hills, the turquoise blue lake, the fragrant June orchards… Maybe she’s not just home for the summer?
Standing in the way of Carmen’s happiness is one very attractive obstacle: new neighbor Evan Hollister, who’s after her dad’s land. He’s arrogant, entitled and spoiled—everything Carmen hates—and she is all set to have a bit of fun driving him out of town so things can get back to normal. She isn’t ready for their relationship to get complicated…
But Evan is the least of Carmen’s worries. The business is falling apart and it starts to look like Carmen might lose much more than just her pride: employees have quit, the bank keeps calling and everything her father worked so hard for is slipping away. As she is pushed to breaking point, Carmen will learn that her true family are the people who will see her through the worst of times, and that love can be found in the most unlikely of places.
I never expected to be doubted, but if I can’t make them believe me, what then? I sit here beside her stroking her tiny hands as she sleeps and she looks so perfect. It never crossed my mind that something would be wrong with my sweet girl and I’d be powerless to do anything to help her.
When Madeline’s six-year-old daughter Tilly collapses one Sunday night, Madeline’s world is turned upside down. Racing to the hospital, she imagines the worst scenarios in her mind, but when they arrive the doctors say that Tilly is fine.
Madeline’s ex-husband Adam and her best friend Laura think Madeline is being overprotective, that Tilly fainted because of her fussy eating. But Madeline is sure something is seriously wrong with Tilly. She can feel it. And she believes that a mother’s instinct is never wrong.
As Madeline embarks on a desperate journey to have Tilly re-diagnosed, taking her in and out of hospital, Adam and Laura begin to wonder if Tilly would be safer in Adam’s care. Madeline just wants to keep her daughter safe, but the harder she pushes the closer she comes to losing her…
ONE WAR. TWO WOMEN. WILL THEY BE ABLE TO SAVE THE ONES THEY LOVE?
A sweeping new novel from the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of The Tea Planter’s Wife, available for pre-order now
In 1943, Contessa Sofia de’ Corsi’s peaceful Tuscan villa among the olive groves is upturned by the sudden arrival of German soldiers. Desperate to fight back, she agrees to shelter a wounded British radio engineer in her home, keeping him hidden from her husband Lorenzo – knowing that she is putting all of their lives at risk.
When Maxine, an Italian-American working for the resistance, arrives on Sofia’s doorstep, the pair forge an uneasy alliance. Feisty, independent Maxine promised herself never to fall in love. But when she meets a handsome partisan named Marco, she realizes it’s a promise she can’t keep…
Before long, the two women find themselves entangled in a dangerous game with the Nazis. Will they be discovered? And will they both be able to save the ones they love?
Christine De Bertrand wakes up to her worst nightmare: rather than the man she went to bed with, lying beside her is her housemate, Nikki – dead. With no memory of the night before, Christine can’t explain what happened, and the police are baffled.
For DC Gaby Darin, newly arrived from Swansea after her last case ended in tragedy, it’s a mystery she’s determined to solve. When another woman goes missing, Gaby faces a race against time to uncover the link between the two victims and find the man who vanished from Christine’s bedroom. But as Gaby gets close, the killer gets closer – and soon one of Gaby’s own team is in unimaginable danger…
When the Bennett family arrive at the shore house to spend the summer together, they bring more baggage than just suitcases…
When Kaye Bennett, matriarch of the Bennett family, summons her adult children to the shore house, she anticipates a vacation full of nostalgia. It’s a chance to relive the carefree joy of summers past: basking in the hot sun, cooling off in the surf and enjoying long, relaxing evenings watching fireflies on the deck. But when Kaye’s son and daughter arrive, late and uncooperative, it becomes clear the family desperately need to reconnect.
Kaye and her daughter Stacy have been quietly at odds for years and resentment has grown around words unsaid. Faced with spending the summer months in such close quarters, Kaye is determined to remind Stacy of happier times and why she once loved their beautiful beachside home.
But both Kaye and Stacy are holding something back… and only when a heart-stopping moment on the beach puts what Stacy most loves at risk are the two women finally able to set free the secrets in their shared past.
At the intimate house-warming party for her glorious ‘grand design’, Kathleen confides in her best friend Beth that she is terrified of one of their close friends, but daren’t reveal which one. The guests are a tight-knit group, but Kathleen is convinced one of them is dangerous.
The next day Kathleen’s body is found at the foot of a cliff and Beth must face the sickening truth that she may have been killed by one of their trusted friends. With little help from the police, Beth’s decides to seek answers.
All the friends have secrets they are desperate to hide, but only one of them is ready to kill to keep theirs safe…
A sudden departure. A story decades in the making.
The chaotic but happy equilibrium of the Nightingale family is thrown into disarray when Cecily—whose children can’t remember her ever being remotely spontaneous—disappears to a Greek island with no warning or explanation.
Her reasons for doing something so out of character are a total mystery to her three daughters, high-powered executive Felicity, unfulfilled GP Julia and organised mother-of-five Lily. What connection could she possibly have with Kefalonia?
But Cecily has gone to continue a story she thought ended decades ago—one that could have a huge impact on her family. And when she returns, she’ll have to tell them the truth.
Will Cecily be able to hold her family together once she reveals her big secret? And might she discover that she’s not the only one with a story to tell?
In the distance Leah heard sirens. She ignored them. Right now, her daughter needed her and Emily was just out of reach, curled up under the bed, her eyes closed, desperately shaking. Leah did the only thing any mother would do. She crawled through the blood to get to her daughter.
Dr Leah Wright returned to her childhood home in rural Pennsylvania with her husband to find peace and quiet, start afresh and raise her six-year-old daughter Emily. But when she gets home one dark winter night, clutching roses in her hand, she finds her daughter huddled under her bed and her husband’s blood all over the floor…
When Detective Luka Jericho is called to investigate, he’s shocked to learn that the killer left a witness behind – the victim’s young daughter. The scene is a painful reminder of his fiancé’s unsolved death, and he is desperate to find out what Emily saw that night. He knows that the killer could still be out there, waiting to strike again.
But growing up, Leah learned the hard way that the only person she could rely on was herself. And it’s not until she and Emily are attacked again that she realizes just how close the killer is. Can she trust Luka to keep her daughter safe?
Two women loved him. And knew him as only wives can know.
Set amongst the glittering mansions of the Hamptons,
The Wife Who Knew Too Much is a decadent summer thriller about the lives of those who will do anything for love and money. Who is the victim? Who is the villain? And who will be next to die?
London is known for its bustle and intrigues, but the sedate English countryside can host—or hide—any number of secrets. Frances, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, needs a venue for her sister Lily’s imminent wedding, away from prying eyes. Risings, George Hazleton’s family estate in Hampshire, is a perfect choice, and soon Frances, her beloved George, and other guests have gathered to enjoy the usual country pursuits—shooting, horse riding, and romantic interludes in secluded gardens.
But the bucolic setting harbors a menace, and it’s not simply the arrival of Frances’s socially ambitious mother. Above and below stairs, mysterious accidents befall guests and staff alike. Before long, Frances suspects these “accidents” are deliberate, and fears that the intended victim is Lily’s fiancé, Leo. Frances’s mother is unimpressed by Lily’s groom-to-be and would much prefer that Lily find an aristocratic husband, just as Frances did. But now that Frances has found happiness with George—a man who loves her for much more than her dowry—she heartily approves of Lily’s choice. If she can just keep the couple safe from villains and meddling mamas.
As Frances and George search for the culprit among the assembled family, friends, and servants, more victims fall prey to the mayhem. Mishaps become full-blooded murder, and it seems that no one is safe. And unless Frances can quickly flush out the culprit, the peal of wedding bells may give way to another funeral toll. . .
Una versión infantil de los clásicos más conocidos de Dickens
Sinopsis
Uncover the stories from one of the greatest-novelists of all time in this beautiful anthology of tales from Charles Dickens, rewritten and adapted in an accessible way for children. This book introduces children to eight of Dickens’ greatest works, accompanied by beautiful, colourful illustrations which breathes new life into these timeless classics. Includes favourites such as Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations.
A timeline at the back shows when each story was written, and gives facts about Dickens’ life. Revisit your favourite Dickens stories and introduce his legacy to next generation of readers with this beautiful first introduction to some of the greatest stories all time. Includes Oliver Twist, The Old Curiosity Shop, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol, Nicholas Nickleby and A Tale of Two Cities.
Opinión
A World Full of Dickens Stories es un volumen singular que recoge una versión adaptada y resumida, especial para los niños, con unas ilustraciones de gran calidad y belleza, ocho de los cuentos más famosos de Charles Dickens como son: Oliver twist, The Old Curiosity Shop, David Coperfield, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, A Chritmas Carol, Nicholas Nickleby y Hard times.
Los protagonistas de los ocho cuentos son niños a los que la vida no les ha tratado muy bien. Sufren una serie de infortunios, lo pasan mal pero siempre con su esfuerzo y buen hacer, consiguen salir adelante.
Son historias que aunque reflejan una época muy diferente a la actual, con costumbres y estilos de vida que hoy resultan impensables, nos hablan de una época real en la que estas prácticas eran lo habitual. Pero además destacan y dan especial importancia a valores que no pasan de moda como son la honradez, el esfuerzo y el buen hacer de las personas.
Cada cuento tiene una extensión de entre 14-16 páginas con unos dibujos que ocupan en muchos casos la página completa y en otros son pequeños, están intercalados en el texto y hacen referencia a objetos muy importantes del cuento. Funcionan como una especie de recordatorio de lo ya leído. Todos son de gran sencillez y belleza, consiguen transmitir en cada caso el sentido del cuento al que acompañan.
Para quien ya haya leído estas historias, leer esta versión será un verdadero placer y una nueva experiencia, pues conservan su esencia y ese punto de fatalidad tan propio del estilo de Dickens pero a la vez esta versión se disfruta más pues el formato es mucho más bonito e incluso muy apto para coleccionista.
Y para los nuevos lectores, esta es de las mejores opciones para un primer contacto con el estilo de Dickens pues además de disfrutar de la parte artística que está muy bien ejecutada y te atrapa en cada página, el lenguaje es más sencillo y está actualizado a esta época.
Ha sido una lectura muy placentera que recomiendo en especial a los niños, pero también a los adultos.
Sometimes you have to hit the bottom before you can float to the top.
Maria Birch is seventy years old and, for her, every week is the same.
On Monday, she does her weekly shop. On Tuesday, she goes for a blow-dry. On Wednesday, she visits the laundrette. But Thursday is her favourite day of all – everything hurts less on a Thursday.
Every Thursday Maria walks to her local café. Waiting for her at one of the red gingham-topped tables is Albie Young, a charming man with a twinkle in his eye and an impressive collection of tweed flat caps. Every week, the pair share a slice of marble cake and a pot of tea.
Except, one week, Albie doesn’t turn up.
When Maria finds out what has happened, her perfectly ordered life is ripped apart at the seams. Suddenly, she is very lonely. Without her Thursday friend – her only friend – she no longer has the energy to circle the weekly TV listings, she has no reason to leave her apartment, no reason to laugh.
Then she discovers that Albie isn’t who she thought he was, and she’s left wondering if she knew her friend at all. But Albie has left behind a legacy – a handwritten list of wishes he never got the chance to complete.
Maria is resigned to facing the rest of her days heartbroken and alone. But fulfilling Albie’s wishes could hold the key to her happiness – if only she’s able to look past his secret…
Opinión
La vida de Maria Birch está organizada al mílímetro y se basa en una serie de rutinas que cumple con precisión y exactitud cada día de la semana, excepto el jueves, su día favorito porque es cuando ve a Albie Young.
Este día dedica más tiempo a arreglarse y elegir el atuendo apropiado. Son las horas en que se permite un descanso de su vida y es capaz de sonreír y sentirse viva, cosa impensable el resto de la semana.
Solo un día en el que ser feliz
Como cada jueves, María acudió al lugar habitual, pidió lo mismo de siempre y se dispuso a esperar la llegada de Albie, feliz y expectante. ¿La vería guapa? ¿Se daría cuenta de cómo se había arreglado hoy? ¿Qué cosas le contaría Albie sobre su día a día?
Pero Albie no llegó y cuando pasados unos días, se confirmó su sospecha el mundo de María terminó por desaparecer completamente. ¿Qué sentido tenían ya sus rutinas si no estaba él?
Los jueves serían igual al resto de la semana así que,qué más daba si hacía o no lo de siempre, nada tenía ya sentido. No se había dado cuenta hasta ese momento lo importante que era Albie en su vida.
Un hecho aislado que cambia nuestras vidas drásticamente
Albie era un hombre amable, sencillo y carismático que caía bien a todo el mundo. Dedicaba la mayor parte de su tiempo a hacer feliz a los demás. Llevaba una lista en la que anotaba todo lo que quería hacer por las personas que conocía para de alguna forma ayudarles a solucionar sus problemas o por el placer de verlos felices, como a ella.
Y fue esta lista la que encontró María entre sus cosas y que sin pensárselo dos veces, se propuso completar como una especie de homenaje a Albie. Se dio cuenta también, de que ahora esta era la mejor y única forma que tendría de conocer a alguien tan importante en su vida.
De forma paralela a la historia principal, tiene lugar otra mucho más corta. Son retazos de recuerdos de otra vida llena de alegrías y risas que choca mucho con el presente. Así es como poco a poco se nos desvela una María tan desconocida y difícil de encontrar en la mujer que queda los jueves con Albie.
The Wish List of Albie Younges una novela muy especial que provoca en cada página una mezcla única de emociones. Me dejaba siempre en el límite de la pena más profunda para en el párrafo siguiente hacerme sonreír. Ni muy triste ni muy alegre, un punto intermedio muy difícil de conseguir pero que sin embargo a Ruby Hummingbird se le ha dado de diez.
Los personajes secundarios abarcan una gran variedad de caracteres y situaciones. Están todos muy bien ejecutados, cada uno con una vida o un pasado complicado y que a simple vista resulta difícil que coincidan de no ser por la lista de Albie.
Un libro precioso que me ha dado pena terminar. Muy recomendable.
Educación contra los prejuicios y el desconocimiento
Sinopsis
Who are you? What is racism? Where does it come from? Why does it exist? What can you do to disrupt it? Learn about social identities, the history of racism and resistance against it, and how you can use your anti-racist lens and voice to move the world toward equity and liberation.
‘In a racist society, it’s not enough to be non-racist—we must be ANTI-RACIST.’ —Angela Davis
Gain a deeper understanding of your anti-racist self as you progress through 20 chapters that spark introspection, reveal the origins of racism that we are still experiencing and give you the courage and power to undo it. Each chapter builds on the previous one as you learn more about yourself and racial oppression. 20 activities get you thinking and help you grow with the knowledge. All you need is a pen and paper.
Author Tiffany Jewell, an anti-bias, anti-racist educator and activist, builds solidarity beginning with the language she chooses – using gender neutral words to honour everyone who reads the book. Illustrator Aurélia Durand brings the stories and characters to life with kaleidoscopic vibrancy.
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Opinión
This Book Is Anti-Racist es un libro que nos habla de raíces e identidad a partir de conceptos muy básicos pero importantes como quién eres y cuál es tu identidad social. Explicar qué es el racismo y cómo hacerle frente cada uno desde nuestra vida diaria. Desmonta mitos, habla de prejuicios, pero también de solidaridad y autoestima.
Es un libro interactivo que parte de la base de explicar cada cosa detalladamente, de forma sencilla y sin aburrir. Da conceptos, ejemplos e invita a demostrar con prácticas lo aprendido, lo que a su vez nos hace participar de forma activa en la eliminación de conductas racistas con tanto arraigo en la sociedad.
This Book Is Anti-Racist no solo es de razas y etnias, también de géneros, sexos y de las diferentes formas en que se puede entender y expresar la sexualidad. Es un libro que nos habla de identidad, diversidad e inclusión. Anima a crear comunidad.
Está muy bien escrito y su formato resulta muy atractivo pues más parece una revista que un libro. Lleno de imágenes coloridas y divertidas que transmiten optimismo y alegría. This Book Is Anti-Racist invita a la acción, a investigar y profundizar más en los conceptos y temas que trata. A la vez nos hace ser más conscientes no solo de quienes somos, sino de nuestras raíces y las de las personas que nos rodean.
Nos hace despertar a otra realidad, a que seamos más conscientes de lo bonito y enriquecedor de la diversidad cultural y racial. De que el racismo puede ser personal o institucional y que entre todos está el erradicarlo por completo.
One of Spain’s richest men is dying. But as he prepares his estate, his family is shocked to discover he is making plans to give away his wealth to a young woman they have never even heard of. Who is she and what hold does she have over him?
Charlotte Fairfax is asked to travel to the troubled family’s home in Spain to get to the bottom of the mysterious bequest. It’s the week before her wedding but she is confident she has time – there’s only one reason an older man leaves his money to a beautiful woman, isn’t there?
But in Madrid, things don’t go to plan when the woman denies knowing anything about the gift. Is she lying? Looking for clues, Charlotte digs into the prominent family’s history and unearths a dark and shocking past in which two people were torn apart by conflict. But now, their long-buried secrets are starting to reach into the present and Charlotte starts to wonder whether love does not need to forgive or forget in order to endure – but just needs two hearts to keep beating.
Opinión
“She remembered her father correcting her when she was a little girl of a “common” mistake – that it wasn’t hate that was opposite of love. But apathy”.
Este libro se desarrolla en dos tiempos. Comienza en 2018, cuando Charlotte, una consultora inglesa, recibe el encargo de descubrir las razones por las que un millonario español, el Sr. Mendoza, en los días finales de su vida, está tramitando la donación de su fortuna a una modesta camarera que trabaja en Madrid.
Charlotte decide viajar a Madrid para contactar con la destinataria de la donación, con el fin de descubrir si ha existido algún tipo de manipulación o chantaje por parte de esta. Marina, que es como se llama la camarera, se queda sorprendida cuando, de boca de Charlotte, conoce que va a recibir una fortuna. Cuando amplía su información sobre el asunto, se dará cuenta de que hay una confusión.
La aclaración de la confusión hace que la narración nos lleve al origen de la fortuna de la familia Mendoza. Sus inicios se sitúan en Ronda, donde se dedicaba a la cría de toros. Antes de la guerra civil, la familia se aprovechaba de sus trabajadores, no respetando los derechos que les reconocía el gobierno republicano. Los dos hijos menores de la familia (Arlo y, sobre todo, Nene, la única chica) no estaban a favor de esa explotación.
Santi es el mejor amigo de Nene, e hijo de uno de los asalariados de los Mendoza. Cuando la relación entre patrones y trabajadores empeore, se producirá un distanciamiento entre los dos jóvenes. Esta situación, y el hecho de que Nene no acepte la ideología de su padre, harán que esta decida escaparse de casa y marcharse a Madrid. Allí la joven luchará en plena Guerra Civil, uniéndose al bando republicano con el fin de derrotar a Franco y sus seguidores.
Es un libro muy entretenido e interesante. Las protagonistas de las dos historias que recoge tienen en común que se enamoran de quien creen que no deberían hacerlo, pero el sentimiento que les aborda es tan profundo que no pueden evitarlo.
La España de los años 30
La parte del libro que se centra en la España de los años 30 es la que más me ha gustado. Su personaje central, Nene, está muy bien construido. Desde pequeña se manifiesta como un espíritu libre, tiene ideas propias y profundas, y es leal a sus convicciones. Esa firmeza no la perderá nunca a lo largo de su vida.
La novela tiene detrás un estimable trabajo de documentación. Me ha interesado especialmente cuando aborda la etapa inmediatamente anterior al estallido de la Guerra Civil.
El único punto débil de la obra es el final, en el que las dos historias se reúnen. Su planteamiento y ejecución me parecen algo excesivos.
La inmortalidad en una novela de personajes únicos
Sinopsis
What if you could live forever?
Is eternal life a blessing or a curse? That is what young Winnie Foster must decide when she discovers a spring on her family’s property whose waters grant immortality. Members of the Tuck family, having drunk from the spring, tell Winnie of their experiences watching life go by and never growing older.
But then Winnie must decide whether or not to keep the Tucks’ secret—and whether or not to join them on their never-ending journey.
Opinión
“Life’s got to be lived, no matter how long or short,” she said calmly. “You got to take what comes. We just go along, like everybody else, one day at a time”.
Este libro trata un tema particular: la inmortalidad. Winnie es una niña de diez años que vive con su familia a las afueras de una localidad rural. Es hija única y sus padres no le dejan traspasar la cancela que rodea su casa. Poder saltarse esta prohibición es el sueño de la niña.
Un día Winnie atraviesa las fronteras que le tienen establecidas y se encamina hacia un bosque cercano. Allí se encuentra con la familia Tuck, que están bebiendo de un manantial. Cuando ella se acerca para hacer lo mismo, ellos le advierten: no debe hacerlo. Le contarán una historia increíble: esa agua vuelve inmortal al que la toma.
Respecto a la experiencia que viven, el cabeza de familia de los Tuck le traslada a la chica que el mundo es, en realidad, una rueda y que la inmortalidad les hace situarse fuera de ella.
Mientras en el desarrollo del libro Winnie conoce a los Tuck y su especial circunstancia, se introduce en la narración a un siniestro personaje: un hombre que, oculto, escucha la confesión de los Tuck y observa cómo estos conducen a la niña a su casa, con el fin de poder seguir profundizando en su situación y convencerle de que no cuente a nadie su secreto y los poderes del manantial.
Una historia que provoca reflexiones interesantes
Llega un momento en el que la situación se complica para los Tuck, y por la influencia del hombre misterioso, uno de los miembros de la familia acaba detenido. En esta circunstancia, Winnie no dudará en ponerse de parte de esas personas que ha conocido hace poco.
El libro, al abordar la inmortalidad, tiene tintes fantásticos y se vale de unos personajes únicos. Para empezar, la familia Tuck, que vive de forma despreocupada y muestra una unión imperturbable, está formada por unos miembros muy peculiares y, cada uno de ellos, tiene un rol muy definido. Y, por su parte, Winnie es una niña fantasiosa pero, a la vez, decidida y de principios en los momentos en los que tiene que serlo.
La novela lleva al lector a la reflexión sobre la inmortalidad, acercándonos a los inconvenientes que lleva aparejados. Nos hace conscientes de que esa característica nos sacaría del ciclo que supone la vida. Asimismo, aborda la amistad, a través de la que se articula entre los Tuck y Winnie, asentada sobre el cariño y una fidelidad inquebrantable que se fundamenta en una confianza sin fisuras.
Nos encontramos ante un libro corto, que está escrito de una forma cuidada y cuya lectura recomiendo. Me topé con él como uno de los que la profesora de la novela “The secret of clouds”, de Alyson Richman, propone leer a sus jóvenes alumnos.
A perfect summer. A perfect stranger. A perfect nightmare.
When British twenty-somethings Ruth and Adam are offered the chance to spend the summer housesitting in New York, they can’t say no. Young, in love and on the cusp of professional success, they feel as if luck is finally on their side.
So the moment that Eden turns up on the doorstep, drenched from a summer storm, it seems only right to share a bit of that good fortune. Beautiful and charismatic, Eden claims to be a friend of the homeowners, who told her she could stay whenever she was in New York.
They know you’re not supposed to talk to strangers—let alone invite them into your home—but after all, Eden’s only a stranger until they get to know her.
As suspicions creep in that Eden may not be who she claims to be, they begin to wonder if they’ve made a terrible mistake…
Opinión
Llovía tanto la noche en que Eden se presentó a la puerta de la casa que cuidaban, que a Adam no invitarla a pasar le pareció un gesto deshumano y falta de educación. No conocían a esa mujer de nada, podía ser cualquiera e invitarla a entrar en la casa iba contra todas las normas de sentido común, pero dejarla fuera en la calle con lo que estaba cayendo tampoco era una opción.
Eden conocía a los dueños de la casa y estos la habían invitado a venir cuando quisiera y quedarse unos días con ellos. Venía sin avisar para darles la sorpresa, pero al final la sorprendida había sido ella al ver que no estaban en casa y no tenía otro lugar en el que quedarse. O esta al menos, fue la versión que les contó a Ruth y Adam, quienes no podrían contactar con los dueños para corroborarlo.
Una novela de pequeños detalles y primeras impresiones
Por otra parte, eran tantos los detalles que Eden conocía de la vida de Mona y Jack que, si en algún momento les surgió alguna duda sobre quién era esta mujer en realidad, prefirieron obviarlo y fiarse de ella. Total ¿qué podría pasar?
A Ruth la vida le sonreía, por fin se hacía realidad su sueño de representar un papel importante en el teatro. Por el contrario, Adam se estaba quedando atrás y no conseguía hacerse un hueco como escritor. Pero a pesar de las dificultades, eran una pareja unida, feliz y enamorada. Cuando Eden aparecen en sus vidas, todo comienza a resquebrajarse y a un ritmo trepidante. Para cuando surgen las primeras dudas sobre esta desconocida con la que comparten techo, ya era demasiado tarde.
Adictiva, trepidante y llena de giros inesperados
The House Guest es una novela con un ritmo de lectura trepidante, pero con una trama que se desenvuelve muy lentamente y te absorbe tanto que no quieres parar de leer y cuando lo haces, los personajes y su situación no te abandonan, le sigues dando vuelta a todo y pensando en posibles soluciones como si fueran reales y tú pudieras ayudarles.
Es un thriller sicológico que te deja los nervios a flor de piel. Los personajes están muy bien creados, pero si hay algo que me encanta de este autor es como los construye y caracteriza. Eden y Ruth, cada una a su forma, son mujeres de personalidad fuerte y muy definida. Saben lo que quieren y van a por ello, no se pliegan a los deseos de los demás excepto si con ello van a conseguir algo a cambio.
Gran variedad de personajes y caracteres
Por el contrario, Adam es de carácter más bien ambiguo, es un hombre dócil, noble, que antepone los deseos de su pareja a los suyos propios porque para él lo realmente importante es estar juntos, lo demás es secundario. Es amable y confiado por naturaleza. Siempre causa la impresión de ser una persona débil cuando en realidad es todo lo contrario. Tiene también una gran capacidad analítica y es, con diferencia el más fuerte de esta historia.
La trama está muy bien pensada. Resulta difícil imaginar y acertar con la forma en que acabará o qué pasará a continuación. Los finales de este autor siempre me impactan y provocan mucho asombro. He terminado de leer con la media sonrisa dibujada en la cara y esa sensación de que lo ha vuelto a conseguir, ha creado un final que me ha gustado incluso más que toda la historia. Me ha dejado sin palabras y dándole vueltas a todo lo ocurrido. Sigue siendo uno de mis autores de thriller preferido.
From the bestselling author of Quiet Girl in a Noisy World and Book Love comes a funny and adorable collection of comics about married life, specifically an introvert married to an extrovert! Debbie Tung’s tender, funny, and utterly relatable comics are the perfect gift for anyone in a relationship.
The comics in Happily Ever After & Everything In Between may be inspired by Debbie Tung’s marriage to her extrovert husband, but any couple can relate to increasingly relaxed anniversaries, slowly seeing more of each other’s weird sides, or the punishment for taking care of your sick loved one (catching whatever they had). Happily Ever After humorously captures what everyday love looks like—both the sweet moments and the mundane—making it a fitting gift for weddings, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day.
Hilarious and relatable comics about one young woman’s life, relationships, and day-to-day humorous musings on why it’s good to leave the house sometimes—and when it’s better to stay home.
Cassandra Calin’s ability to document the hilarity of relatable everyday events in a series of webcomics has generated a huge following on social media. This beautifully illustrated compendium of first-person comics about the trials of the single life, school, stress, junk food, shaving, and maintaining a healthy self-image. Cassandra Calin’s comics frequently highlight the humorous gap between expectations and reality, especially when it comes to appearance and how much she can accomplish in one day. This book is funny, lighthearted, introspective, and artistically stunning—the perfect gift for young women, recent graduates, and anyone who might need a little comedic incentive to leave the house today.
A perfect summer. A perfect stranger. A perfect nightmare.
When British twenty-somethings Ruth and Adam are offered the chance to spend the summer housesitting in New York, they can’t say no. Young, in love and on the cusp of professional success, they feel as if luck is finally on their side.
So the moment that Eden turns up on the doorstep, drenched from a summer storm, it seems only right to share a bit of that good fortune. Beautiful and charismatic, Eden claims to be a friend of the homeowners, who told her she could stay whenever she was in New York.
They know you’re not supposed to talk to strangers—let alone invite them into your home—but after all, Eden’s only a stranger until they get to know her.
As suspicions creep in that Eden may not be who she claims to be, they begin to wonder if they’ve made a terrible mistake…
1950. In the wake of the war, Audrey Clarkson leaves her manor house in England for a fresh start in America with her young son. As a widowed war bride, Audrey needs the support of her American in-laws, whom she has never met. But she arrives to find that her longtime friend Eve Dawson has been impersonating her for the past four years. Unraveling this deception will force Audrey and Eve’s secrets—and the complicated history of their friendship—to the surface.
1940. Eve and Audrey have been as different as two friends can be since the day they met at Wellingford Hall, where Eve’s mother served as a lady’s maid for Audrey’s mother. As young women, those differences become a polarizing force . . . until a greater threat—Nazi invasion—reunites them. With London facing relentless bombardment, Audrey and Eve join the fight as ambulance drivers, battling constant danger together. An American stationed in England brings dreams of a brighter future for Audrey, and the collapse of the class system gives Eve hope for a future with Audrey’s brother. But in the wake of devastating loss, both women must make life-altering decisions that will set in motion a web of lies and push them both to the breaking point long after the last bomb has fallen.
This sweeping story transports readers to one of the most challenging eras of history to explore the deep, abiding power of faith and friendship to overcome more than we ever thought possible.
In the vein of poetry collections like Milk and Honey and Light Filters In, this compilation of short, powerful poems from Instagram sensation Trista Mateer shines beauty and insight into relationships, love, growing up, and learning to cope.
This hardcover collection features completely new material, plus some fan favorites from Trista’s account. Filled with colored original artwork from Jess Cruickshank, this powerful collection unpacks how to heal from trauma, explores love in many forms, and empowers you to love yourself and take up the space you deserve.
BIG BANG THEORY
what happens if we collide?
will it feel like atoms bursting?
will it burn like light?
will your hands feel the same as other people’s hands?
It is two years since Harpers opened in Oxford Street and Ben is planning to expand the premises.
Life is good for Sally and Ben as they look forward to their first child and hope for a prosperous future. Beth is settling into married life with Jack, gradually recovering from her aunt’s tragic death, though still unable to conceive a child.
New girls have joined Harpers and Marion, Janice and Becky all become a part of the daily life at the busy store. Rachel is undecided whether to marry a man she isn’t sure she can trust, while Minnie meets an old love.
The sun is shining in English streets but on the horizon dark clouds gather over Europe and war looms threatening bringing rainy days for the Harpers girls…
With her dad in hospital, Robyn Matthers needs to go home and take charge. But does she have the strength to do it?
Cole Ryan is on a personal mission. Tall, dark and handsome, Robyn has certainly noticed the brooding hockey player around town. But can she trust her feelings – or his? But she can’t risk the past she’s kept buried for so long coming out and he hasn’t opened his heart for a long time.
Will the two of them be able to finally open up, and let themselves, just maybe, fall in love…
Inspired by real places and events of WWII, Red Sky Over Hawaii immerses the reader in a time of American history full of suspicion and peril in this lush and poignant tale about the indisputable power of doing the right thing against all odds.
The attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything for Lana Hitchcock. Arriving home on the Big Island too late to reconcile with her estranged father, she is left alone to untangle the clues of his legacy, which lead to a secret property tucked away in the remote rain forest of Kilauea volcano. When the government starts taking away her neighbors as suspected sympathizers, Lana shelters two young German girls, a Japanese fisherman and his son. As tensions escalate, they are forced into hiding—only to discover the hideaway house is not what they expected.
When a detainment camp is established nearby, Lana struggles to keep the secrets of those in her care. Trust could have dangerous consequences. As their lives weave together, Lana begins to understand the true meaning of family and how the bonds of love carry us through the worst times.
What happens when three women discover, thanks to the live tweeting of a disastrous date, that they’ve all been duped by the same man? They become friends of course!
Three friends. One pact. And a temptation to break the rules…
Samiah Brooks never thought she would be ‘that’ girl. But a live tweet of a horrific date reveals the painful truth: she’s been catfished by her three-timing jerk of a boyfriend.
Suddenly Samiah – along with the two other ‘girlfriends’, London and Taylor – have gone viral. Now the three new besties are making a six-month pact: no men, no dating, just time to focus on themselves.
This means Samiah can finally focus on her exciting career in app development – so having the deliciously sexy and distracting Daniel Collins walk into her office definitely isn’t part of her plan…
But is Daniel really boyfriend material – or is he simply too good to be true?
Grab your passport and escape to a land of dazzling skyscrapers, steaming bowls of comforting noodles, and a page-turning love story that will make you swoon!
For travel blogger Fiona, Japan has always been top of her bucket list so when she wins an all-expenses paid trip, it looks like her dreams are coming true.
Until she arrives in vibrant, bustling Tokyo and comes face-to-face with the man who broke her heart ten years ago, gorgeous photographer Gabe.
Fiona can’t help but remember the heartache of their last meeting but amidst the temples and clouds of soft pink cherry blossoms, can Fiona and Gabe start to see life – and each other – differently?
Their secret love affair has lasted for decades – but will it last one more summer?
For the last twenty-eight summers, Alice and Tom have met to rekindle the passionate love affair they began all those years ago. Each married to someone else, with busy lives and happy families, they’ve managed to keep their secret, and to keep their love alive.
But nothing is forever. Tom’s wife is in the national spotlight for her controversial and increasingly popular campaign for political office, and Alice has received a diagnosis that puts her future in doubt. Could their twenty-eighth summer together also be their last?
One day in summer, three lives are about to change forever.
After two decades of looking after others, this is the day that Agnetha McMaster is reclaiming her life. It’s her turn, her time but will she have the courage to start again?
Ten years ago, Mitchell McMaster divorced Agnetha and married her best friend, Celeste. Now he suspects his second wife is having an affair. This is the day he’ll discover if karma has come back to bite him.
Thanks to a DNA test, this is the day that Hope McTeer will finally meet her biological father. But will the reunion bring Hope the answers that she’s looking for?
Three people. Twenty-four hours. A lifetime of secrets to unravel.
Robyn Bloom thought Ash Barnes was the love of her life – until one day he announced he was leaving her to fly halfway across the world.
Months later, Robyn is struggling to move on – but then she has a brainwave: The Never Have I Ever Club. Her handsome next-door neighbour Will helps her bring their fellow Yorkshire villagers together for some carpe-diem-inspired fun.
From burlesque dancing to Swedish massages, everyone has plenty of bucket-list activities to try, but it doesn’t take long for Robyn to realise what – or who – her heart truly desires: Will.
There’s just one problem: he’s Ash’s twin brother.
Make that two problems: Ash is moving home… and he wants Robyn back.
It’s the whirlwind affair that has everyone talking…
Dating is the last thing on Olivia Monroe’s mind when she moves to LA to start her own law firm. An entire night of flirting with a gorgeous man at a hotel bar could change her mind though – until she discovers that he’s hotshot junior senator Max Powell.
Max’s determination to win Olivia over proves him to be sweet, funny, and noble – not just some privileged white politician she assumed him to be. Dating in secret is fun at first, but when they finally go public, the intense media scrutiny results in the exposure of Olivia’s rocky past, criticism of her job, and questions about her suitability as a trophy girlfriend.
Olivia knows what she has with Max is special, but is it strong enough to survive the heat of the spotlight?
After training her entire life to make the Olympic gymnastics team, a disastrous performance ended Avery Abrams’ athletic career – for good. Seven years on, she’s still lost and, reeling from a breakup with her football star boyfriend, returns to her Massachusetts hometown.
In need of a job, Avery agrees to help new coach, Ryan Nicholson, train Hallie, a promising young gymnast with Olympic aspirations, despite her worries about the memories it will evoke.
Back in the gym, she’s surprised to find sparks flying with Ryan, and her long-buried love for her sport reemerging as she helps Hallie’s talent shine. But when a shocking scandal breaks, it has shattering effects on the world of gymnastics, Avery and everyone around her.
But Avery is not going to let history repeat itself – she’s ready to fight for those she loves – and win.
Thea Thomas needs to get away from her old life… and the interfering ex who won’t leave her alone. When she lands a job heading up the restoration of Mill Grange, a stunning Victorian manor in Devon, it feels like the perfect opportunity to start afresh.
What Thea didn’t anticipate was how hostile the volunteer team, led by the formidable Mable Hastings, would be about accepting new leadership. And with the deadline looming before the grand opening, Thea is in desperate need of more volunteers.
A broadcast appeal on the local news attracts the interest of arrogant but undeniably attractive celebrity historian Shaun Cowlson, who wants to make a TV programme about the restoration. It’s hard enough adding one more big personality to the mix – but then her ex turns up as one of the volunteers! What seemed like a dream come true is fast becoming a total disaster! Can Thea find a way to save the manor?
Baywood police department detective A.L. McKittridge is no stranger to tough cases, but when five-year-old Emma Whitman disappears from her day care, there isn’t a single shred of evidence to go on. Neither the grandmother who dropped her off, nor the teacher whose care she was supposed to be in, can account for the missing child. There are no witnesses. No trace of where she might have gone. There’s only one thing A.L. and his partner, Rena Morgan, are sure of—somebody is lying.
With the clock ticking, A.L. and Rena are under extreme pressure as they discover their instincts are correct: all is not as it seems. The Whitmans are a family with many secrets, and A.L. and Rena will have to race to untangle a growing web of lies if they’re going to find the thread that leads them to Emma…before it’s too late.
Created by a shrewd countess, The Widow’s Grace is a secret society with a mission: to help ill-treated widows regain their status, their families, and even find true love again—or perhaps for the very first time . . .
When headstrong West Indian heiress Patience Jordan questioned her English husband’s mysterious suicide, she lost everything: her newborn son, Lionel, her fortune—and her freedom. Falsely imprisoned, she risks her life to be near her child—until The Widow’s Grace gets her hired as her own son’s nanny. But working for his unsuspecting new guardian, Busick Strathmore, Duke of Repington, has perils of its own. Especially when Patience discovers his military strictness belies an ex-rake of unswerving honor—and unexpected passion . . .
A wounded military hero, Busick is determined to resolve his dead cousin’s dangerous financial dealings for Lionel’s sake. But his investigation is a minor skirmish compared to dealing with the forthright, courageous, and alluring Patience. Somehow, she’s breaking his rules, and sweeping past his defenses. Soon, between formidable enemies and obstacles, they form a fragile trust—but will it be enough to save the future they long to dare together?
Katya, a rising ballerina, and Sasha, a graduate student, are young and in love when an unexpected tragedy befalls their native Kiev. Years later, after the couple has safely emigrated to America the consequences of this incident cause their son, Yuri, to be born with a rare health condition that isolates him from other children. Maggie, a passionate and dedicated teacher agrees to tutor Yuri at his home, even though she is haunted by her own painful childhood memories. As the two forge a deep and soulful connection, Yuri’s boundless curiosity and unique wisdom inspires Maggie to make difficult changes in her own life. And she’ll never realize just how strong Yuri has made her—until she needs that strength the most….
Opinión
“My mother had gifted her love of story to me. Showing me that storytelling had the power to connect us to others, that a good tale could even bridge the space between children and adults.”
Nos situamos en 1999. Maggie es una profesora de gran vocación. Empieza su segundo curso en un colegio público de Long Island. El director le pregunta si podría dar parte de sus clases en la casa de un niño que sufre de una afección cardíaca y no puede asistir al colegio. Maggie acepta.
El niño en cuestión, de doce años, se llama Yuri. Sus padres, Sasha y Katya son originarios de Ucrania. En los años 80 el país estaba bajo la influencia rusa y los judíos, Sasha es uno de ellos, eran mal vistos y se les trataba mal. Esto empujó a Sasha a tomar la decisión de emigrar cuando Gorbachov abrió esa posibilidad. Así, la pareja marchó para los Estados Unidos después de que se produjera el accidente nuclear de Chernóbil (1986). Tras este, los jóvenes habían estado disfrutando de un tiempo inusualmente cálido, ignorantes de las consecuencias que esto podría tener en su salud, incluso en los bebés nacidos con posterioridad. Es el caso de Yuri.
Maggie disfruta en las clases con Yuri. Le llenan mucho, a la vez que le suponen un reto porque con ellas busca mejorar la vida del chico. El sueño de este es volver al colegio y Maggie intentará que su madre le deje hacerlo cuando el tiempo sea algo más cálido.
En lo personal, Maggie progresará a raíz de su relación con Yuri. Valorará mucho la vida y sus pequeñas posibilidades, lo que le lleva a evaluar su relación con su novio, Bill. Así, llega a la conclusión de que esta no ha evolucionado como a ella le gustaría.
Es un libro lleno de momentos emocionantes. Como punto de partida, me ha gustado la pasión de Maggie por la literatura (es profesora en esta materia) y cómo va proponiendo diferentes libros a sus alumnos buscando que estos reflexionen sobre los mismos. Como curiosidad, os diré que me apunté sus propuestas y ya me he leído alguna.
Desde luego, lo mejor del libro es la relación de profesora y alumno, que es muy especial, también porque los dos personajes involucrados lo son. Maggie es una profesora con una fuerte vocación y sensible a las necesidades de sus alumnos. En definitiva, la maestra que todos quisiéramos tener. Por su parte, Yuri es un jovencito que asume su enfermedad pero que, a la vez, quiere superar las limitaciones que le imponen sus padres a causa de ella. El chico no se abandona a la apatía, ni deja de soñar en poder disfrutar de los días en condiciones similares a las de cualquier otro niño.
Asimismo, hay personajes secundarios inestimables, como los padres de Maggie. La madre es una persona que siempre está de buen humor y que apoya incondicionalmente a su hija. En el caso del padre, es entrañable cómo dedica sus horas a crear violines.
En definitiva, nos encontramos con un libro que nos trae una historia, en lo esencial, tierna y que nos hace aflorar muchos sentimientos. Sus personajes son de los que se quedan en el pensamiento del lector un tiempo. Además, el aficionado a la lectura encontrará, a través de Maggie, propuestas literarias que parecen muy interesantes.
