“Boling threads his way through the stories of his many characters with humor, compassion and rich details of Basque tradition…Moving.”—Washington Post Book World In 1935, Miguel Navarro finds himself on the wrong side of the Spanish Nationalists, so he flees to Guernica, the most ancient town of the Basque region. In the midst of this idyllic, isolated bastion of democratic values, Miguel finds more than a new life—he finds a love that not even war, tragedy or death can destroy. The bombing of Guernica was a devastating experiment in total warfare by the German Luftwaffe in the run-up to World War II . For the Basques, it was an attack on the soul of their ancient nation. History and fiction merge seamlessly in this beautiful novel about the resilience of family, love, and tradition in the face of hardship.
Guernica: A Novel
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“Boling has had the good sense to write under the influence of the Hemingway who gave us A Farewell to Arms and For Whom the Bell Tolls, and the result is a moving tale of courage and resilience.”—Kirkus Reviews “[A] reporter’s eye and a novelist’s heart and imagination. T he result is a wonderful and thought-provoking miniepic packed full of fascinating, little-known European history, rich characters and empathy.”—Oregonian “Debut novelist Dave Boling has written the kind of rich, compelling and utterly unforgettable novel all too rarely attempted and even more rarely realized. Boling’s remarkably researched book is a humane and thoughtful narrative of genuinely good people in impossible circumstances.”—PNBA Awards Committee
About the Author
Dave Boling is a journalist living in the Seattle area.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Guernica is a riveting story that details the lives of the Ansotegui and Navarro families before, during, and after the bombing by the German Luftwaffe. After the death of his mother, Justo Ansotegui's father recedes with grief and eventually disappears leaving his eldest son in charge. He takes on the responsibility of care for his two younger brothers along with the family property Erottabari with no one to guide him. The brothers are creative in their management of the farm using games and pranks to make the most mundane chores fun. This is the setting in which the story begins, in the heart of the Pays Basque region of Spain.
I really loved following Justo's story and found myself in tears a couple of times. I knew next to nothing of the Basque people and their traditions prior to reading this, let alone the climate of the country surrounding the bombing. I found myself looking online for more details about events and will probably look for more books in the future about the Basque people. I received this book through the LTER program and loved every bit of it.
I really loved following Justo's story and found myself in tears a couple of times. I knew next to nothing of the Basque people and their traditions prior to reading this, let alone the climate of the country surrounding the bombing. I found myself looking online for more details about events and will probably look for more books in the future about the Basque people. I received this book through the LTER program and loved every bit of it.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Warning: I loved this book
It might have been clever or catchy to sub title the novel Guernica: A Love Story but that's what it is to me. While familiar with Picasso's painting (which I was blessed to see a number of years ago), I knew very little of Basque history. Boling takes a family of brothers and follows it through the devastation of war. The book will make you feel happy and sad. It draws out laughter as well as tears. A great holiday gift that is unique enough to inform even the most discerning reader.
It might have been clever or catchy to sub title the novel Guernica: A Love Story but that's what it is to me. While familiar with Picasso's painting (which I was blessed to see a number of years ago), I knew very little of Basque history. Boling takes a family of brothers and follows it through the devastation of war. The book will make you feel happy and sad. It draws out laughter as well as tears. A great holiday gift that is unique enough to inform even the most discerning reader.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Hiking in the Basque country is one of the hiking vacations that I want to do, so I was eager to read this book. However, it took me awhile to get into it, but I couldn't put it down when Boling started telling the devastating German bombing of Guernica, the heart of Basque country, on the eve of World War II.
In "Guernica", Boling skillfully weaves the histories of Spanish Civil War, World War II, and the creation of a mural Guernica by Picasso with the lives of fictitious characters from two families, the Ansotegui and the Navarro. He makes learning history less boring, at least for me.
In "Guernica", Boling skillfully weaves the histories of Spanish Civil War, World War II, and the creation of a mural Guernica by Picasso with the lives of fictitious characters from two families, the Ansotegui and the Navarro. He makes learning history less boring, at least for me.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Guernica and Picasso
I purchased this book because I'm an artist and a history buff. I enjoyed reading about the conditions in and around Guernica during the war and the characters were believable and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sharrose
Extremely readable.
I enjoy "history" based books that teach me something. This book did all that. I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published 2 months ago by WORDPAINTER
Guernica
This book is worth reading because of its subject matter, but not for the author's writing skills. I almost gave it up after the first one hundred pages due to the choppy writing... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jan W
Deleted
Downloaded the book because I really like historical novels. The early reference to bestiality resulted in a delete. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Dianna Michaels
Guernica
I just read this book and really enjoyed it. I noticed the title because I remember studying the painting "Guerica" in school. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Renee
very nice novel
This novel is quite an achievement. It really does teach you a lot about the Basque people and region in the early 20th century, and it gives you some great characters to care... Read more
Published 4 months ago by D.C. Julie
History and culture come alive
This is a solid and thought-provoking historical fiction novel of a tragic period in Spanish history. The Basque culture came alive through the strong characters. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Cycling Chef
Great story telling
"Guernica" is the well-written saga of two families living in the Basque Region of northern Spain in the first part of the 20th Century. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Blue in Washington
Touching and insightful book
Guernica, the debut novel for Seattle journalist Dave Boling is set in the months before the outbreak of WWII in the Basque region straddling southwestern France and northwestern... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Robert Pace
Wonderful Book
A wonderful historical novel about a family living at the time of the bombing of Guernica. Gives excellent background of Basque traditions and families. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Blue Judy
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