Report by Karin Ruddle, Group Leader
Having read and enjoyed the seamstress it was with eager anticipation that we downloaded Sira onto our kindles. Some of the group decided to challenge themselves by reading it in Spanish! This added another dimension to our review.
We found the story to be well researched until Sira travelled to London. The authors map reading skills needed some work!
The story was based on a former seamstress turned spy set in the late 1940’s. When her husband is killed by a bomb in Jerusalem she heads back to Madrid where, in the guise of a journalist she follows Eva Perón in her Spanish tour. Those of you fashionistas or star spotters would love the descriptions of clothes and jewellery at this time of intense poverty.
From there we head to Tangiers where all sorts of shenanigans take place.
We all agreed that some parts of this story were interesting and well researched. Definitely too long with a lot of waffle. It was suggested that Maria Duenas could have made perhaps 3 books from this one to make it more enjoyable.
Lots of repetition, no clear plot and too many unrelated parts. Definitely too long but we were all glad to have read it and it had a happy ending. Hurray.
Thankyou Christine for bringing it to the table.
Karin Ruddle, Monday Book Club Group Leader
Contact book.club@u3ajavea.com