Review by Skweek1 -- Midwinter Turns to Spring
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Skweek1
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Review by Skweek1 -- Midwinter Turns to Spring
[Following is a volunteer review of "Midwinter Turns to Spring" by Maria Veloso.]
Review of Midwinter Turns to Spring by Maria Veloso
This book is a wonderful description of a profound and lifelong love between Alfonso, a Catalonian flamenco guitarist and Savannah, an American artist and art expert. Both have family problems and when he decides - now living in America with his wife and young daughter – to have an inherited painting of his grandmother authenticated, their paths cross. The couple become close friends, but both feel that it would be unacceptable to act upon their undoubted physical and emotional attraction. His marriage is not particularly happy, but equally, he recognises that it could be worse and his wife is a good mother, while Savannah is engaged to a man with whom she has very little in common. The “story within a story” leads to its inevitable outcome before finally resolving itself satisfactorily and credibly.
The strengths of the story are excellent characterisation, an obvious in-depth knowledge and understanding of Spanish poetry, flamenco and art, especially Picasso. Indeed, it reminded me forcibly of the reasons for my own Hispanophilia of 60 years' duration.
As is obvious from this review, I enjoyed this book immensely on many different levels. I found the multi-faceted relationships between the various characters challenging, but particularly appreciated the fact that this is not a typical modern “romance”; the passion between Alfonso and Savannah is felt, rather than painted in the carnal “words of one bit” detailed style and its on-page portrayal only lasts a couple of pages(pp134-136). The author clearly feels strongly about the motivation of her creations. Towards the end of the book, she also demonstrates an excellent understanding of philosophy, including knowledge of one of the best books about the so-called “Law of Attraction” Quantum Mechanics concept. She has obviously checked her philosophy, art, literature, music and Spanish geography thoroughly, making this review very easy to write.
My only minor quibble is that when I selected this book, it was defined loosely as a “romance”, which feels too lightweight for what I would describe as closer to a true love story.
There was no profanity at all and I only spotted one potential proof-reading issue in the whole book, a misspelling of Balearic Islands as Ballearic on page 80.
The book will probably appeal most to middle-aged and older readers of a more serious mind-set and an interest in philosophy, music, art and literature.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Midwinter Turns to Spring
View: on Bookshelves
Review of Midwinter Turns to Spring by Maria Veloso
This book is a wonderful description of a profound and lifelong love between Alfonso, a Catalonian flamenco guitarist and Savannah, an American artist and art expert. Both have family problems and when he decides - now living in America with his wife and young daughter – to have an inherited painting of his grandmother authenticated, their paths cross. The couple become close friends, but both feel that it would be unacceptable to act upon their undoubted physical and emotional attraction. His marriage is not particularly happy, but equally, he recognises that it could be worse and his wife is a good mother, while Savannah is engaged to a man with whom she has very little in common. The “story within a story” leads to its inevitable outcome before finally resolving itself satisfactorily and credibly.
The strengths of the story are excellent characterisation, an obvious in-depth knowledge and understanding of Spanish poetry, flamenco and art, especially Picasso. Indeed, it reminded me forcibly of the reasons for my own Hispanophilia of 60 years' duration.
As is obvious from this review, I enjoyed this book immensely on many different levels. I found the multi-faceted relationships between the various characters challenging, but particularly appreciated the fact that this is not a typical modern “romance”; the passion between Alfonso and Savannah is felt, rather than painted in the carnal “words of one bit” detailed style and its on-page portrayal only lasts a couple of pages(pp134-136). The author clearly feels strongly about the motivation of her creations. Towards the end of the book, she also demonstrates an excellent understanding of philosophy, including knowledge of one of the best books about the so-called “Law of Attraction” Quantum Mechanics concept. She has obviously checked her philosophy, art, literature, music and Spanish geography thoroughly, making this review very easy to write.
My only minor quibble is that when I selected this book, it was defined loosely as a “romance”, which feels too lightweight for what I would describe as closer to a true love story.
There was no profanity at all and I only spotted one potential proof-reading issue in the whole book, a misspelling of Balearic Islands as Ballearic on page 80.
The book will probably appeal most to middle-aged and older readers of a more serious mind-set and an interest in philosophy, music, art and literature.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Midwinter Turns to Spring
View: on Bookshelves
