Great Travel Reads: books set in Spain
There is something special about Spain and spanish culture - Flamenco music, siesta, bullfights, horses, arts, architecture, beaches, wine, and football! It’s history is complicated and interwoven with religious and political strife (think: Spanish Inquisition and 40 years of fascism) along with a moody, romantic vibe. Strong Moorish, Jewish and Christian influences have resulted in a beautiful and complex identity.
These book recommendations only include:
novels I’ve personally rated 4 (a great read!) or 5 (amazing) on Goodreads and,
stories that have helped me “travel” to other places.
The lists will continue to grow and be edited! Check back or subscribe to my email list for updates! Last updated May 2024
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Lucia Graves translator)
Historical fiction set in Barcelona
4.3 ⭐️’s on Goodreads
Plot Summary: Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax’s books in existence. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets--an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.
My Thoughts: The story is a bit scary, thrilling, and tragic. It read like a black-and-white movie. There is mystery, death, and revenge along with beautifully written and very quotable prose! ”Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you.” (from the book)
Having read it after I returned from Spain, it felt like I was walking the dark streets of Barcelona within the sweet and tragic love stories of the story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Fountains of Silence by Ruth Sepetys
Historical fiction/Young adult fiction set in Madrid, Spain.
4.31 ⭐️’s on Goodreads (I gave it a 5!)
Plot Summary: Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera. Photography--and fate-introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War--as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.
My thoughts: Maybe it was my personal history of living in a foreign country as a kid, but I strongly connected with this novel that explores Spain under Franco’s rule in the late 50’s. It showed a collision of two very different cultures and there was a feeling of learning about the country alongside the main character. What I discovered (compared to my other Spanish reads) was less about wealthy families and more about the effects of the Spanish Civil War and the 40 years of a dictatorship on “regular” families. I appreciate the author’s use of news clippings alongside the fictional story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile
Historical fiction set in Segovia, Granada & Seville, Spain.
3.92 ⭐️’s on Goodreads
Plot summary: An evocative and vividly imagined novel about one of history’s most famous and controversial queens—the warrior who united a fractured country, the champion of the faith whose reign gave rise to the Inquisition, and the visionary who sent Columbus to discover a New World. Young Isabella is barely a teenager when she and her brother are taken from their mother’s home to live under the watchful eye of their half-brother, King Enrique, and his sultry, conniving queen. There, Isabella is thrust into danger when she becomes an unwitting pawn in a plot to dethrone Enrique. Suspected of treason and held captive, she treads a perilous path, torn between loyalties, until at age seventeen she suddenly finds herself heiress of Castile, the largest kingdom in Spain. Plunged into a deadly conflict to secure her crown, she is determined to wed the one man she loves yet who is forbidden to her—Fernando, prince of Aragon. From the glorious palaces of Segovia to the battlefields of Granada and the intrigue-laden gardens of Seville, The Queen’s Vow sweeps us into the tumultuous forging of a nation and the complex, fascinating heart of the woman who overcame all odds to become Isabella of Castile.
My thoughts: A fascinating read from the perspective of Isabella stretching from 1464 (when she was 13 and an infante, 2nd in line to the throne) to 1492. The book is set during a time and place in history I, admittedly, knew very little about. The story introduced me to the controversial Spanish monarch and the significant influence she had on women in academia, Spain’s role in exploration, and the events that would set the stage for the Spanish Inquisition. I enjoyed seeing the world from her perspective including the context, passions, and fears behind her decisions. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Spanish Promise by Karen Swan
Romance/historical fiction set in Madrid, Spain.
3.96 ⭐️’s on Goodreads
Plot Summary: Charlotte, a wealth counsellor who knows from personal experience the complications that a sudden inheritance can bring, helps her clients navigate the emotional side effects of sudden wealth syndrome. When she is asked by Mateo Mendoza, heir to a huge Spanish estate, to fly to Madrid to help resolve an issue in his father's will, she's confident it will be straightforward. But Carlos Mendoza's final bequest opens up a generation of secrets, and Charlotte finds herself compelled to unravel the mystery. As Charlotte digs deeper, she uncovers the story of a family divided by Spain's Civil War, and of a love affair across the battle lines that ended in tragedy.
My thoughts: In my attempt to read anything set in Spain before a trip to this beautiful country, I found this story very light and easy to read. The snippets and perspective on the lives of wealthy families during the Spanish Civil War were engaging. The story is part mystery and part history lesson with a little romance thrown in. As an added bonus, I was fascinated to learn about the role of a wealth counsellor - obviously I have never needed one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Please comment below any book suggestions set in Spain for me to read! THANK YOU
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